Openside flanker Tom Harding will play for Waikato in the 2008 Air New Zealand Cup campaign with the province announcing their 36-man training squad for the forthcoming championships.
Harding, 26, has signed a contract to be on loan from Wellington to play for Waikato this season. This season he was drafted into the Chiefs where he played three games, enjoying his Rebel Sport Super 14 debut against the Waratahs in Hamilton back in February.
Harding also played for Wellington in 2007 and before then played for Worcester Warriors in the United Kingdom for a year and half. He is a former New Zealand age-group rugby representative.
The other new signings for Waikato this season include a one-year contract with loose forward Fafili Levave and a two-year contract with lock Kevin O'Neill.
Levave, 22, played his debut Super 14 season with the Chiefs this year playing a total of 12 games for the franchise. He is a former Wellington Air New Zealand Cup player and was also a member of the New Zealand Under 21 squad in 2007. He plays blindside flanker and number 8.
O'Neill, 26, a former Crusaders and Canterbury player who played 13 games for the Chiefs this season is originally from the Waikato having been born and bred in Te Aroha. O'Neill was also a member of the Junior All Blacks in 2005.
Waikato coach Tony Hanks said: "it is great to have three quality players at different points in their careers joining Waikato."
"Faifili is a young player with huge potential and is ready for opportunities. Kevin has shown good progress at Super 14 level and will be keen for regular game time. He will bring experience to our tight five."
"Tom has an opportunity to prove himself. He is an experienced specialist openside flanker who will provide valuable competition and support within our Waikato squad."
It is straight down to business for the province with the extended squad training for the next month before being culled to 26.
Hanks said: "the training squad players will train at Waikato Stadium over the next four weeks and will continue to play club rugby during this time. It is their opportunity to impress before a squad of 26 is chosen to play against Hawke's Bay in the preseason match in Napier on 11 July."
The final 2008 Waikato Air New Zealand Cup squad will be announced on 22 July.
Hanks said Waikato's All Blacks, New Zealand Maori, New Zealand Under 20 and Manu Samoa Under 20 representative players would join the squad when their representative seasons are completed.
The Waikato Air New Zealand Cup training squad is:
Armyn Sanders (Hautapu)
Sosene Anesi (Marist)
James Kamana (Fraser Tech)
Watene Waenga (Marist)
Roimata Hansell-Pune (Fraser Tech)
Henry Speight (Hamilton Old Boys)
Tim Mikkelson (University)
Sam Christie (Fraser Tech)
David Bason (Hautapu)
Malcolm Barnes (Hamilton Old Boys)
Josh Sutherland (Marist)
Matt Cameron (Hamilton Old Boys)
Jordan Smiler (Hautapu)
Adam Cathcart (Hamilton Old Boys)
Tom Harding
Matt Blain (Hautapu)
Murray Iti (Hamilton Old Boys)
Faifili Levave
Kent Fife (Hautapu)
Kevin O'Neill
Romana Graham (Hautapu)
Josh Olsen (Marist)
Toby Lynn (Te Rapa)
Jono Gibbes (Te Awamutu)
Nathan White (Te Awamutu)
Josh Hohneck (Fraser Tech)
Toby Smith (Hamilton Old Boys)
Craig West (Hamilton Old Boys)
Hikairo Forbes (Hautapu)
Mike Moore (Fraser Tech)
Brad Chubb (Fraser Tech)
Ted Tauroa (Otorohanga)
Shaun Muir (Hamilton Old Boys)
Simon Chisholm (Matamata)
Thomas Scheres (Fraser Tech)
Vern Kamo (Fraser Tech)
Injury Update: Mark Burman was not considered for selection due to his season ending knee injury sustained earlier this year. Prop Craig West currently has a pelvic injury, halfback Josh Sutherland is recovering from a shoulder operation and midfielder Watene Waenga has a broken thumb.