Hore and Woodcock Gone from Highlanders for 2014

In the worst kept secret so far of the Super Rugby off season, Andrew Hore and Tony Woodcock will not play for the Highlanders next season.

Andrew Hore is off contract and is set to retire from top class rugby at the end of the season while John Kirwan has managed to entice Tony Woodcock back up north to the Blues for 2014.

It is a big blow for Jamie Joseph especially considering that he let Jamie Mackintosh leave for the Chiefs after the Southland skipper failed to get much game time this season because of Woodcock's presence.

Joseph will have to find two replacements very quickly but given that most top class props and hookers are already signed up by other Super Rugby franchises, that task will be very hard.

Andrew Hore's time at the Highlanders has earned him a place amongst fans down south, while Tony Woodcock's time has been okay to say the least with Highlanders fans not really seeing the best of him.

The Highlanders might very well struggle to avoid being the last placed Super Rugby franchise in NZ - along with Woodcock, Hore and Mackintosh, they've also lost Colin Slade, Hosea Gear and Tamati Ellison for next season.

Questions must now surely be asked of Jamie Joseph and whether his presence might very well be drawing people away from the Deep South.