Exodus
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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.
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A few more players who have signed with Major League Teams (not all are very recent signings, so may have been mentioned before):
Sam Beard (Canterbury) - has signed for two seasons with New England Free Jacks
Contract duration not published:
Boyd Wiggins (Northland): to Houston Saber Cats
Tim Cadwallader (Manawatu): to Houston Saber Cats
Jason Robertson (BOP): to Old Glory DC
Danny Tusitala (Auckland): to Old Glory DC -
@Stargazer add Northland Midfielder Blake Hohaia to the list..
I am starting to wonder if this is an issue or a benefit..? -
@Steven-Harris I'm updating my list. I haven't found a signing by Blake Hohaia yet, but still have 3 teams to go.
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@Stargazer what’s your thoughts..?
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@Steven-Harris TBH, neither Wiggins or HOhaia will be an issue, was very disappointed in Wiggins, had high hopes for him this year, looked a athlete for a prop, but struggled form his first scrum and never looked upto it, just vist any game thread form this seaosn to see my views on Hohaia.
Assume both could be back for club footy next season, menaing if they were upto it, could play for NOrthland (given Hohaia is signed for next season too isnt he?)
I know HOhaia is highly rated at club level, seems to be by his Northland team mates too, but I will be pissed if he is able to play for NOrthland next year if he doesnt play club footy.
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Upside: these are all players who missed out on a SR contract (some definitely never in contention), but still have the chance to play professionally. If they do that in a competition that runs parallel to SR and finishes in May/June, they can be back in time for Mitre 10 Cup. So they're not lost to their provinces.
Downside 1: the better players among them are lost as possible back-ups for injured SR players
Downside 2: these players are not available for some or all of the club rugby season. So it might be detrimental to club rugby. Also, these are the club rugby players that newer/lesser players could learn from at that club rugby level. -
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I think I have beaten Stargazer and Jauzy19 to this somewhat obscure one. Leon Fukokuka has signed for Ampthill RFC who play in the Green King IPA Championship in England.
Further reinforcements for Ampthill’s Championship Challenge! - Ampthill Rugby
Head Coach Paul Turner is delighted to announce that Tongan International, Leon Fukofuka and South African, Luvuyo 'Papi' Pupuma have joined Ampthill
Leon comments “I’m excited to be joining Ampthill and playing in England. I have heard lots about the club and hope to help them achieve further success in the future”
This has got to be pure PR claptrap if ever I heard any!!!!
For those equally excited 7th placed Ampthill RFC are currently down 07 - 12 at home to the might of 5th placed Jersey after about quarter of an hour.
Other possible recognisable players on Ampthill's roster include Soane Tongaʻuiha (who propped a few times for Auckland way back in the early 2000s) and Aleki Lutui (who once hooked for BoP and the Chiefs also way back in the early 2000s). The also have Maama Molitka (who played about 15 Tests for Tonga back in the late 1990s/early 2000s running around at No 8 for them). Looks like they could field a formidable Pressies Grade team when the first team has a bye!
And in the meantime whilst I have been assembling the above titillating information it's nearly half time and Jersey have increased their lead to nineteen ten. -
