Lomax switches Super Rugby franchises for 2020

May 31, 2019
1988
Ultimate Rugby

One test All Black prop Tyrel Lomax will leave the Highlanders at the end of the season and join the Hurricanes.

Highlanders CEO Roger Clark confirmed to Stuff.co.nz, that the promising tighthead will leave the franchise for Wellington after his partner accepted a job in the capital.

For the Hurricanes, Lomax is a big boost for their 2020 squad with Jeff Toomaga-Allen set to depart the Wellington-based side to join former Hurricanes head coach Chris Boyd at Northampton Saints.

Lomax adds to a growing list of top Highlanders leaving the Dunedin side with Liam Squire, Luke Whitelock, Jackson Hemopo, Elliot Dixon, Waisake Naholo, Ben Smith, Marty Banks, Tom Franklin, Matt Faddes and Richard Buckman all taking up deals overseas.

"In our case realistically there's only probably a couple of players that we have lost that you'd say, 'we wish wish we hadn't'," Clark said.

"The rest are all at the stage where they're leaving because of money and the fact they've seen their opportunities of playing for the All Blacks diminish.

"Only Luke Whitelock and Jackson Hemopo are two that we really would like to have kept here.

"The rest of the guys have got to the stage where it's time to go. Most people understand that."

Clark also revealed that the franchise had signed a mix of Super Rugby players and rising talent, including members of this year's New Zealand under-20s squad.

"The guys that we will be announcing next week will give you an idea of what the back three are looking like," he said.

"They are all going to be guys that are 20 or 21.

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