Veteran utility forward Hoani MacDonald has signed with Southland and the Highlanders for the 2012 Super Rugby and ITM Cup season.
Veteran signed as cover for New Zealand franchise
Veteran forward Hoani MacDonald has signed a contract with Southland and the Highlanders for the coming year.
The 33-year-old, who can play lock and blindside flank, has returned from Australia where he had a season to go on a two-year deal with the Rebels.
MacDonald, who is a cousin of Highlanders head coach Jamie Joseph, has been included in the New Zealand franchise's wider training squad.
He could be brought into the main squad as cover for All Blacks lock Jarrad Hoeta - who is recovering from a torn pectoral muscle and could miss the opening month of the season - and English loose forward James Haskell, who arrives from Japan at the start of March.
MacDonald, who is a Junior All Black, joined the side's training after the holiday break on Monday.
He represented Southland between 2000 and 2008, and spent five seasons with the Highlanders, before signing with Welsh region the Dragons in the RaboDirect PRO12.
He spent 18 months in Europe before moving on to the Rebels where his season was blighted by a serious hand injury in the their opening Super Rugby match.
Meanwhile, the Highlanders will head into a camp in Wanaka next week ahead of their first pre-season match, against the Crusaders in Greymouth on February 3.
The Highlanders kick off their campaign against the Chiefs in Hamilton on February 25.
