After an encouraging year in 2012 in which coach Mark Hammett managed to establish some cohesiveness in the side following the culling of several influential players, the Hurricanes have bolstered their squad ahead of the 2013 season with the inclusion of versatile lock/loose-forward Blade Thomson.
2012 was a big year for the 197cm-tall Thomson, who was a member of the Hurricanes wider training group and made his ITM Cup debut for Taranaki, being part of a side that enjoyed a hugely successful season that included a spot in the Semi-finals and a stint as Ranfurly Shield holders.
Thomson was a member of the New Zealand Under-20 that won the IRB Junior World Cup in Argentina in 2010, where he played alongside the likes of Crusaders’ Tyler Bleyendaal and Tom Marshall, and break-out All Blacks star Julian Savea.
Thomson’s ability to play in a variety of positions will be a huge asset to Hammett ahead of the coming season, with the rangy forward providing cover for locks James Broadhurst, Mark Reddish, Jeremy Thursh and the veteran Jason Eaton, but also possessing the attributes to slot in to the loose forward trio at either blindside flanker or Number 8. In combination with Ardie Savea, younger brother of Julian, this could make the Hurricanes’ loose-forward unit one of the most exciting and dynamic in the Super XV this year.
