Two players of Fijian heritage are among the five new recruits in the Highlanders squad for next year’s Super Rugby Pacific competition. Hooker Soane Vikena and flanker Veveni Lasaqa have both signed two-year contracts.
Soane Vikena, hailing from Nasilai in Rewa, was previously part of the Blues squad that won the Super Rugby title. In 2020, he was recognized as the Blues Development Player of the Year and was a member of the Blues Under-20s. He represented the New Zealand U20 team from 2020 to 2021 and played for Auckland in the National Provincial Championship. Vikena made his Super Rugby debut for the Blues in 2021 against the Crusaders. He is known for being an energetic hooker, a strong open-field runner, excellent in tackling, and accurate in his line-out throws.
Veveni Lasaqa, who made his Super Rugby debut this year against the Reds, played for Bay of Plenty in the NPC. Born in Lautoka, Lasaqa moved to New Zealand to attend Tauranga Boys College. The 22-year-old flanker brings additional strength to the Highlanders’ forward pack.
The other three new Highlanders players are Will Stoddart, former New Zealand sevens rugby winger Caleb Tangitau, and Josh Wahaanga.