Rugby: Market heats up as teams search for stars

Tanerau Latimer. Photo / Getty Images

The focus has been on offshore predators for most of the year but the domestic market is also heating up.

The Blues are still chasing Beauden Barrett and are supposedly confident the young first five will sign. The Hurricanes are chasing front rowers.

Ben May is expected to leave the Chiefs to join the Hurricanes and there will be others on the move as a result of the expected clean-out at the Chiefs where new coach Dave Rennie has firm views on who he rates.

One surprise casualty at the Chiefs could be Tanerau Latimer - the three-test openside is thought not to be the type of player Rennie wants at No 7.

A player of Latimer's class should be of interest to the other franchises where opensides are in short supply. The Blues would no doubt be keen to bring him north as the future of Daniel Braid is unclear.

The 30-year-old has a neck injury which has not healed and there is some concern now that he might not be able to play again. His younger brother Luke has grown in stature this season but the Blues would welcome depth in the position.

The Highlanders will also be sniffing as Alanso Soakai is off to Japan.

Pat Lam's team will also be looking for some depth at prop to replace the departing John Afoa. Ben Afeaki, who was in the Blues wider training squad and is contracted to North Harbour, could be tempted to return. He has been with the Chiefs since last year and has come of age this season.

Afeaki has the potential to be an international class prop but has not been helped by being part of an under-performing Chiefs pack. For Afeaki to fulfil his potential, he needs to be part of a dominant pack and destructive scrum - which the Blues will still have next year as Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock, Anthony Boric and Ali Williams are all committed.

Aled de Malmanche could be another on the move as there is talk that Rennie is not a fan of the occasional All Black hooker. De Malmanche is a bruising ball carrier but his core skills have shown little improvement over the years. There will be an element of wait-and-see with the hookers as much will depend on what happens with Andrew Hore.

The Hurricanes captain is in the curious position of not being wanted at any franchise. The Hurricanes are allegedly keen to move him on as they want to install the younger Dane Coles as their starting hooker.

The Blues have Mealamu, the Chiefs Hika Elliot and the Crusaders Corey Flynn - so they aren't in the market for a hooker.

The Highlanders may end up having Hore, should he sign a contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union, foisted upon them.

One other key battleground will be at first five where the Chiefs and Blues are expecting to lose both their specialists. Stephen Brett and Luke McAlister are thought to have offshore contracts on the table; as does Stephen Donald. Mike Delany has already confirmed he will be playing in Japan in 2012.

The Blues want Barrett to move to Auckland and steer their campaign and are believed to have made a generous offer to the talented 20-year-old - who is part of the Hurricanes wider training squad.

The Chiefs would be keen to bring Aaron Cruden to Hamilton as he has strong links with Rennie. If Cruden and Barrett both shift, then it will be the Hurricanes left short of depth at first five. They will retain Daniel Kirkpatrick but would want another quality option to support him.