AB squad for the Rugby Championship
-
@canefan so how many players have the Blues lost from their region over the last five years?
From the top of my head:
Highlanders - Waisaki Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Josh Ioane, Dillon Hunt
Crusaders - Braydon Ennor, Jack Goodhue, Bryn Hall
Hurricanes - Michael Fatialofa, Vince Aso, Willis Halaholo, Loni Uhila, Sam Lousi, Scott Scrafton (next year)
Chiefs - Teleni Seu, Solomon Alaimalo, Tamua Manu, Shaun StevensonThere are probably many more but it just showcases where the Blues need to be better if they want to make the playoffs going forward.
-
@Canes4life pretty sure with the articles logic, Solomon was lost to Canterbury/Crusaders having been schooled in Christchurch.
-
@taniwharugby I agree. Some guys just want to study for a uni degree. At that stage in your life, you just don't know whether you're going to have a successful rugby career, so you plan for the future. That's what happened with Goodhue, Scott Barrett (and also Jordie, but he left for the Canes), Taufua and several more.
It's also why Gareth Evans went to Dunedin, and - initially - Brad Weber. Evans went back to his home franchise, the Hurricanes; Weber didn't, but both came back to the Bay in Mitre 10 Cup.
-
@taniwharugby Depends on what he's studying. If Phys Ed, Health Sciences or Dentistry, then Otago the best. But Auckland has Auckland Uni and AUT which both have top notch programs, plus Unitech, MIT, Massey campus. So leaving in general for study is a bit of a stretch when Auckland has tons of options.
-
@Mokey yeah I kinda covered that with Blues (ARU, NRU & NHR) should be all over the exceptional young kids, seeing what thier long term plans are outside rugby and trying to make it work for them.
But by the same token I expect some will have always had a dream of gong to X-Uni (as well as the other dream of being a professional rugby player) so that may still dictate where they go first.
-
Many of these guys (eg Malakai) weren't making it in AKLD so went elsewhere. I think the uni angle in the pro era is less significant than in the past. The Blues have to sort out everything from the management at the top down to scouting and talent identification. The other hard thing is talent development. Players stagnating in Auckland only to go elsewhere and then make the ABs is very concerning
-
@canefan I wonder if the franchises add education as an incentive to sign as well?
I reckon they should be, help these guys study/train for somethign post-rugby, if rugby doesnt pay off or they get a career ending injury.
-
-
@taniwharugby said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:
@canefan I wonder if the franchises add education as an incentive to sign as well?
I reckon they should be, help these guys study/train for somethign post-rugby, if rugby doesnt pay off or they get a career ending injury.
Not sure. I think they give them financial advice now
-
@taniwharugby If by franchises you mean Waikato, Taranaki etc. I know of one. Bradley Slater who was the hooker called into the Chiefs was on a scholarship to the University of Waikato from the TRFU and that had him go stay in the halls of residence and study, not sure what, but also part of the agreement was he had to come back and play for Taranaki and not move to Waikato. I know this because my old flatmate was in the halls with him and. If you mean the Chiefs, I'm pretty certain ALB was on a scholarship with Waikato and the Chiefs to go to uni and play rugby. Also, considering the the University of Otago is a major sponsor of the Landers, I'd say there would be some kind of scholarship.
Edit: Tagged the wrong person.
-
@Yeetyaah said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:
and not move to Waikato. I know this because my old flatmate was in the halls with him and. If you mean the Chiefs, I'm pretty certain ALB was on a scholarship with Waikato and the Chiefs to go to uni and play rugby. Also, considering the the University of Otago is a major sponsor of the Landers, I'd say there would be some kind of scholarship.
Edit: Tagged the wrong person.well yeah I expect the provincial unions and the franchises could (should?) all be involved in that side of things
-
-
-
Was talking with a mate who has more knowledge of the situation than me. Said the Blues are considering getting their young players accommodated in a purpose built facility near their Alexandra Park base, especially those who grew up in AKL. It is a problem that some of these young guys continue to live at home, hang with the same mates and this enables continued bad habits. Housing them together, teaching them good work, nutrition, training habits might help
-
-
face it, Auckland is where professional sports go to die
