The Highlanders have confirmed the signings of Otago trio Michael Collins, Vilimoni Koroi and Sione Misiloi ahead of the 2020 Super Rugby season.

Collins, who was the Otago captain, and Misiloi have penned one-year contracts with the New Zealand based franchise.

However, Koroi, has signed a three-year deal which will see him miss the majority of next season so to allow him to be in selection contention for the All Blacks Sevens at next summer’s Tokyo Olympics.

Koroi is probably the most exciting of the three to have arrived as he can cover fly-half, wing and full-back and at only 21 will continue to grow as a player.

The other exciting prospect for the Highlanders is that they have already signed another All Blacks youngster in Scott Gregory, who is a blossoming full-back that has lit up the stage at underage levels.

The thought of Gregory and Koroi linking up is great but both are trying to get into that Sevens team and will be out of selection contention next season.

As well as that trio and Gregory the Highlanders have also signed Connor Garden-Bachop, Mitch Hunt, Jona Nakeri and Ngane Punivai in what has been an eventful transfer period so far.

However, the signings were vital following the departure of 12 key players including the likes of Jackson Hemopo, Matt Faddes, Ben Smith, Liam Squire and Luke Whitelock.

Although it might take a bit of time to get the squad together the new signings are promising for the franchise’s future.

Springboks winger Aphiwe Dyantyi has failed in his B-sample doping test after prohibited substances were found his A-sample previously.

The 25-year-old has been formally charged with having multiple anabolic steroids and metabolites in both samples that were provided to the South African Institute of Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS).

SAIDS have now informed SA Rugby and Dyantyi’s Super Rugby franchise the Lions of the situation as they now decide what to do.

“SA Rugby, the Lions Rugby Company and Dyantyi are working with SAIDS, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and all other relevant authorities on the matter and no further comment can be made at this stage,” a statement read.

Last weekend the Lions player issued his own statement in which he plead his innocence before his B-sample was tested.

“I want to deny ever taking any prohibited substance, intentionally or negligently, to enhance my performance on the field. I believe in hard work and fair play. I have never cheated and never will. The presence of this prohibited substance in my body has come as a massive shock to me and together with my management team and experts appointed by them, we are doing everything we can to get to the source of this and to prove my innocence,” he added.

He went on to say that he would never have taken any substances and that the next sample would prove that he hadn’t.

“As a professional sportsman on the national and international level, we get tested on a regular basis. I have been tested before and again since this test. It is part of the job and we all know that each and every player is bound to get tested at least two to four times a year. Taking any prohibited substance would not only be irresponsible and something that I would never intentionally do. It would also be senseless and stupid. I underwent a drug test on June 15 (only two weeks prior to the July 2 test) which did not return any adverse finding,” he added.

Dyantyi is now facing the prospect of a four-year ban from rugby after being capped by the Springboks 13 times, however, failing to make the Rugby World Cup squad. He will have his chance prove his innocence, but he will need a seriously could case behind him to reverse the decision.

The Hurricanes have announced the signings of scrum-halves Jamie Booth and Jonathan Taumateine ahead of the 2020 Super Rugby season.

Both have agreed two-year contracts with the franchise as they look to replace Richard Judd and Finlay Christie, who have left for Japan and the Blues respectively.

Hurricanes head coach John Plumtree is delighted to have both in the squad ahead of next season and believes they will both add quality to the side.

“We’ve seen Jamie continue to develop his game while he has been in Japan and he performed really well under some trying circumstances at times. Jonathan is a player who we think has real potential to develop at a fast pace. He’s a young player who has already shown considerable talent,” he said.

Booth joins from the Sunwolves however, he is no stranger to the Hurricanes set-up having previously been a member of their wider training squad in 2016 and making eight appearances for them in 2018.

The 24-year-old has returned to New Zealand and is currently playing for Manawatu in the Mitre 10 Cup.

Meanwhile Taumateine comes in have previously represented fellow New Zealand based franchise the Chiefs before going on to impress in the Counties Manukau team.

He has also represented both Samoa and New Zealand at U20’s level and at only 22 his rise will surely continue.

Both signings are made all the more impressive by the fact that they have taken them from other Super Rugby franchises meaning they have not only strengthened their team but weakened others.