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Wednesday, Wed, 19 FebruaryFeb 2025
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Rugby: 'Easy decision' to stay with Highlanders

Adam Thomson.
Adam Thomson.
Loose forward Adam Thomson says he wants to be involved in the new Highlanders regime and that, in the end, convinced him to stay.

Thomson (28) announced yesterday he had re-signed with the Highlanders for the next two years, ending speculation he would be heading to the Crusaders.

"In the end, when I had all the information it was an easy decision to make. I think just leading up to it I was not sure of what all the offers were," he said.

"But I talked to the right people. There was interest from other places but at the end of the day I'm staying down here."

Thomson had been pursued hard by the Crusaders, and he said there were other offers on the table, but his decision to re-sign is another coup for new Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph.

Thomson, who has played all his provincial rugby for Otago, as well as 39 games for the Highlanders, said he had spoken to Joseph and new assistant coach Simon Culhane and he liked what he heard.

"They have just brought a fresh outlook to the team and are committed to playing a style of rugby which I think is the way the game is going.

Jamie has great success with Wellington and with the Maori as well.

"The feeling with the Highlanders is really positive. Roger Clark has done a great job.

"He's come in and taken the reins and put it in the right direction. I think the vision they have developed is a good one.

"I really want to concentrate on making that World Cup squad and play well for the Highlanders to get into that squad."

He said the decision was one he had been thinking about for a while but it never got in the way of his game.

"At times it was tough but to be honest I just thought about playing footy when I had to and switched off about the decision when I had to."

He confirmed although he would be playing for the Highlanders for the next two seasons, his chief motivation was getting back into the All Black squad.

Joseph said he had talked to Thomson as soon as he got the Highlanders coaching job and he was glad Thomson was staying.

"He is a class player and it is good that he has come to this decision," Joseph said.

"That was the key thing. That he had to make a decision so the team could go forward.

"He is a proven player who has played for the All Blacks and wants to get back into the All Blacks.

"That is what was confusing him a bit. The last season was really disappointing for Adam and that is why he was undecided about staying.

"But there is confidence now we have got the right feel, the right players and he can get back into the All Blacks."

Joseph said when he first spoke to Thomson he was 50-50 about staying and ultimately it was up to Thomson to make the decision.

His re-signing comes on the back of the signing of key first five-eighth Colin Slade from the Crusaders, while Manawatu duo Aaron Smith and Nick Crosswell, Wellington midfield back Shaun Treeby and Taranaki forward utility Jarrad Hoeata have also signed for next year.

Thomson has played 17 tests since 2008 but was dropped for the All Black Tri-Nations squad this season after making the squad for the early June tests.

 

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