Harry Inch of the Crusaders during the Super Rugby pre-season rugby match, Crusaders Vs Blues , at the Kirwee Rugby Club, Kirwee, New Zealand, 31st January 2025. Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2025 www.photosport.nz
A highly touted rugby prospect is set for a code switch.
Nelson's 19-year-old Harry Inch has signed a two-year-deal with the Warriors after an impressive junior career which saw him ranked one of the country's most promising union talents.
Inch was a standout in the Nelson College First XV's impressive campaign in 2024 which saw it reach the final of the national secondary schools' Top Four, before losing to Hamilton Boys' High School.
He made the New Zealand Schools side and was later brought into the Tasman Mako and Crusaders development programmes.
Warriors general manager for recruitment and development Andrew McFadden said they have had their eye on the young prodigy for a while.
Nelson College’s Harry Inch looks to pass, NZ Barbarians National 1st XV Championship, Nelson College v Hamilton Boys High School, Central Energy Trust Arena, Palmerston North, Sunday September 08 2024. Photo: Kerry Marshall / www.photosport.nz
"He's a terrific player and a great young person with all the attributes needed to go a long way in rugby league. As well as his set of skills, he has a real toughness about him."
Easily recognisable by his curly-haired mullet, Inch may just give Warriors reigning mane man Dallin Watene-Zelezniak a serious run for best hair at the club.
Inch had some game time in a Super Rugby trial match for the Crusaders against the Blues earlier this year when he lined up outside Wallabies first five-eighth James O'Connor.
Crusaders assistant coach James Marshall said Inch was as tough as they come.
"He's just not afraid of anything. He's a farmer, [with] farmer strength. He beats all the boys in the wrestles in the gym and he's just a kid out of school."
Inch will join the Warriors' Jersey Flegg Cup squad when pre-season training starts next month.
NZ Schools' Harry Inch from Nelson College at the NZ Schools vs Samoa U18 at St Paul’s Collegiate, Hamilton, New Zealand on 2 October 2024. Photo: DJ Mills / www.photosport.nz
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
