Crusaders 2019
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I'm all for bringing 'back' the first-five but not so keen on developing more guys for the Wallabies ala Pete Samu, with this Frost kid. For a kid with his pedigree who must now be 19 or more to not have made the Canterbury squad to me indicates he's either gone back to Australia, never actually arrived, or is badly injured.
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Found a story on Fox Sports from around the same time (Oct 17) which tells us this:
italicised textIn signing a three-year development contract with the eight-time Super Rugby champions, Frost became the youngest Australian to be signed to the Crusaders and will head to New Zealand at the end of the year after completing his studies.
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@shark Who pays for kids to attend these Crusaders' academies? Unless kids like Frost are paying to attend, I can't really see the point in investing in Australians - and, given his father works for the ARU, probably quite staunch Australians.
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@shark he played colts for Lincoln University. He is inthe Canterbury under 19 squad. He played 5-6 games in div 1 while Morris and Dalziel we’re away with NZU. He’s on a 3 yr crusaders academy contract. Great athlete who has just turned 19 and a couple of years off mitre 10 cup. Not many of these kids play for Canterbury inside the 3 years in the academy. Apparently he has the academy record over 10metres.
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@chchfanatic OK he's about a year younger than I'd have expected. I hope we get some value out of him before he pisses off back to Australia.
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@chris-b you don’t pay. Your selected. 10 spots every year. I’m pretty sure this years 10 are frost , Cullen grace , Luke Donaldson, Humphrey shield, Rico Syme, Matt letoga , Fergus Burke , Shilo Klein , burns mills and manaaka Boyle-tiatia
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@shark who said he was pissing off afterwards. From what I’m lead to believe he wants to stay here
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@chchfanatic said in Crusaders 2019:
Humphrey shield
Do you mean Humphrey Sheild, the Napier Boys' halfback who played for NZ Schools last year?
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@stargazer yes. He is at Lincoln uni , but they loaned him to UC. Pretty sure he has signed with Ta$man rather than Canterbury, but still in crusaders catchment
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@chchfanatic said in Crusaders 2019:
@shark who said he was pissing off afterwards. From what I’m lead to believe he wants to stay here
It's pretty unlikely given his background that he plans to qualify for NZ on residency grounds. Stranger things have happened, but I reckon what we're seeing is a player who has more faith in a NZ system developing his game than an Australian one, and nothing more. Once he's been given a leg-up and maybe played a few games for Canterbury and the Crusaders he'll be back off to Sydney's Eastern or Northern suburbs and into an Australian Super Rugby squad.
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I'll give you a similar yet contrasting experience as reasons why Frost would take this avenue. Pete Samu VS Peter Betham. Samu came over, stuck at it and after several seasons rising through the Ta$man and Crusaders ranks has gone home a far more accomplished player. Peter Betham made a big impact for Ta$man one season, enhanced his Aussie SR prospects so went back for another crack at it and did F all. I'm fairly sure Frost is using our system for the same reason but will take full advantage of it ala Samu.
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Remember when Skelton's brother signed with the Chiefs (development) with large fanfare? What happened to him? Is he still around?
On Frost - I don't want him playing for NZ after residency ... I hope he goes back to Australia and hasn't blocked a local Cantab (or NZer) from a spot on the advancement pathway.
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@shark I think samu would’ve played for abs if he got selected. I think he knew he was never going to , so took the opportunity when Aussie came calling. Mike alaalatoa is another one. Do u think he would turn down an all blacks jersey
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@chchfanatic Well he's Australian, so i expect he would.
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@nepia why not. He didnt choose where he was born. Just like any of the PI boys that have played for all blacks.
