The Crusaders selectors have made four changes for next season's Super 12 squad from the line-up who stormed to this year's title in unbeaten style.
Just one draft player is introduced from outside the Crusaders' franchise region, with the other 27 all hailing from the Canterbury NPC province.
The outsider is Auckland
lock Bryce Williams. He replaces another Aucklander, Bradley Mika, who has been picked by the Blues after a fine NPC season with Auckland.
Two other Aucklanders from last year's Crusaders squad - utility back Orene Ai'i and prop Nick White - have also been lost to the Blues.
A couple of Christchurch youngsters, winger/fullback Scott Hamilton and prop Chris King, take their place.
Talented first five-eighth Daniel Carter is the fourth newcomer, in place of former All Blacks second five-eighth Daryl Gibson, who is now with English club Bristol.
Hooker Corey Flynn played for Southland in the just-completed NPC, but he has been signed by Canterbury for next year's provincial competition.
* Three Auckland B players - Samiu Vahafalou, James Arlidge, and Paul Williams - will join the Highlanders.
Vahafalou's return means Southland stalwart Paul Miller has been displaced at No 8, while Arlidge is preferred over Otago NPC first five-eighth Blair Feeney to back up Tony Brown.
Other new faces to the Highlanders include Williams, son of All Black legend Bryan Williams, Fijian international Seru Rabeni and Southland forwards Ben Herring, Clarke Dermody and Daniel Quate.
Williams and Rabeni replace the retired Jeff Wilson and Iliesa Tanivula.
Returning to the Highlanders from a stint in France is Josh Blackie who played for the team last year.
Vahafolau played nine games for the Highlanders last year, but was part of the Blues squad this year. He was unable to make it into the Auckland side who won the NPC, spending the campaign in the B side.
Arlidge, 23, a key player in Northland's strong NPC last year, has had Super 12 experience with the Blues but has been understudy to Carlos Spencer throughout his career.
- NZPA
