Highlanders 2021
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2021:
@gt12 hadn't clicked you were in Japan
I assume it has to do with Tony Brown and is connections with Japan as much as anything, plus the Highlanders have a few Japanese before and loads of our kiwi guys going and playing in japan
I'd be happy if we started to build more bridges with Japan though
Been here too long (Edit: Had beers with Brown at my sisters way back in the day when he was playing in Ota - he's a really genuine bloke)
The Chiefs have an agreement with Kobelco (or did have) and I think these types of things are a good idea. I'm sure that Brown's relationship with the JRFU makes the Landers a good place to recruit from too.
I bang this drum all the time, but if we have these types of relationships and had Japan in the Southern championship, we could solve a few player drain issues.
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@gt12 said in Highlanders 2021:
One way to increase the value of Super rugby Aotearoa as a product (in Japan at least) would be to get one or two JP internationals in every Super team. This will probably also help jersey sales/team wear. I'll look out to see if there is more Highlander stuff around.
I seriously hope we're not going to sign Japanese/foreign players for the sake of attracting foreign coin, if there are sufficient talented NZ players available in a position. I'm only okay with it if franchises struggle to fill spots. I disliked the signing of players like Kobus van Wyk and Joe Marchant for that reason (the Canes/Blues didn't need them).
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@gt12 yeah, had the pleasure of meeting tony when at school, was a good bloke then, my mum still tells the story of driving my dad and a few of the otago guys around bars in dunners...tony having to sit in the boot as he was the new kid...a different time
agreed in general, i think we can keep the NPC local...but the Franchises are businesses and rely on profile so we should do whats needed to make them successful
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I'm not really that keen on it either, but if it is an important money thing, I can live with it.
The Kobelco relationship has been very good for us - BBBR stayed and took his sabbatical there, we got Cruden back from there, etc. So, I don't like it, but 1 player from those teams isn't necessarily the end of the world.
For the Landers, I could see them plugging a few holes with players like this - although I'm not sure that they need another loose forward. But, maybe that is the point - they have too many good players to attract one more good piece, so this gives them that.
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@Kiwiwomble he’s a bit of a jack of all trades and has played all back row positions. I thought he played well in the RWC despite being moved around. That Ireland match he was Japan’s main ball carrier and I thought was outstanding.
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And from this article.
They already have All Blacks No 6 Shannon Frizell, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, James Lentjes and new recruits Kazuki Himeno and Billy Harmon, who has been excellent for Canterbury in the Mitre 10 Cup. “There are still a few gaps to fill,” Brown said. “We need to find a lock and an outside back. “We’ve made a couple of really good signings. I’m not sure they've been announced yet, I think that will be in the future. -
in Browny we trust
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Here's the official Highlanders media release: https://thehighlanders.co.nz/media-centre/news/1039-highlanders-announce-tony-brown-as-head-coach
Tony Brown will be the Highlanders Head Coach for the next two years. Brown was confirmed today by Highlanders CEO Roger Clark and is already well underway with his planning for 2021.
... We are confident he is the best man for the job and along with assistant coach Clarke Dermody will move the team forward over the next few seasons. Our job now will be to find a defence coach to complement Tony , Clarke and Riki Flutey.”
Media release on NZR website: https://www.superrugby.co.nz/news/highlanders-name-tony-brown-as-head-coach/
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“We’ve made a couple of really good signings. I’m not sure they've been announced yet, I think that will be in the future."
interesting we've already signed some guys yet to be named
“Someone like Caleb Clarke would be quite good,” Brown said with tongue in cheek."
how good would that be, if we'd signed him before he really broke out
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It wasn't breakfast, but i had the opportunity to have a good chat with Tony Brown in Japan. Very, very smart rugby brain. Also the type of guy that will be able to recruit better players too.
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looking up highlights now
