Solomon Alaimalo has rejoined the Chiefs for pre-season after not playing in Super Rugby since February last year after talk about your mental health problems.
The talented 26-year-old outside full-back switched to the Highlanders for the 2021 campaign, but played just once in two seasons after moving south.
Via social media, he revealed in June last year that he was struggling “with depression and anxiety for multiple reasons” and took a break from gaming.
Alaimalo played in the last two NPC seasons for Southland but did not appear for the Highlanders in this year’s inaugural Super Rugby Pacific.
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He said Stuff in november of last year that mental health struggle had been with him throughout his professional sports career.
Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan said Alaimalo was in a “great place” and confirmed he had other offers.
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Solomon Alaimalo played just once for the Highlanders after leaving the Chiefs in 2020.
However, Hamilton was his preferred destination after spending four seasons with the Chiefs, living in the city, while playing 47 games between 2017 and 2020.
“He’s had a few [injury] issues to overcome, which is understandable given his long absence from rugby,” McMillan said.
“He is comfortable to be back in this environment, happy to be back in Hamilton surrounded by familiar people, and we don’t have any real expectations of him.
“We want you to come here as a replacement player, take your time and we’ll do an evaluation in the future.”
The Chiefs on Thursday named an additional 13 replacement players who will be with their broader squad for the preseason that began last Friday, including Alaimalo.
They are training with the team to cover their All Blacks and All Blacks XV players who will join later after finishing their respective northern tours just a few weeks ago.
That includes All Blacks like Samisoni Taukei’aho, Brodie Retallick, Sam Cane, Brad Weber, Anton Lienert-Brown and Damian McKenzie.
McMillan said that his All Blacks were due to return on 24 January. The All Blacks XV players return on January 9.
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Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan says Solomon Alaimalo is in a “great place.”
Ruled out All Blacks lose Pita striker Gus Sowakulawho played two Tests against Ireland in July, started pre-season with the rest of the Chiefs squad who were not with any of the touring teams.
The chances are good that someone like Alaimalo could get another shot at Super Rugby if McMillan’s side suffer injuries once their season begins in February.
The All Blacks are also expected to rest for the entire season ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup in France, opening the door for more replacement players to have a chance.
That could lead to Alaimalo’s first Super Rugby appearance after a two-year absence, although his return is not yet certain.
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Warren Gatland has a proven track record in international rugby union.
The Chiefs have McKenzie, Emoni Narawa, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Shaun Stevenson, Gideon Wrampling and new signings Ngatungane Punivai and Penaisi Malimali, their hired outside running backs when they are part of Super Rugby teams. they were announced last month.
Alaimalo became a regular for the Chiefs at fullback or wing-back and was called up to the All Blacks in 2018 due to his excellent form, but injuries in the following seasons stalled his career.
His last appearance for the Chiefs was in Super Rugby Aotearoa in 2020 when dislocated left shoulder while scoring with an acrobatic finish against the Blues at Eden Park.
Prop Solomone Tukuafu and lock Hamilton Burr are other select replacements who have played for the Chiefs before.
His Waikato teammate, full-back Liam Coombes-Fabling, has also been added after playing for the Highlanders last season.
The Chiefs also named five youngsters who have national development contracts who will be with the team during the preseason.
Chiefs replacement players for preseason: Adam Lennox, Connor Collins, Daniel Rona, Hamilton Burr, Jacob Norris, Jadin Kingi, Lalomilo Lalomilo, Liam Coombes-Fabling, Solomon Alaimalo, Solomone Tukuafu, Taine Kolosi, Te Rama Reuben, Wallace Sititi.
Actors of the national development contract: Cody Nordstrom, Fiti Sa, Jole Naufahu, Kauvaka Kaivelata, Toby Taylor.
Where to get help
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