Aussie Pro Rugby
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Just noticed that Toni Pulu has moved from the Brumbies to the Western Force.
https://www.westernforce.com.au/super-rugby-duo-join-the-force/
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Interesting move:
January 5, 2021
Former WA rugby union representative Tony Lewis will look to emulate the success of New Zealand’s champion province, the Ta$man Mako, in developing talented young players after being appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of the Western Force.
Lewis played for the Western Suburbs club (now Wests Scarborough) while living in Perth in the late 1980s, and represented the State in 1987, before later making a successful transition into sporting administration ...
Lewis has been the CEO of the Ta$man Rugby Union for seven years, during which time the Mako has emerged as New Zealand’s champion provincial team and become a production line for Super Rugby and international players. The Mako won back-to-back New Zealand provincial titles in 2019 and 2020 and have appeared in a total of five grand finals, despite being the country’s newest team.
The success of the Mako is widely credited to the strong Academy system established by Lewis when he was appointed Ta$man CEO in 2013 ...
... Forrest: “Tony’s appointment is another key building block for the Force and underlines my drive for Western Australia to have the best Academy system across all of Australian sport, through which we can develop, recruit and retain the best young players, just as the Mako have done so successfully in New Zealand ...
“This program will not only strengthen local club and school rugby, but also help support the success of the Wallabies as the Force looks to produce more international players.
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So, the Western Force to open the checkbook (more) and truly create the Force invitational 15?
That's the Ta$man way.
Seriously though, the Ta$man academy is an offshoot of the Crusaders - without that there drawing/holding players, I'm not quite sure that there will be as much "success"
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@gt12 said in Aussie Rugby:
So, the Western Force to open the checkbook (more) and truly create the Force invitational 15?
That's the Ta$man way.
Seriously though, the Ta$man academy is an offshoot of the Crusaders - without that there drawing/holding players, I'm not quite sure that there will be as much "success"
Of course we shall have to wait and see, but my take is a bit different. Close enough know what's developing, but not so close as to be on the Kool-Aid.
Being familiar with four of Australian rugby's, – let's call them "jurisdictions" – I can say that the bar is not particularly high. In an already niche sport, it has fallen from two decades ago. Question is, can it be turned around on the ground?
I say it can ... and think I know where there's a good chance of it.
As a former countrywoman of yours once said: "It won't happen overnight but it will happen...."
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Plus500 Brumbies confirm 2021 Super Rugby Squad
Hookers
Folau Fainga’a (Western District Lions)Lachlan Lonergan (Tuggeranong Vikings)
Connal McInerney (Canberra Royals)
Billy Pollard (Uni-Norths Owls)
Props
Allan Alaalatoa (Uni-Norths Owls)Archer Holz (Canberra Royals)
Harry Lloyd (Western District Lions)
Tom Ross (Gungahlin Eagles)
Scott Sio (Tuggeranong Vikings)
James Slipper (Queanbeyan Whites)
Locks
Tom Hooper (Tuggeranong Vikings)Nick Frost (Queanbeyan Whites)
Cadeyrn Neville (Uni-Norths Owls)
Darcy Swain (Tuggeranong Vikings)
James Tucker (Uni-Norths Owls)
Backrows
Jahrome Brown (Gungahlin Eagles)Tom Cusack (Canberra Royals)
Luke Reimer (Western District Lions)
Pete Samu (Gungahlin Eagles)
Rory Scott (Canberra Royals)
Rob Valetini (Western District Lions)
Scrumhalves
Lachie Albert (Western District Lions)Issak Fines (Gungahlin Eagles)
Ryan Lonergan (Tuggeranong Vikings)
Nic White (Queanbeyan Whites)
Flyhalves
Bayley Kuenzle (Canberra Royals)Noah Lolesio (Tuggeranong Vikings)
Reesjan Pasitoa (Western District Lions)
Midfield/Outside backs
Tom Banks (Uni-Norths Owls)Mack Hansen (Gungahlin Eagles)
Len Ikitau (Tuggeranong Vikings)
Solomone Kata (Gungahlin Eagles)
Andy Muirhead (Canberra Royals)
Irae Simone (Uni-Norths Owls)
Reece Tapine (Queanbeyan Whites)
Tom Wright (Western District Lions)
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Whether he's NZ's unluckiest player is debatable, but glad to see James Tucker in a SR squad.
New Zealand's unluckiest player lands Super Rugby gig in Australian capital
Former NZ Under 20s player James Tucker has always been earmarked for great things but injuries have curtailed his career to date. In 2021, Tucker will suit up for the Brumbies in Super Rugby AU.
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@Stargazer said in Aussie Rugby:
Whether he's NZ's unluckiest player is debatable, but glad to see James Tucker in a SR squad.
I think Tucker has been unlucky because of so many injuries, as that article alludes to. When he is fit, and played, he has always been very good.
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The Waratahs have handed former Queensland Reds representative and dumped Brisbane Broncos back Izaia Perese a lifeline by signing the 23-year-old on a one-year deal, with coach Rob Penney saying he deserves another chance.
Perese, who represented the Reds on 17 occasions, was in the Wallabies frame as early as 2016 when coach Michael Cheika invited the exciting centre to come on the end-of-season spring tour to Europe.
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@KiwiMurph interesting. Another of these wonder kids who tear Brisbane Premier Rugby apart and are the next big thing. We will see.
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Ah that's right - left for the Broncos then this:
2020
On 18 February, Perese was stood down indefinitely by the Brisbane club after being charged by police with drug-related offences. Perese was later granted bail and is due back in court on 9 March 2020. Brisbane CEO Paul White released a statement saying “Standing down Izaia is not a judgement of his guilt or innocence, but recognition that this is a serious matter, We have discussed our course of action and the reasoning behind it with Izaia, and he understands the action we have taken. We will review the matter as it moves through the legal process"Turned up at Bayonne thereafter.
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On that Kahui advert. I don't believe it's really him. Moving those cards would have done his elbows in.
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@KiwiMurph not like we're drowning in talent these days. Might be a redemption story.
I'm assuming he'll play wing at this stage but hard to tell as the squad still only lists 24 players
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@KiwiMurph said in Aussie Rugby:
@NTA With his utility ability it's probably best to introduce him off the bench initially.
The other options are rookies so we will see
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Don't put him on the bench! Those splinters are everywhere!
(Nobody puts baby in a corner, he damages his shoulders).
Still, what a fine All Black he was.
Draw | NSW Waratahs
