The Canterbury Rugby Union have confirmed three new additions to the Crusaders squad tasked with defending the Super 14 title next season.

Northland duo Jared Payne and Bronson Murray, and Wellington No.8 Thomas Waldrom have all been transferred to the province in order to be eligible for the Crusaders though none will actually play for Canterbury in next year's provincial rugby competition.

The trio have been acquired to bolster a Crusaders squad that will miss eight players from the team that beat the New South Wales Waratahs in this year's final.

Jared Payne, who moved to Northland from Waikato this season, covers the departure of former All Black Scott Hamilton while the 22-year-old's arrival also coincides with Paul Williams' return to his native Auckland and the Blues after two years in Christchurch.

Prop Murray bolsters the front row stocks depleted by All Black Greg Somerville's move to English club Gloucester.

Frustrated at a lack of Super 14 starting opportunities due to All Black No.8 Rodney So'oialo's presence in the capital Waldrom, 25, looms as a straight replacement for Japan-bound Mose Tuiali'i. He will be loaned to Hawke's Bay for next year's New Zealand Cup.

Another Wellington stalwart, lock Ross Filipo, has also transferred to Canterbury after spending five Super 14 campaigns as a draft player for the Crusaders.

In related news, Taranaki second five-eighth Jayden Hayward is joining three other North Islanders on transfer to the Otago Rugby Football Union, making them eligible to play for the Highlanders in next year's Super 14.

Hayward will join the Manawatu pair of Hayden Triggs and Johnny Leota and Hawke's Bay prop Clint Newland, each of whom played for the Highlanders as draft players this year. The four are all transferring to Otago, which makes them eligible for the Highlanders, but each will be loaned back to their home provinces for the 2009 Air NZ Cup.

Otago and Highlanders chief executive Richard Reid today said it was an ideal arrangement because in the case of Triggs, Leota and Newland, it provided coach Glenn Moore with continuity from this year's squad.

"We've always argued that you can't build a team in one year," Reid said. "Some continuity is essential and this arrangement provides that. Securing someone with the talent of Hayward is a bonus."