Blues and Auckland winger David Smith has signed a two-year contract with Wellington for the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
Justin Marshall's hopes of returning to see out his career in New Zealand have been dashed.
New Zealand's domestic rugby competitions will be played under 16 of the Experimental Law Variations (ELVs), the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) has announced.
Auckland coach Pat Lam is the first candidate to throw his name into the hat for the soon to be vacated coaching position at the Blues.
Bay of Plenty have retained the services of prop Simms Davison, fly-half Mike Delany, number eight Colin Bourke and openside flanker Tanerau Latimer to the end of the 2008 Air New Zealand Cup season.
Saracens second row Tom Ryder will head to New Zealand at the end of the season to play for Taranaki in the Air New Zealand Cup.
Big spending French Pro D2 club RC Toulon have recruited former All Blacks centre Nathan Mauger as a medical joker.
Wasps fly-half Dave Walder has been ruled out of action for three months after undergoing surgery to rectify a fractured fibula in his left leg.
With former Wasps forwards coach Craig Dowd now in charge of New Zealand side North Harbour the two clubs have set up a player exchange system.
London Wasps fly-half Dave Walder is bucking the trend for New Zealanders to move north by heading south to join North Harbour for the Air New Zealand Cup this year.
Full-back Scott Ireland is in doubt for Taranaki's representative rugby season after breaking a leg playing club rugby in England.
Member of Parliament (MP) Bob Clarkson is a key figure behind plans to privatise the financially struggling Bay of Plenty rugby team.
New Zealand Sevens captain DJ Forbes has signed with the Counties Manukau Steelers for the Air New Zealand Cup season.
The Waikato Rugby Union (WRU) has appointed former All Black centre Scott McLeod as the new Skills coach for the Air New Zealand (ANZ) Cup team.
The Air New Zealand Cup will kick off a five-day rugby feast in July, with double headers on both Thursday and Friday nights of the opening weekend.