By Stu Piddington

South Canterbury rugby is about to get an unexpected boost with Kieran Coll deciding to play for Pleasant Point.

The Christchurch-based Coll was co-captain of the South Canterbury Heartland side last season, playing as one of three loan players in the side.

The talented No.8's decision will see him included as a local rather than loan for South Canterbury, which also makes him eligible for selection into the New Zealand Heartland team.

Kieran Coll will play club rugby for Pleasant Point which will make him eligible for selection in the New Zealand ...
Mytchall Bransgrove
Kieran Coll will play club rugby for Pleasant Point which will make him eligible for selection in the New Zealand Heartland team.

That will also allow Heartland coach Barry Matthews more flexibility with his loan players as Coll would have filled a spot.

It will also bolster Pleasant Point's chances of the Hamersley Cup crown at the business end of the season.

Coll said he decided to travel south to see if he could make NZ Heartland team.

"I just really wanted to have a crack at the Heartland team, it was certainly my incentive. It would be great to wear the jersey."

Coll said he might not ge another opportunity but the decision had not been easy.

Last year he captained the Christchurch Rugby Club premier side to the final and was again an influential player for the team.

The 28-year-old Coll is however recovering from a posterior cruciate ligament injury and has not played for a month. 

The injury however helped make his decision to join Pleasant Point.

"I hadn't been with the (Christchurch Rugby Club) boys for a month, so I had time think and it was a little easier pulling away."

He told his team-mates last night he would be pulling the pin.

Coll said he was unsure when he would play his first game for Pleasant Point but had lodged his transfer papers to South Canterbury.

The versatile No.8 has previously had a stint in Russia and also played for Hawke's Bay.

His choice of Pleasant Point came about because his father Pat, uncles Cedric (who manages the South Canterbury team ) and Gerard had a long association with the club from when they lived on a family farm at Cannington.

South Canterbury coach Barry Matthews said it was outstanding that a player of Coll's calibre was prepared to make the effort to put himself in contention for the Heartland team.

Matthews said not only was Coll an excellent player but his leadership skills also set him aside.

"He is a former Christchurch Metro captain, so that says something."

"With Kieran and Frank (Havea) committing to us it is a great start."

It will also gives us a bit more flexibility when it comes to other loan players, he said.

Matthews said he had no input to where Coll had chosen to play.

"Pat (his father) no doubt had a big influence in persuading to come down, so I understand with their family association to Point. that is where he would want to play."

Matthews said he was still busy working on the other loan players and hoped Nick Annear would recommit.

"I haven't spoken to Nick for a while but he knows we are keen to have him back."  

Matthews said he would get his first Heartland preseason squad together in June.

"There are certainly some new players in club rugby that I am keen to have a closer look at."