Exodus 2017
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Hika Elliott has signed with Pro D2 champions Oyonnax for 2 seasons. Another Kiwi to the Top 14 in France.
http://www.usorugby.com/le-talonneur-all-black-des-chiefs-hika-elliot-rejoint-lus-oyonnax/
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Now with a brief article in English:
Hika Elliot signs for French club US Oyonnax
2017 will be Hika Elliot's last season in New Zealand rugby after signing on with French club Oyonnax, the club announced Thursday.
Making 125 Super Rugby appearances for the Hurricanes and the Chiefs as well as playing nine times for the Maori All Blacks, the hooker will leave New Zealand with a host of experience.
Elliot also played four Tests for the All Blacks in between 2010 and 2015.
The 31-year-old has been the Chiefs' starting hooker this season but could face the rest of the season starting from the bench with the return of Nathan Harris.
Situated in France's east near the country's border with Switzerland, the club earned promotion to the Top 14 next season after winning French rugby's second tier competition.
Elliot joins a number of Chiefs heading north at the end of the season including Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Toulon), Aaron Cruden (Montpellier) and James Lowe (Leinster).
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@akan004 said in Exodus 2017:
The guys on The Rugby pod reckon that DMac is talking to Leicester atm. Would be a massive blow if he leaves.
He is not going to leave. His market value would sore with AB caps, and in any case he is self-respecting and I'm sure knows he has more to achieve in NZ (not least RWC 2019). Sopoaga and Mounga haven't really said "pick me" recently, it's not hard to see DMac as 10/15 on the bench behind Barrett after Cruden leaves.
(unless Leicester offer him NZ$1M a season or something, in which case he might be sorely tempted)
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@akan004 Wow, that would be very young to give up on that black jersey! He may not have been selected for the Lions Series, I assume he's still in the frame for Rugby Championship and/or EOYT. Unless he's had some sort of message from the AB coaches that suggests otherwise ...
Edit: DMac is contracted to the Chiefs through to 2018, so it couldn't be for the 2017-2018 season.
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This year has been arguably the worst ever in terms of losing quality players still in their prime. Luatua, Faumaina, TKB, Lowe, Cruden and Fekitoa. FFS, that's some serious talent gone. Faumaina and Cruden in particular will be massive losses that won't be easy to replace.
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Still waiting for the official announcement ....
... but according to the rumours, he'll only join Toulon in October. So he may play Mitre 10 Cup if he's not named in the AB squad for the Rugby Championship.
According to Midi Olympique, it will all become official on Tuesday (27 June). They say he has signed a two-year contract.
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I remember that very early interview of him where they asked him Tonga or All Blacks and he said All Blacks. Cause you get paid. At least he was always honest about it. He has enough caps under his belt to get top dollar, shame for the clan but not so much for NZ rugby.
Bastareaud is going to get the shock of his life the first time he sees him with his shirt off.
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@akan004 said in Exodus 2017:
This year has been arguably the worst ever in terms of losing quality players still in their prime. Luatua, Faumaina, TKB, Lowe, Cruden and Fekitoa. FFS, that's some serious talent gone. Faumaina and Cruden in particular will be massive losses that won't be easy to replace.
2015 was a worse crop.
Piatau, Saili, Halai, Tamiefuna, TNW, Slade & Taylor, Cater, Smith, Nonu, Franks, Gear, Thrush.
Cruden has already been replaced.
Faumuina is a loss, but so were Sommerville and Afoa before him.
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@mooshld said in Exodus 2017:
I remember that very early interview of him where they asked him Tonga or All Blacks and he said All Blacks. Cause you get paid. At least he was always honest about it. He has enough caps under his belt to get top dollar, shame for the clan but not so much for NZ rugby.
Yeah, I remember the same interview so knew he would be off as soon as he got dropped. Clearly wants to earn as much as he can for his family in what window he has.
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@akan004 said in Exodus 2017:
This year has been arguably the worst ever in terms of losing quality players still in their prime. Luatua, Faumaina, TKB, Lowe, Cruden and Fekitoa. FFS, that's some serious talent gone. Faumaina and Cruden in particular will be massive losses that won't be easy to replace.
Inevitable really. Lions tour over, players who have either been established ABs, but no longer/not first choice, and already have silverware, or else fringe or else never going to make it.
Faumuina and Cruden are really the only major losses, but NZ being NZ, we will find perfectly fine replacements.
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@Stargazer said in Exodus 2017:
Still waiting for the official announcement ....
... but according to the rumours, he'll only join Toulon in October. So he may play Mitre 10 Cup if he's not named in the AB squad for the Rugby Championship.
According to Midi Olympique, it will all become official on Tuesday (27 June). They say he has signed a two-year contract.
...when he's not named...
Barring injury, they are not going to reinvest in a fringe player heading overseas. They will back Laumape and and Goodhue etc.
The player I am fully expecting to head overseas is Brad Shields, barring a miraculous call-up. Too good a player to earn a Super salary with no AB expectations.
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@Crucial said in Exodus 2017:
@Rapido said in Exodus 2017:
Wow. Fekitoa must have just set a record for the fastest quitting All Black in history?
You mean after getting dumped or getting picked?
After getting dumped. That's amazing.
Maybe the selectors already knew he was wavering? I assume he is off contract at year end and hadn't re-signed yet?
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@Rapido or maybe he could see the writing on the wall last season?
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@taniwharugby
Yeah. Probably. I don't think you get as far as he has a professional if you are a sulker or a quitter.My guess is this was already on the cards, and therefore Laumape and Goodhue going passed him was made an easier decision for the selectors.
