Blues 2020
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@Daffy-Jaffy I know, was thinking about that.
Probably not taking a season ticket this year. Starts too early, too many family clashes, despite the earlier kickoffs. Will just rock up on an 'ad hoc' basis.
Edit: I broke and picked up a BLues pass for me and the boy. Great value, and if I get to 3 games it's worth it. They throw ina free junior, so well well worth it.
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2020:
Pre-Season Fixture:
Gallagher Chiefs vs. Blues
Date: Friday 17 January
Time: 3.00pm kick-off, 1.30pm gates open
Venue: Waihi Athletic Rugby Club, WaihiA 3pm kickoff in the middle of January will test those fitness levels.
All these preseason games are played during the day so the conditions will be challenging. I went to the Chiefs-Blues game in Te Kuiti in 2018, and it was hot enough being in the crowd.
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@Daffy-Jaffy Taufa Funaki is with the Blues (on an ITC) but thats not him in the dreads. Thats Soane Vikena. MAGS/NZ20s hooker who along with Zarn Sullivan mst be the ITCs this year. Luteru Tolai is trainig pre-season with the Blues as well.
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@Daffy-Jaffy superb part of the world, Cornwall Park. Would have loved to pop down and see them
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@Daffy-Jaffy watching those kinds of clips make me think about doing some exercise...then I remember beer and my enthusiasm fades.
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Could also help with the team o the decade list
Super Rugby Teams of the Decade: The Blues XV that starred over the last 10 years
Although they've struggled for regular play-offs football between 2010 and 2019, the Blues have produced some awe-inspiring talent over the last decade. So, who makes their team of the decade?
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@Machpants They got the pack almost spot on, but the backline needs a bit of work.
Mathewson over Pulu at halfback. His first season or so was easily the best play we got from a halfback in the last decade.
I'd probably go with Wulf on the right wing over Halai, even though he did play quite a bit of left wing. Rarely ever had a bad game for us and was always an automatic starter.
Toeava was probably our best 15, 13 and 12, but didn't even get in the team.
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@Number-10 said in Blues 2020:
@Tim said in Blues 2020:
Is Emoni Narawa NZ qualified yet?
Probably some time in 2020 as he did not arrive in the country until 2017.
Five years now, so 2022
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@Machpants Until 31 December 2020, it's still 3 years, so he (and Fakatava) still fall under the old rule. Just.
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@Stargazer only if they play before then, right?
They have lived in the country for 60 consecutive months (Five years) to qualify on residency immediately before playing.
That comes into play next year, if you don't play this year, you're on the 5 year plan. Welsh Willis, will have too wait another 2 years because of his injury, for example. No one's pointed this out but it is what the laws say
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@Machpants No, I think that's a misinterpretation of the regulations. It would be completely ridiculous if an injury such as Halaholo's would result in him falling under the 5 years residency rule instead of the 3 year rule, without anything having changed in his residency situation, only because the first test he could play would be after the cut-off date (which is, by the way, 31 December 2020, so Halaholo could still play before that date).
The "has completed sixty consecutive months of Residence immediately preceding the time of playing" part of Regulation 8.1 (c) must IMO be read in light of the rationale of the rules.
This is from the Explanatory Guidelines relating to World Rugby Regulation 8.
Moving forward, in the event that there is any uncertainty or the need for clarification in relation to the application of the eligibility criteria in particular circumstances, then the Regulations Committee may be asked by World Rugby to make a ruling on a Player’s eligibility. In relation to any such adjudication, the Regulations Committee will always have in mind the rationale behind Regulation 8. The aim of the Regulations Committee in each case where clarification may be required, is to establish whether, in all the circumstances, a Player has, by reference to the eligibility criteria in Regulation 8.1, been able to demonstrate a genuine, close and credible national link with the country that the Player wishes to represent.
The intent of the rules also become clear from this:
17 Does the 60⁶ month period of Residence set out in Regulation 8.1(c) have to immediately precede playing for a Union?
Save in exceptional circumstances, the 60 months⁷ Residence will be expected to have been completed consecutively and be achieved immediately before the Player represents a Union. This is designed to create a contemporary national link with the country of the Union concerned. This factor will be particularly significant if a Player has moved to make a “new” country his Residence having been Resident in another country previously. In essence, in such circumstances, the Player, as well as demonstrating his commitment to a new country, must also be (and seen to be) relinquishing his ties with the country in which he lived previously. For the avoidance of any doubt, in the context of Regulation 8.1(c), seeking to rely on short periods of Residence as a child in a particular country, combined with a short period of Residence in that same country prior to playing for a Union, is likely to create a link that would be too tenuous to satisfy the underlying intentions of establishing a contemporary, permanent, national link with a Union. However, each case will be assessed on its overall merits to establish if a Player is able to demonstrate a genuine, close, credible and established national link by reference to the amount of time the Player can demonstrate that he has treated the “new” country as his home and other relevant factors.
IMO the rule that residence has to be completed consecutively and immediately before playing means that the residency period immediately before playing cannot be interrupted by - for example - playing in another country for one season, because then that genuine, close, credible and established national link will be broken. If a player stays in the country (without playing for that country), that link still exists. It doesn't suddenly disappear when he doesn't get the opportunity to play for the national team of his adopted country.
It would, however, be a good idea for the players concerned and (in this case) NZR to ask WR for a clarification of this rule.
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Is that Jack Straker from Northland, front right. The appeal has raised $93,000 in 4 days so far.
Alofa mo Samoa
To raise funds for families directly affected with the loss of immediate family members, as a result of the measles outbreak in Samoa.
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@Stargazer what you have said makes sense, but the regulations have been poorly worded. Legally even if, like say Johnny McNicol, you've already played for resident qualified country under the 3 year rule, nothing says that makes you exempt from the updated 5 year requirement that comes into force later. So he could, legally, play until 31 December, then not be allowed from next year until he then qualifies under the 5! Makes no sense but the regs are badly written.
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@Daffy-Jaffy yes that is Straker, I think @Steven-Harris mentioned he was training with the teAm, he was in the dev side 2 seasons back as well I think.
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The Blues final training session for the year is a hit out against each other in five-a-side rugby. You’re invited to Blues HQ to watch!
Kicking off at 1:00pm on Thursday 19 December, with finals taking place at approx. 3:00pm. This is a free event – BYO sunscreen and soft drinks. Alcohol is not permitted.
Make your way to Alexandra Park to catch the action. There’s plenty of free parking on the gravel outside Blues HQ, enter off of Campbell Crescent and follow the signs to our training field!
