Wharenui Hawera has played his last game for the Brumbies with the playmaker heading to Japan but the club has locked in two young centres in a boon for their future.
Hawera was granted an early release from his Brumbies contract to join Top League side Kubota Spears immediately.
The 25-year-old has been with the Brumbies since the start of 2017, initially coming in as Christian Lealiifano's replacement.
This season, though, the 10 has been overtaken in the inside backs stakes with Lealiifano in vintage form and Tom Wright and Irae Simone battling it out for the no. 12 position.
Brumbies CEO Phil Thomson said the team was happy to support Hawera in his decision to head to Japan before the end of the Super Rugby season.
“We would like to thank Wharenui for his service to the club and for his time as a player at the Plus500 Brumbies.
“This is a great opportunity for Wharenui that he wanted to take up to be in Japan in June, which we are willing to support and the Brumbies club wishes him all the best for his future."
News of Hawera's departure comes a day after the club confirmed the re-signing of young centres Noah Lolesio and Len Ikitau.
Ikitau impressed in his Super Rugby debut a fortnight ago against the Blues, replacing Wallaby Tevita Kuridrani in the lineup, and his promise has been rewarded with a three-year deal running to 2021.
Lolesio, who has signed through to 2022, is developing in the Brumbies academy and is part of the Junior Wallabies squad for their upcoming World Rugby U20s campaign.
“The extension of both Lenny and Noah’s contracts continues our objective of growing and promoting our own Super Rugby talent at the club,” coach Dan McKellar said.
“Both are highly talented and hard-working young backs who have a bright future in the game. Lenny has already made an impression on his debut against the Blues and Noah has been in tremendous form for the Junior Wallabies.
“They are exciting players who will no doubt continue to improve, and we look forward helping and seeing their further development and progress with the Brumbies.”
