Then it will be 11 days of work before the opening pre-season match of the year, against the Waratahs in Sydney on January 17. Highlanders assistant coach Mark Hammett said everyone involved with the Highlanders was fully aware of what was ahead for the team. "These first three weeks have been really worthwhile and we are really happy with the guys, not just physically . He is a really good coach and having him and Azza [head coach Aaron Mauger] on both sides of the field means we are doing some really good things during pre-season." The side was supposed to finish training yesterday afternoon with some time at St Kilda Beach but poor weather forced players to train at the gym instead.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 20, 2019 15:45 UTC