Rugby: Delany sought to solve crisis

Mike Delany. Photo / Sarah Ivey

The Blues have turned their sights on Mike Delany as a solution to their five-eighths crisis for next year's Super 14 series.

In echoes of the sign and loan-back deals which have gained traction in New Zealand rugby, it seems Auckland will sign Delany so he is eligible for the Blues but then agree to loan him back to Bay of Plenty for the national championship.

The Blues have struggled to settle on a permanent pivot since Carlos Spencer left the franchise, and this year new coach Pat Lam tried Tasesa Lavea and Jimmy Gopperth in the role.

Gopperth has left to play in England and Lavea is with Counties Manukau after strong noises he would also head for Europe.

If Lavea stays next season, he could return to the Chiefs as backup to All Black five-eighths Stephen Donald as long as the Blues manage to stitch together a deal to promote Delany to be their premier playmaker.

While the Blues will have occasional five-eighths Luke McAlister back next season, they have been looking for someone who is a more natural fit in the No 10 jersey.

The 25-year-old Delany fits that description and may be lured by the idea of a starting role with the Blues rather than a backup portfolio at the Chiefs.

Finding a first five-eighths has been just one of several priorities for Blues selectors Lam and Shane Howarth.

They tried to sign ageing England pivot Jonny Wilkinson, then Daniel Carter and Juan Martin Hernandez before trying the promising national under 20 rep Aaron Cruden.

None came to terms, which left them with a choice of locals like Daniel Bowden, Lachie Munro, Ben Botica, Mike Harris, Ash Moeke, injured utility Michael Hobbs or chasing someone like Delany.

To qualify for Super 14 sides, players have to sign for eligible unions by October 16 before the franchise sides are revealed in early November.

Loopholes in the rules have encouraged Zac Guildford to sign with the Crusaders, although he will be loaned back to his Hawkes Bay union for the national championship while there is speculation that a similar scheme will be used by prop Jamie Macintosh to shift to the Hurricanes for the Super 14, bypassing the Highlanders, before he returns to Southland for the national championship.