The Chiefs have bolstered their front row with two new props for next year as they look to cover for concussion-plagued Ben Afeaki.
And for one of the new recruits it is a case of coming home to Waikato.
Young Taranaki prop Mitchell Graham, who has been signed along with even younger Canterbury prop Siate Tokolahi, is originally from Putaruru and attended St Peter's School near Cambridge.
The contracting of the pair takes the Chiefs' propping stocks for next season to six, although Afeaki is still in doubt and even if he is cleared to resume training today is likely to miss at least the start of the season in February as he gets himself back to full fitness.
He has not played since a head clash with team-mate Brodie Retallick in the Chiefs' opening match this year against the Crusaders in Christchurch on February 21.
Graham, 23, is a qualified chemical engineer but has been snapped up by the Chiefs after a solid ITM Cup season for Taranaki. Originally a tighthead, Graham has dominated on the loosehead side of the scrum for the province.
"It is great to have the opportunity to play Super Rugby for my home team," Graham said.
"From what I have heard and seen it is a great team culture and I am looking forward to being part of it."
The 1.87 metre, 122kg prop played for Canterbury A, B and under-21 teams while studying at Canterbury University.
Chiefs head coach Dave Rennie has been impressed by what he has seen from Graham this season and his ability to play both sides of the front row.
"He is a smart kid and a quick learner, who is prepared to work hard and make some physical shifts," Rennie said.
Tokolahi, 22 has also been signed, giving the Chiefs six contracted props.
Tokolahi, who five years ago was the subject of allegations from Auckland's Sacred Heart College of poaching by Christchurch's St Bede's College, has mostly come off the bench for Canterbury this year as a loosehead but has also started at tighthead.
The Chiefs have been given dispensation for the extra prop but Rennie said they had still not gone outside their 32-man main squad and six-man wider training group.
Other newcomers signed by the Chiefs include Hawke's Bay lock Michael Allardice and in-demand, powerful, Fiji-born Taranaki midfield back Seta Tamanivalu.
Tamanivalu, 22, was sought after by three other New Zealand franchises, as well as others in Australia and South Africa, but he opted to stay close to home.
"I decided to come to the Chiefs because I like the environment and the coaching staff," said Tamanivalu, who spent some time with the Chiefs last season and played for the Chiefs Development team.
The powerful 1.87m, 106kg centre, who can also play on the wing and is regarded as being a potential second five, is a former St Kentigern College student in Auckland and is a product of the Taranaki academy.
"Seta is the form centre in the ITM Cup," Rennie said. "He's a powerful ball carrier who's been difficult to contain and a huge contributor to Taranaki's success."
The Chiefs have still to announce one outside back, with former Chief and Japan-based Lelia Masaga still in the hunt, plus two loose forwards, with Auckland openside flanker Sean Polwart a leading contender for one of those berths.
They have also been forced into a last-minute search for another halfback, with All Black Tawera Kerr-Barlow in doubt for the Super Rugby season after suffering serious leg injuries in last Sunday's Rugby Championship loss to the Springboks in Johannesburg.
"Ultimately we have to seek a clearance to get another halfback," Rennie said. "If he is going to miss the whole campaign then we can replace him but if he is only going to miss part of it then we have to suck it up.
"But at this stage it is a nine- to 10-month injury, so if that's the case that will take him out for the whole season. It's a massive loss from that point of view."
