Former Scarlets lock joins Southland Stags
“With the locks, we’ve gone for the real hard workers. We needed some depth there."
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The Southland Stags have landed two new locks to help ease the problematic depth in the second row.
The Stags have confirmed the signing of Danny Drake who has previously lined up at lock for North Harbour at National Provincial Championship level.
And another lock with NPC experience with Waikato is expected to be confirmed soon.
Drake - who was born in England - has played his most of his professional rugby in the United Kingdom.
The 28-year-old played for Llanelli before joining fellow Welsh team Scarlets when former Southland coach Brad Mooar was in charge.
Drake then linked with English club Gloucester in 2020.
He will now join Josh Bekhuis and Mike McKee as confirmed locking options for the Stags’ 2023 campaign.
It’s understood the Stags have also signed another lock in his mid-20s who has previously played for Waikato at NPC level. At one point he spent some time in the New Zealand under-20s setup.
That signing is expected to be announced soon.
“With the locks, we’ve gone for the real hard workers. We needed some depth there,” Rugby Southland director of rugby Matt Saunders said.
Lock is one area where there is not a huge amount of depth in Southland, and throughout New Zealand it seems.
Grayson Knapp has been signed again as a loose forward, but will also be able to provide cover at lock.
Former North Otago and fringe Otago lock Woody Kirkwood is another option. He has joined the Eastern-Northern Barbarians in Southland club rugby in recent weeks.
James Kora is another who has made the shift to Southland in an attempt to push for a Stags spot.