Former All Blacks wing Waisake Naholo will attempt to earn a contract with the Crusaders after joining the team’s pre-season training for Super Rugby Pacific.

Naholo has reportedly been brought into the Crusaders’ pre-season for the 2022 season, joining his younger brother and fellow wing Kini at the club.

The 30-year-old returned to New Zealand last year after an injury-plagued stint with London Irish in the English Premiership.

Naholo tried to earn a Super Rugby contract by turning out for Canterbury during last year’s NPC campaign, but there were no takers.

However, the Crusaders have decided to give Naholo an opportunity as the club is not expecting their All Blacks to return until February.

Naholo played 62 games for the Highlanders between 2015 and 2019,  helping the club win their first Super Rugby title in 2015, when he finished as the season’s top try-scorer with 13 tries.

He made his Test debut for the All Blacks in 2015 and earned 27 Test caps, scoring 16 tries and playing his last Test against Italy in November 2018.

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