Blues call on Maori star as injury cover

The 1.98m, 112kg lock is a replacement for North Harbour's Brandon Nansen, who is out for the rest of the competition with an injury.

Price has played 41 first class games for Hawkes Bay, Bay of Plenty and Taranaki, as well as a New Zealand Under-20 representative.

He also played for the Maori All Blacks in their northern tour last year.

Price may be pressed into action immediately – against the Brumbies in Auckland on Sunday – dependant on the severity of injuries to current Blues second row forwards, Jimmy Tupou, Patrick Tuipulotu and Josh Goodhue.

Two other young players have assembled with the club as short-term injury replacements.

North Harbour's Hapakuki Moala Liava'a, a former New Zealand Schools and New Zealand Under-20 representative, returns to cover at loose forward, after completing the pre-season training with the Blues.

Auckland outside back Pisi Leilua, a Samoa Under-20 and Auckland Sevens player from the Suburbs club, is also a short-term injury replacement after impressing with the Blues A team.

Source: @BluesRugbyTeam