Super Rugby: Chiefs signing Josh Ioane eager to get back in the 10 jersey

New Chiefs signing Josh Ioane is embracing his new environment in Hamilton as he looks to start afresh and earn his spot in coach Clayton McMillan’s side.

With Damian McKenzie taking up a contract in Japan the fly-half berth at the Chiefs is open for the taking, prompting Ioane to move after four seasons with the Highlanders.

Ioane hopes to rediscover his best form at the Chiefs, producing the kind of performances that earned him the solitary All Black cap that he is hoping to add to.

“Oh, look, that’s every player’s dream, isn’t it,” he told Stuff.

“So to get back there would be awesome. But I think for me right now, my mindset is to try and get into that 10 jersey, that will be the focus, and influence the team where I can this season, and if higher honours come then I’ll be happy. If it doesn’t then it doesn’t.”

A core motivator of the move up north for the 26-year-old was the prospect of settling back into his preferred slot at 10 after being spread across multiple positions with the Highlanders.

“Game-time at 10 was definitely a factor, I felt like I wasn’t getting much game time at 10 at the Landers, and that’s where I wanted to play,” Ioane said.

“Ten is definitely my preferred position, but there’s a lot of competition here, we’ve got essentially four players who can play 10. All three of them have come into pre-season in bloody good shape.”

McKenzie’s departure presents itself as an opportunity for not only Ioane but also Bryn Gatland and Kaleb Trask. Coach McMillan has made no guarantees and believes competition to be healthy.

“The 10 situation is probably one of the most contestable positions in the team,” McMillan said.

“Josh has come to the Chiefs because he wants to play 10 and has sensed an opportunity to