Super Rugby News

[Stargazer]

Sam Whitelock has re-signed with NZR, the Crusaders and Canterbury through to 2023.

He'll miss Super Rugby in 2020 to play for Panasonic in Japan, but will be available to the ABs in 2020 due to his long-term contract.

[Yeetyaah]

I like the idea of theses new contracts with sabbaticals to play elsewhere. Also, because he is back in May, Super Rugby rules require a minimum amount of games to be eligible to play in the finals matches, probably possible he misses the Super Rugby finals. Unless they change the rule. Or he doesn't play Super Rugby at all.

[Stargazer]

@Yeetyaah As in my post and the media release, he won't play SR in 2020.

[Yeetyaah]

@Stargazer Ah lmao misread it.

[Chris]

Retalick and Barrett next sabbaticals

[Yeetyaah]

@Chris I hope so. Look how fucked the Chiefs are without master Guzzler at the moment.

[Chris]

@Yeetyaah Its been a heavy work load on him before this season his body needs a break we need him for the 2023 WC

[Machpants]

@Chris said in Super Rugby News:

Retalick and Barrett next sabbaticals

Anything to get them to stay!

[Chris]

@Machpants Yeah I think that's where NZ Rugby are at if they want to keep their elite, It has it's downside though if they don't keep it under some sort of control.

[Machpants]

@Chris Sure does have a downside, but not as bad as going like SA - the Bulls saying they are going to run out of players due to all their top ones going over seas after RWC.

[Chris]

[link text](link urlhttps://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/112409743/super-rugby-crusaders-no-10-mitch-hunt-set-to-shift-to-the-highlanders)

[Yeetyaah]

@Chris Will be a good move for him I think. Dunno if Marty will stick around for another year.

[Chris]

@Yeetyaah Yes Mate totally understandable.He needs regular game time, It will be interesting who the Crusaders pick up probably a Young First Five, Which is Good for NZ Rugby to develop a youngster in that environment.

[Machpants]

Ioane will get a good hurry up too, hopefully bring the best out of them both

[Stargazer]

Although I understand it from the Highlanders pov, I hoped they'd go for young blood like McClutchie.

[Yeetyaah]

@Stargazer Isn't he supposed to be the heir to Beauden's throne?

[Stargazer]

@Yeetyaah

He should be but it depends on

• whether they re-sign Garden-Bachop
• whether they re-sign James Marshall
• when Fletcher Smith comes off-contract and whether they re-sign him if that's this year
• whether the Canes are finally going to develop players from the Bay including by giving them game time

[Yeetyaah]

@Stargazer Surely Garden-Bachop is gone, he's meh IMO. Smith is decent so they'll probably keep him around. Marshall is more of a fullback isn't he?

[Stargazer]

@Yeetyaah

Surely Garden-Bachop is gone, he's meh IMO

Yes, but he is from Wellington

Marshall is more of a fullback isn't he?

Yes, but they use him as 10 cover as well.

[Canes4life]

@Stargazer with Beauden most likely taking a sabatical next year they will most likely end up with all three (Bachop, Smith & McCLutchie).

If they are going to get rid of anyone, it should be Smith. Garden Bachop looked alot better than he did before his injury.