Then Wider Training Squad Member Frae Wilson made his Hurricanes debut at the tail-end of the 2012 season after being called in to the team as an injury replacement to TJ Perenara.

Wilson played the entire second half in the Hurricanes’ penultimate round gutsy 23-22 win over the Crusaders in Christchurch and came off the bench in the remarkable 28-25 win over the Chiefs which the Hurricanes won deep in extra time.

Like Perenara, Wilson is a product of the Wellington and New Zealand age grade system, and was a World U20 championship winner with the Junior All Blacks in 2009. Before making his Hurricanes debut, Wilson was part of Wellington Lions squads for three seasons between 2009-2011.

A second five-eighth growing up in Wainuiomata and as a boarder of Te Aute College south of Hastings, Wilson also followed in the footsteps of Piri Weepu who is also from Wainuiomata and attended Te Aute College.

Wilson was selected in the Maori All Blacks that toured the UK in November 2012.

He was a Highlanders Wider Training Squad member in 2013 and 2014, and returned to the Hurricanes WTG in 2015