Highlanders fullback Vilimoni Koroi and one-test All Black Josh Ioane have been axed from the Otago Mitre 10 competition side to face Northland in Dunedin on Friday for disciplinary reasons.
Stuff.co reports that Koroi and Ioane had breached team protocol after the game last weekend and as a consequence they are unavailable for selection this week.
Josh Ioane trained with the All Blacks in the early part of last week.
Stuff says the breach involved alcohol, and that both players turned up to training in an unacceptable state, leaving coach Tom Donnelly no choice but to omit them from the Northland game.
Jono Hickey, who is normally a halfback, has been handed the No 10 jersey, with rookie Harrison Boyle providing cover from the bench.
Koroi made his debut for the Highlanders against the Chiefs in round one of Super Rugby Aotearoa and is seen as a potential star of the future, having first made his name in sevens. However, despite their importance, Otago could not afford to hit either player with a feather duster after the indiscretion.
Otago are currently joint top of the Mitre 10 Championship ladder with Hawke's Bay, but are just two competition points ahead of Northland.
Source: Stuff.co.nz
