Exodus
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Confirmed:
Sonny Bill Williams has signed a two-year deal with the Canada-based Toronto Wolfpack rugby league club which plays in the UK Super League competition.
https://www.allblacks.com/news/sonny-bill-williams-says-thank-you-as-he-confirms-overseas-move
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Big excitement for the signing, even had a couple of non-rugby fan, not even sport fan types mention it. Ironically both in the medical profession with one a theatre nurse at one of the major hospitals downtown - so perhaps they have been put on alert by the team?
Looking forward to reading the SBW autobiography someday more than watching his stint with the Wolpack. His farewells throw some pretty obvious shade (as did his refusal to say anything about Foster at the RWC).
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Former Timaru BHS (2013) and Christchurch club player (Shirley RFC) departs to play professionally in the USA
Siua Maile lands US rugby contract after World Cup exposure
Christchurch, New Zealand: Siua Maile, a roofer by trade, who got a late call-up for Tonga’s Ikale Tahi team at the Rugby World Cup, has been rewarded with an opportunity to play professional rugby in the United States.
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@Stargazer You will be pleased to know Ihia West is going OK for La Rochelle in their away match against Top 14 Table Toppers Lyon (I can't sleep so am watching the game on line). He is in the company of Victor Vito (Capt) and Tawera Kerr-Barlow but they are not being helped by their team mates and are currently down 38 - 17 15 minutes into the second half. Of note is that former Frog midfield back (and ocassional captain) Mathieu Fatsoreaud is playing No 8 against Vito but it looks like it won't be too much longer before he finds a new position in the front row!
Charlie Ngatai also going ok for Lyon. -
As already posted in the Hurricanes 2020 thread, Lincoln McClutchie has signed with a Japanese club after being snubbed for a SR contract. His club is NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes. That's the team of Liam Squire, Marty Banks and Keepa Mewett (coached by former AB Mike Brewer). It's also the team where Gareth Evans played a few games, last year.
It's ironic that he is playing for a team called the Hurricanes ...
【リリース】2019年度 新加入選手のお知らせ（追加） | ニュース | レッドハリケーンズ大阪
レッドハリケーンズ大阪のオフィシャルウェブサイトです。試合スケジュール・試合結果・選手等を紹介しています。
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@Number-10 said in Exodus 2019:
Was he snubbed?
Is it definite that he was not offered a contract by the Hurricanes,
It seems the only logic explanation. Why would a 20-year old NZ rugby player refuse a full Super Rugby contract? (Development contracts may not pay enough if you have financial responsibilities.)
or was not going to be offered one?
Do they have to buy a crystal ball to know that, or do you prefer a clairvoyant?
Is it definite that the Japanese contract did not come first, before any approach from the Hurricanes?
Most new players for the Japanese clubs were announced before the RWC. Preseason in Japan has been underway for a few weeks already. So it's reasonable to assume that they're now picking up the leftovers ...
But if you have inside knowledge that indicates that McClutchie refused a full SR contract to go to Japan, or that a NZ franchise made an offer after he accepted the Japanese contract, please, do tell ...
Edited to add that as long as there is no complete openess about why certain players were not included in the announced SR squads, you can expect speculation about players being snubbed until the facts are known. I'd love to know the facts! Unfortunately, we have to wait until a journalist asks the right questions, gets clear answers and writes them down in an article on the Stuff or NZH website.
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@Tim That's all because of an article in L'Equipe. Toulon has already responded with a statement that the LNR (responsible for the French domestic competitions) has approved and signed the contract with NMS and that he will arrive at the club in December.
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A list of the South African schoolboys headed to Japan, France, England, Australia & Ireland
Grey College
Tiaan Jonker: Free State, n/a, lock/eighthman, Melbourne Rebels in Australia
Marcell Muller: n/a, n/a, wing, Montpellier, France
Lesley Botha: Free State, n/a, centre, Montpellier, France
FC du Plessis: n/a, n/a, flyhalf, Toulon, France
Danwich Beukes: Free State in 2018, n/a, flank/lock, Toulon, France
George Cronjé: Free State, SA Schools, eighthman, France
Jan-Hendrik Wessels: Free State, SA Schools, prop, FrancePaul Roos
Jarrod Cairns: Western Province XV, SA Schools A, loose forward, Melbourne Rebels, Australia
Kade Wolhuter: Western Province, n/a, fullback/flyhalf, Montpellier, France
Robbie Rodgers: Western Province, n/a, prop, Montpellier, FranceAffies
Werner Kruger: Blue Bulls, n/a, Stade Français, prop, France
Jacques-Lois du Toit: Blue Bulls, SA Schools A, hooker, Stade Français, FranceGarsfontein
Zeilinga Strydom: Blue Bulls, SA School, fullback ck, Stade Français
Jaryd Scheepers: Blue Bulls XV, n/a, lock, University in AustraliaPaarl Gim
Pierich Siebert: Western Province, SA Schools A, flank, Japan
Stephan du Toit: Western Province XV, n/a, centre, JapanBethlehem Voortrekker
Steyl Barnard: n/a, n/a, lock, Béziers, FranceMilnerton
Romuald Ntumba: Western Province, n/a, flank, Pau, FranceNoordheuwel
Sergio Moreira: n/a, n/a, lock, Montpellier, FrancePaarl Boys’ High
Rynhardt Rijnsburger: Western Province, SA Schools A, prop, unclearSt Andrew’s
Chris Poole: Eastern Province, n/a, hooker, Ulster, IrelandSt John’s
Alexander Groves: Golden Lions XV, n/a, lock, Bristol, England -
A list of SA schoolboys heading overseas is really pushing the boat out when it comes to the exodus thread. Fair play for locating this somewhat esoteric information though!
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The Colorado Raptors (MLR), coached by Peter Borlase, have signed several Kiwis:
Rene Ranger (Northland)
Mason Emerson (Hawke's Bay)
Michael Curry ( Ta$man)
Michael Stewart (Southland)
Samuel Slade (Counties Manukau)Also signed:
Digby Ioanehttps://coloradoraptors.com/news/raptors-announce-rene-ranger-as-final-signing-for-the-2020-season/
https://coloradoraptors.com/news/raptors-announce-new-and-returning-players-for-its-2020-season/The round robin of the MLR is from 8 February to 31 May 2020.
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@Stargazer knew Ranger was heading to the US just hadn't heard where...think he will be back for M10 though, hes keen to notch up his ton for Northland.
