Exodus 2017
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The worry is the number of Islanders lost to their national side, and also to the visibility of Super Rugby. IMHO Super Rugby is the best of Southern Hemisphere rugby and needs more of a Pacific Island flavour to rejuvenate interest. I think it would be great for Pacific rugby if it were financially viable for more of the top players to stay down under for at least a few prime years - and hopefully develop combinations that transfer through to national teams. Samoa in particular seems to be declining on the international scene, and the Tongan side has constantly changing selections.
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I think the NZRU and ARU are the main cause of PI players not playing in Super Rugby.
It's an unintended consequence of trying to protect our own pool of pro players against the lure of the north.
The restrictions on the number of non-nz qualified spots mean that guys like Leiua, Levave, TJ Ioane etc delay, defer their PI test careers while they are in the NZ system.
I don't see a fix, except 100 years in future NZ may have a population to support 12 pro teams rather than 5 and we ease up on limiting who takes these spots.
Or
European clubs pay players 30-50% less than they do now and NPC level in nz returns to a pro standard.
Since NZ's population has increased 25% since 1996 when rugby went pro and we have the same amount of pro teams, I'm not holding out much hope for the first.
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@bones said in Exodus 2017:
@Crash @canefan steady on, he's only gone as an injury replacement from what I can see. No mention of contract length?
Injury replacement or no, he's gone isn't he? I can't see how the NZRFU would be thrilled with him popping over for part of a season, he certainly won't come back to a contract I'd think
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@bones said in Exodus 2017:
@Crash @canefan steady on, he's only gone as an injury replacement from what I can see. No mention of contract length?
I read the media release on Lyon's website and the contract is only until the end of the season, so June 2018. He could be back for Mitre 10 Cup.
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Pita Ahki has signed with Connacht. Media release doesn't say for how long.
That probably also means that the Black Ferns 7s lose Kayla McAlister, a bigger loss to NZ rugby than Ahki. -
Not TJP.
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@stockcar86 Haha, I love that reaction! This was Julian's:
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You can make a pretty useful team from those missing Super contracts. For starters;
Tiatia, Reece, Guildford, Wainui, Emery, Te Rure, Guyton, Manihera, Bedwell-Curtis, Jacobsen, Mewett, J Tucker, R Wright, Fahamakioa, Faiva - reserves - D O'Donnell, Leger, Hauiti-Parepara, H Renton, Dalzell, Renata, Ta'avao, Anderson-Heather.
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Any ideas which of these might have counted themselves out by looking overseas already? No doubt a few injury cover spots for props and loosies to be sorted, and jobs for a handful.
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How many will head overseas before Super rugby starts? Hopefully not many at all - unless it is to an overseas Super rugby franchise.
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@arhs said in Exodus 2017:
You can make a pretty useful team from those missing Super contracts. For starters;
Tiatia, Reece, Guildford, Wainui, Emery, Te Rure, Guyton, Manihera, Bedwell-Curtis, Jacobsen, Mewett, J Tucker, R Wright, Fahamakioa, Faiva - reserves - D O'Donnell, Leger, Hauiti-Parepara, H Renton, Dalzell, Renata, Ta'avao, Anderson-Heather.
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Any ideas which of these might have counted themselves out by looking overseas already? No doubt a few injury cover spots for props and loosies to be sorted, and jobs for a handful.
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How many will head overseas before Super rugby starts? Hopefully not many at all - unless it is to an overseas Super rugby franchise.
Over the years this is a regular post after Super selection and if you go back in time some of the 'left out' squads were pretty strong.
That one doesn't look like anyone seriously hard done by.
I don't know if this is an indication of larger contracted groups, less depth or better selection/identification. -
