Super Rugby News

bobily

And Hame Faiva has been called in for Liam Coltman. Temporarily, I think.

Higgins

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SouthernMan" data-cid="577329" data-time="1462495752">
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Fletcher Smith has been called into the Highlanders as a replacement for Hayden Parker.
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I can vaguely recall the name but not his performances for Otago. Can anyone down that way let us know if this is a worthy selection or just a sticking a pile of names into a barrel, giving it a shake and a blindfolded lucky dip, lets take the first name drawn out selection.

Crucial

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Higgins" data-cid="577356" data-time="1462503476">
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I can vaguely recall the name but not his performances for Otago. Can anyone down that way let us know if this is a worthy selection or just a sticking a pile of names into a barrel, giving it a shake and a blindfolded lucky dip, lets take the first name drawn out selection.
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The Highlanders tend to have there backup training squads from the next ranking players around Otago/ Southland.
 
I know that the halfback they have had going to trainings 'just in case' has been the kid from the Stags who has only had one year of provincial. 
 
I guess that it is a good investment in looking at these guys early and if they come on they are more likely to get a signing but the drawback is that they are fairly inexperienced if actually needed.
 
A couple of seasons ago a club prop teammate of my son had to suit up and acquitted himself OK.
 
I would say that this Fletcher Smith is in that same boat. Cheap to have around.

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="577365" data-time="1462505042">
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The Highlanders tend to have there backup training squads from the next ranking players around Otago/ Southland.
 
I know that the halfback they have had going to trainings 'just in case' has been the kid from the Stags who has only had one year of provincial. 
 
I guess that it is a good investment in looking at these guys early and if they come on they are more likely to get a signing but the drawback is that they are fairly inexperienced if actually needed.
 
A couple of seasons ago a club prop teammate of my son had to suit up and acquitted himself OK.
 
I would say that this Fletcher Smith is in that same boat. Cheap to have around. 
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He's a bit better than that
 
Another 10 to come out of Christchurch Boys High, NZ Secondary schools and I think NZ under 20.
 
Played a year of club rugby in Chch before signing with Otago. 
 
Seen him play a few times and has plenty of promise.

Crucial

I'm not saying these guys are no good, but many have little experience even at a provincial level.

SammyC

Oh OK, he played for Otago last year in the NPC didn't he?

African Monkey

Can't say he was anything special from what I saw of him last year but that's not to say that he won't become a good player. Definitely not super rugby standard yet.

Stargazer

Patrick Osborne has re-signed with the Highlanders for 2017, but has made himself available for the Fijian national team! 

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
The exciting wing has played 47 games for the Highlanders since his debut in 2014 and has formed a lethal partnership with fellow Fijian Waisake Naholo. Osborne will play for Japanese club Kubota Spears later this year before returning to Dunedin for the 2017 Investec Super Rugby season. He has made himself available for the Fijian national team in the June international window.
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<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.superrugby.co.nz/News/29155/osborne-signs-with-the-highlanders'>http://www.superrugby.co.nz/News/29155/osborne-signs-with-the-highlanders</a>

Stargazer

Halfback Leon Fukofuka, has re-signed with the Crusaders for another two years.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://crusaders.co.nz/news/951-bnz-crusaders-name-team-for-the-southern-derby'>http://crusaders.co.nz/news/951-bnz-crusaders-name-team-for-the-southern-derby</a>

SouthernMan

On the Fletcher Smith introduction to the squad. I'm happy with it, looking around the country there's no one better available. Plus I believe his skill set is superior to what Hayden Parker has to offer. He actually has some pace and is quite a bit bigger than Parker. If the two were up against each other during the Mitre 10 Cup, I would back Smith to have the starting spot by the end of the year.

Stargazer

Is Senatore the Luis Suarez of rugby? What an idiot! 
 
From Newshub site: 

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
Jaguares Leonardo Senatore suspended 10 weeks for biting 
 Tuesday 17 May 2016 6:36 a.m. Argentina international loose-forward Leonardo Senatore has been suspended for 10 weeks after being found guilty of biting an opponent in a Super Rugby match on Saturday. 
 It is the second time the 32-year-old has been suspended for the same offence having sat out nine weeks in 2013 for biting South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth in a Rugby Championship fixture. 
 Senatore was playing for the Buenos Aires-based Jaguares when he sunk his teeth into the arm of Sharks flank Keegan Daniel as the pair tussled in a ruck near the end of a tense 25-22 victory for the South African side in Velez Sarsfield. 
 Despite being a repeat offender, his most recent ban was reduced from the prescribed minimum of 12 weeks for what the SANZAAR judicial committee called his "good character, his playing record and his disciplinary record". 
 "The Judicial Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a low-end entry point of 12 weeks. The Judicial Committee then added two weeks for aggravation as this was the player's second offence for biting," SANZAAR said in a statement on Monday. 
 "However, taking into account mitigating factors including the player's good character, his playing record and his disciplinary record the Judicial Committee reduced the suspension to a period of 10 weeks." 
 The suspension rules Senatore out of the remainder of the group phase of the Super Rugby season, with the Jaguares unlikely to make the playoffs. 
 He will be free to play in the Rugby Championship starting on August 20 but will miss Argentina's three friendly internationals in June against Italy and France (two).
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The mystery of determining penalties again: they add 2 weeks for aggravation because he's done it before and then reduce it by 4 weeks for a good disciplinary record etc? I don't understand how you can have a good disciplinary record if you have already been banned for 9 weeks for the same offence.
 
By the way, Augustin Creevy got a one week suspension for a dangerous tackle on Sharks flanker Jean Deysel and will miss the Jaguares game v the Lions.

taniwharugby

maybe cos biting is the only thing he does, and I mean 3 years between bites is a pretty good thing, he's obviously doing a good job of controlling his urges!

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="580238" data-time="1463433905">
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Is Senatore the Luis Suarez of rugby? What an idiot! 
 
From Newshub site: 

 
The mystery of determining penalties again: they add 2 weeks for aggravation because he's done it before and then reduce it by 4 weeks for a good disciplinary record etc? I don't understand how you can have a good disciplinary record if you have already been banned for 9 weeks for the same offence.
 
By the way, Augustin Creevy got a one week suspension for a dangerous tackle on Sharks flanker Jean Deysel and will miss the Jaguares game v the Lions.
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The logic in applying these penalties seem to be somewhat arbitrary and somewhat dependent on what big future fixtures you might want to play in.

Stargazer

Scott Barrett has re-signed with the Crusaders for another two years.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/80128230/scott-barrett-resigns-with-crusaders'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/80128230/scott-barrett-resigns-with-crusaders</a>
 
Edit:
Official media release: <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://crusaders.co.nz/news/960-barrett-re-signs-with-bnz-crusaders'>http://crusaders.co.nz/news/960-barrett-re-signs-with-bnz-crusaders</a>

Billy Tell

Nice!
 
 
I see WLR is maybe joining Wasps from the Sharks. Must be depressing being a SA rugby fan. They don't win nothing these days, and all their best players are routinely poached. Let's hope that nightmare never arrives on NZ shores.

Billy Tell

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/80094213/sanzaar-plots-10-year-plan-and-more-change-in-2018-as-major-review-begins'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/80094213/sanzaar-plots-10-year-plan-and-more-change-in-2018-as-major-review-begins</a>
 
I'm liking the sound of this. I reckon SANZAAR needs to get an early foothold into North America before the Brits do, it's going to be incredibly important to have TV money that competes with the deals the French and English clubs are reaping, otherwise rugby will end up like soccer with the English Premiership.
 
It doesn't matter how many SH players go north, the quality of the rugby seems to remain average: Racing Metro had a few Kiwis in their side, but were absolutely rubbish.

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="578996" data-time="1463018925">
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Patrick Osborne has re-signed with the Highlanders for 2017, but has made himself available for the Fijian national team! 

 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.superrugby.co.nz/News/29155/osborne-signs-with-the-highlanders'>http://www.superrugby.co.nz/News/29155/osborne-signs-with-the-highlanders</a>
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Found on Twitter: a press release of Kubota Spears announcing the signing of Patrick Osborne for the 2016/17 Top League season:
 
<img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cit0y86XEAAYNYK.jpg" alt="Cit0y86XEAAYNYK.jpg">

taniwharugby

so will that mean Joe Wheeler will aslo be allowed to play outside NZ and return for Super rugby? 
 
Not ideal if the NZRU are granting players exemptions to play off-shore instead of Mitre10 Cup, especially as it could well open a big gate....

? Offline

According to this article, players can qualify for an NZRU exemption to do a split season - Super Rugby then miss NPC for an overseas stint then come back for the next season of Super Rugby - after "so many years of service".
 
The number of years in "so many years of service" is not defined in the article. 
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/80087823/wheeler-off-to-japan-will-miss-Mako$-season'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/80087823/wheeler-off-to-japan-will-miss-Mako$-season</a>

gt12

Shouldn't be allowed for players who play for, or have made themselves available for, another country.

The Silver Fern

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