Super Rugby News
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And don't forget the new tackle laws. I have a horrible feeling I am going to get sick of games ruined by yellow and red cards.
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In all honesty i have zero excitement/anticipation with regards to the forthcoming rugby season.
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@mariner4life Understandable, as the Chiefs won't make the playoffs this year.
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At first look his running style and balance reminds me of Rupeni Caucau.
Siave Togoiu might just be one of the hottest rugby prospects in Auckland, if not New Zealand right now.
It took the Mangere 17-year-old, better known for his rugby league feats with national secondary school champions Southern Cross Campus, just one international sevens tournament to have agents, provinces and super rugby franchises beating a path to his door.
Auckland and the Blues, the teams the teenager confirmed he'll be playing for, were the first to court the winger. Waikato and the Chiefs also expressed an interest.
Siave Togoiu, right, with Junior Poluleuligaga, the coach of the Samoa schoolboy sevens team.
The frenzy erupted as Togoiu set alight the inaugural World Schools Sevens Championship at Sacred Heart College last weekend.
He had a sensational two days. He led Samoa to the finals where they lost to Australia 24-19 and was named player of the tournament.
Togoiu has been taken aback by all the attention.
"I'm surprised by all the attention. I never expected anything like this. I've been receiving calls from agents nearly every day since the tournament finished. All were prepared to sign me up, if I didn't already have a manager.
"It's exciting, I've always wanted to play professionally. This is my chance."
Togoiu hasn't put pen to paper yet but confirms that he will sign for Auckland and the Blues with whom he rubbed shoulders with at a training session at Manukau Rovers Rugby Club late last year.He was seen in discussions with Tom Hanks, the Blues high performance manager, rubbed shoulders with Blues players and even got to talk to head coach and All Black great Tana Umaga.
The irony of it all is that Togoiu wasn't supposed to play in the tournament.
He and kid-brother Kakoi , the player of the tournament at the national secondary school rugby league championships, were roped into a make shift Samoa team just days before kickoff by Papatoetoe Rugby Club director of rugby Junior Poluleuligaga.
Poluleuligaga was asked to stitch a make shift team of Aucklanders together less than a week out from the tournament when Samoa couldn't send a team.
The rest is history as the scamble for Togoiu signature began before the tournament had ended.
Poluleuligaga, a former Samoa, Auckland and Blues halfback, says he has never seen such a frenzy before.
"Siave is the hottest rugby prospect in New Zealand right now. Everyone, from agents, provinces and Super 15 franchises want his signature.
"It's his speed, foot work and balance that sets him apart," he says.
But Siave says his first aim is just to crack the Auckland under-18s.
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That's the highlights package?
He's fast. Very fast.
But, didn't see much evidence of any skills - no switching the ball to the other side when trying to beat a man, no sign of a developed passing game, and can't no chip kick? Really? Next big thing? Ok.
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How were Auckland able to keep Harry Plummer, Tanielu Telea, Caleb Clarke, Niven Longopoa, Mosese Pepa and this kid in the same year? Really good retention of talent by Auckland these last two years.
It seems doubling the academy spots from 12 to 24 per year is really paying off for Auckland. More spots to retain more players. 12 spots seemed very little for a big catchment like Auckland.
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@Dice Makes sense with more academy spots - should have happened a long time ago.
Arent there some other young wing talent on the Auckland books also? T Vaega, Wesley Tameifuna and Freedom Vaha'akolo?
Good to hear of this signing. He looks to have plenty of raw talent. Was a bit underwhelmed by Auckland Mitre 10 Cup outside backs this year and some of Blues signings in that area are a bit meh so good to see young talent on way through.
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@KiwiMurph Yup, those 3 outside backs are still on Auckland's books. Another young outside back who is also with Auckland is Otumaka Mausia. He played well at fullback for the Auckland U19s last year and managed to make the NZ U20s camp squad, but he was unable to attend due to injury.
@Tim Still with Auckland for at least another year or two. He'll probably be starting 10 for Samoa in the U20s World Cup this year after missing out on the camp team for NZ. With no Hickey this year, it'll be interesting to see where he is in the pecking order for Auckland. If they select 3 10s, he should definitely be one of them.
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Nehe Milner has re-signed with NZR and the Hurricanes through to the end of the 2019 season.
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Ash Dixon is the new Highlanders co-captain with Ben Smith, again, being the other one.
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Parker out, Banks back for Highlanders
Marty Banks has been confirmed as a Highlander for 2017, as injury sidelines Hayden Parker. Banks released a statement today that he has signed...
Banks apparently now joining Treviso after the Super season...personal circumstances apparently.
You'd think these would have been conveyed and discussed with Treviso pretty much from the moment they arose - rather than them seemingly having no idea what was going on. Strange behaviour by Marty and his agent.
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@Chris-B. said in Super Rugby News:
You'd think these would have been conveyed and discussed with Treviso pretty much from the moment they arose - rather than them seemingly having no idea what was going on. Strange behaviour by Marty and his agent.
True but then if the personal circumstances had messed him up a bit then it's somewhat understandable.
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@Frye said in Super Rugby News:
@Chris-B. said in Super Rugby News:
You'd think these would have been conveyed and discussed with Treviso pretty much from the moment they arose - rather than them seemingly having no idea what was going on. Strange behaviour by Marty and his agent.
True but then if the personal circumstances had messed him up a bit then it's somewhat understandable.
But, that's part of the reason why you haven an agent isn't it? If I was his agent I would have been hunting him down the second I knew he wasn't on the plane he was supposed to be on - and in continuous contact with Treviso.
Treviso has certainly given the impression he's simply been AWOL with no explanations - from Marty or his agent - for the past couple of months.
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