Fly-half Wharenui Hawera has won the battle for the final spot on the ACT Brumbies' roster signing a one-year deal with the two-time Super Rugby champions for the 2017 season.
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Hawera battled it out with Tuggeranong Vikings playmaker Isaac Thompson during the pre-season, with Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham giving the Southland Stags No.10 the nod on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old moved to Canberra to train with the Brumbies after a strong campaign for the Stags in New Zealand's National Provincial Championship last year.
His next challenge is to try and win the Brumbies' No.10 jersey, which is up for grabs following the departure of Matt Toomua and Christian Lealiifano's battle with leukaemia.
Larkham said Hawera was one of several players in the running to cover for Lealiifano, who continues to recover from a bone-marrow transplant late last year.
Former Western Force inside back Kyle Godwin, as well as youngsters Nic Jooste and Jordan Jackson-Hope are other options available to Larkham to fill the playmaking role.
Larkham said last year Hawera had been "on the fringes of New Zealand Super Rugby teams" and described him as a "really attacking player".
"He has a tremendous skill-set and excellent pace and will provide plenty of competition for the No.10 jersey alongside our other options in that position," Larkham said in regards to Hawera.
"His attitude in training has been superb and he is settling well into the environment."
Hawera has the remainder of the pre-season and then the Brumbies' two trials to force his way into the starting XV.
The Brumbies' first trial is against the Australian Barbarians at Viking Park on January 28 before they travel to Mudgee to take on the NSW Waratahs a week later.
Hawera said he'd had a nervous wait in the lead-up to Christmas to find out whether he'd been successful in earning himself a Super Rugby contract.
He was considering a switch to the Kiwi sevens program before the Brumbies came knocking.
"It's an exciting challenge and one that I am looking forward to," he said.
"To be afforded the opportunity to be a part of the Brumbies Rugby squad is fantastic and I will be working hard to ensure I am in the best position to put my hand up for selection in the starting XV.
"It was a nervous wait for me during the pre-Christmas period to see whether I would be taken on and I just made sure that I gave myself the best opportunity by training hard and putting in the effort on the paddock.
"Fortunately, it has paid off for me and I am looking forward to seeing what the experience of playing Super Rugby brings."
