Super Rugby News

[Tim]

Would've thought there'd be more leaks and rumours about squads now. NZ rugby media are pretty dull though.

Are the Blues going to select a backup 8 this time? I know they have Sotutu, but he's very raw.

[Machpants]

@tim akira is so awesome you don't need a backup, surely? 🧐

[Tim]

@machpants Everyone needs some minutes off, except at the Blues ...

[Chris]

Interesting Article from Rugbypass , Rumour Niko Jones has signed with the Crusaders.He looks like one hell of an athlete but at 18 is he too young for the Riggers of SR ?

[Tim]

@chris Assuming it's a development deal? His cousin, Ere Enare, is down there (studying at Lincoln?).

[mikedogz]

He is involved in the Red Bull Sevens series so that maybe his main focus but still train and play development at the Crusaders.

[Chris]

@Tim Yeah not sure The rumour is he's in the 38 but again it's a rumour seems teams are keeping very quite leading up to draft day tomorrow.

[Bovidae]

@chris said in Super Rugby News:

Interesting Article from Rugbypass , Rumour Niko Jones has signed with the Crusaders.He looks like one hell of an athlete but at 18 is he too young for the Riggers of SR ?

I noted during the NZ-Aust schools game that the Aussie commentator mentioned Jones was part of the Crusaders academy. I'm surprised his old man has let him go south but maybe that's a reflection of the current state of the Blues.

Niko would be a no.7 going forward as he looks small for a no.8.

[Tim]

@bovidae I should be ranting about him and Enari, but this is the Blues we're talking about.

[Bovidae]

@tim Ennor is ex-St Kents.

[Tim]

Now that Auckland are first and the Blues are last, I wonder if they'll be allowed to use that fancy Ellerslie training facility?

[nzzp]

@stargazer said in Super Rugby News:

@tim

it would be hard to fathom why any New Zealand Super Rugby team wouldn't be interested in talking to Hayne.

Geezus. Surely, NZR won't be tempted to fall for that bullshit and sign a player who's played zero XVs and only wants to be developed at SR level in NZ so he can play for Fiji? I think it's easy to fathom why NZ franchise won't be interested.

nah mate, that'd be like taking a punt on an over the hill Benji Marshall and basing your marketing campaign around it. Before he'd played a proper game of footy.

.
Oh.

FML.

[Nepia]

@tim said in Super Rugby News:

@chris Assuming it's a development deal? His cousin, Ere Enare, is down there (studying at Lincoln?).

I didn't realise Enari was Samoan as well as Maori.

And god squad as well.

[taniwharugby]

@nzzp although at least Benji, if he was good enough, could have played for the ABs

[98blueandgold]

@bovidae I heard that too but think it was a mistake. Tamati Williams has from Akld but don't think jones has.

[Chris]

@98blueandgold yep Williams is at the Crusaders Academy
Jones I don’t think he is

[Yeetyaah]

Rumours about Fletcher Smith going to the Hurricanes seem to be a weird one, the Hurricanes will already have Garden-Bachop for another year next year, and they just signed James Marshall. Unless Garden-Bachop gets a release.

Garden-Bachop signs two-year deal with Canes

[Canes4life]

@yeetyaah I can see James Marshall playing more Fullback than first five, especially if they give J Barrett a run at 2nd five. Fletcher Smith will be a smart signing, he is just starting to hit his stride.

[Tim]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=12150759

[Yeetyaah]

@tim Thank god for that.