Lavea back at the Blues
Sun, 05 Oct 2008 09:21
Tasesa Lavea has confirmed he'll be back at the Blues next year.
Ever since Pat Lam was named as the new Blues coach a few months ago, speculation has been rife about who he will turn to in the all important flyhalf position next season.
Lavea revealed to Sunday News the move north had been agreed.
"I signed the other day," said Lavea who previously played for the Blues from 2004 to 2006.
"I'm a bit nervous because the last time I was there it was a hard season for me.
"But at the same time that's in the past and I'm getting back with Pat and Howy (Shane Howarth). I know their structures and the game plan they want to implement.
"It came down to family in the end. My family are up here (in Auckland) and my son, so I have to travel to the Chiefs.
"But the Chiefs have been great to me, Fozzie (Ian Foster) really took me in and they were like a family to me down there.
"I'll miss those guys because they're a good bunch".
While Lavea has signed with the Blues, he'll remain a Counties Manukau player next season.
Lavea has captained the province this season and has put in several man-of-the-match performances since returning from the ankle injury that forced him to sit out the early part of this year.
He is expected to get the majority of game time in the Blues No 10 jersey next season with Jimmy Gopperth being his backup.
Lam and Howarth were keen admirers of Lavea during his time with Auckland and it's understandable why they'd go for him again at the Super rugby level.
Flyhalf stocks inside the Blues provinces is at an all-time low. Nick Evans is at Harlequins, Northland veteran David Holwell has ruled out a return to Super Rugby, choosing to concentrate on his farm, while Lachie Munro has yet prove he can control a game at Air New Zealand Cup level.
This just leaves Gopperth, who recently completed his transfer from Wellington to North Harbour and there was no way Lam and Howarth wanted to go into their first season at this level without a quality playmaker.
