Exodus 2018
-
@stargazer said in Exodus 2018:
Found this instagram post from Pulu, which seems to suggest he may not return to the Blues:
One last ride with @jeromekaino and my @bluesrugbyteam
#hoka #bless #2018Yeah, tbf it didn't really work out the way that Tana planned for Pulu. He was meant to translate the good rapport he had with players off field to captaincy but injury compounded by disintegrating confidence within the team dashed that idea.
He is obviously not in the AB sights so his option is either to go now or hamstring plans for change at the Blues. -
Toni Pulu to Brumbies. Not NZ eligible but an NZ product.
Brumbies sign Chiefs winger Toni Pulu, Henry Speight loaned to Ulster
The ACT Brumbies have signed Waikato Chiefs winger Toni Pulu for the 2019 Super Rugby season.
-
@mikedogz said in Exodus 2018:
Toni Pulu to Brumbies. Not NZ eligible but an NZ product.
The ACT Brumbies have signed Waikato Chiefs winger Toni Pulu for the 2019 Super Rugby season.
Locked in for Niue?
You'd think the big NH clubs would come knocking. Not much danger of losing him to test duty.
-
@booboo said in Exodus 2018:
@mikedogz said in Exodus 2018:
Toni Pulu to Brumbies. Not NZ eligible but an NZ product.
The ACT Brumbies have signed Waikato Chiefs winger Toni Pulu for the 2019 Super Rugby season.
Locked in for Niue?
You'd think the big NH clubs would come knocking. Not much danger of losing him to test duty.
That actually sucks for him as I assume he would have been eligible for other teams who have proper international calendars. Wasn't he born in the states?
-
@nepia said in Exodus 2018:
That actually sucks for him as I assume he would have been eligible for other teams who have proper international calendars. Wasn't he born in the states?
LA.
Seems an odd career choice at 29 years to go from the Chiefs to the Brumbies, woulda thought the NH woulda been calling.
-
@nepia said in Exodus 2018:
@booboo said in Exodus 2018:
@mikedogz said in Exodus 2018:
Toni Pulu to Brumbies. Not NZ eligible but an NZ product.
The ACT Brumbies have signed Waikato Chiefs winger Toni Pulu for the 2019 Super Rugby season.
Locked in for Niue?
You'd think the big NH clubs would come knocking. Not much danger of losing him to test duty.
That actually sucks for him as I assume he would have been eligible for other teams who have proper international calendars. Wasn't he born in the states?
Totai Kefu mentioned him, among a few others, who said were potentially wanting to play for Tonga.
But Pulu would have to go through the olympic loophole to be able to do that.
-
It is being reported Pulu is immediately eligible for the Wallabies
New Brumbies signing Toni Pulu is eligible to play for the Wallabies
‘Fastest man in NZ rugby’ enters Wallabies frame
New Brumbies signing Toni Pulu is immediately eligible to play for the Wallabies thanks to a dispensation granted by World Rugby.
The former Chiefs flyer holds an Australian passport and has previously played sevens for Niue — his ancestral home.
But a Rugby Australia spokesman told foxsports.com.au that World Rugby had cleared the 29-year-old speedster for Wallabies takeoff should coach Michael Cheika come calling.
-
@kiwimurph under what rules has he been granted dispensation, odd decision?
-
@kiwimurph Hmmm, I'd be really keen to find out more about that dispensation, such as under which rule(s) and what were the reasons for granting dispensation.
You'd think that - under Reg 8.12 - he first has to make use of the Olympic loophole and play during 5 legs of the 2018-2019 World Sevens Series for the Aussie 7s team.
-
It's called the Gosper Rule.
-
-
@majorrage The first country that plays the Wallabies squad in which he is named, would definitely have to raise the issue with World Rugby, whichever tier they're from, or ask for proof of eligibility (e.g., a written dispensation from WR).
-
@antipodean said in Exodus 2018:
It's called the Gosper Rule.
Did they ask for the special dispensation by hounding him on Twitter?
-
Off the top of my head I think that there is an avenue to appeal eligibility if the 'locking' reasons are light. eg minimal game time at a low level game.
I'm not sure about Pulu's gametime for Niue but am guessing it would have been at the Welly Sevens a number of years back. Maybe it was a short appearance?I was also bemused about his shift but this now makes sense if Australian rugby has trawled for eligible players and made him an offer.
Edit: not much online with a quick search but I found one reference to him playing 3 tournaments for them - 2 in Welly and a Gold Coast one
-
-
@stargazer said in Exodus 2018:
@crucial I can't find a dispensation rule for minimum game time. Do you know where to find it?
.My search also came up with one of the top 10 tries of the round on YouTube.
So it doesn't look like it is a case of 10 mins on the field as a replacement hindering his career. He made a conscious decision to represent Niue. Would be very interested to see/understand the dispensation as it seems that some kind of 'minnows don't count' criteria has been enacted.
-
