Exodus
-
@higgins I wouldn't say he's light years away from NPC, he was part of a very solid and young loose forward trio for the Turbos this year (with the other two picking up fulltime contracts with the Canes).
Hurley-Langton was actually a part of the Wellington club scene for years playing for OBU, before being loaned to Manawatu. He lost out on a Wellington contract to promising Petone openside Josh Southall (same age), who despite having what feels like a never-ending injury managed to pick up a contract with the Lions instead of SHL.
Maybe he knows Southall is finally on the mend so has decided to ship out...
-
@higgins that seems a pretty sweet gig to me, what's that - 70k SPP? While getting the opportunity to live/travel around Europe and have most other living expenses paid for or propped up.
My cousin was a reasonably talented player our of MAGs who was around the development system. He left for France for two years and made plenty of bank (for his age), while having an absolute ball in Europe. He knew his chances of really breaking through were slim, so got some cash while he could.
If I were a young player who wasn't getting a Super contract, I'd try 24 months overseas then see where things stood.
-
-
@gt12 yeah, when I came over, prem level club players from NZ could typically expect to bank about £300-£500 a week, while being "housed" or given cheap accom and set up with decent work - and that was in what was then London 1, about 5 or so levels below Premiership.
-
When people post stuff about young players not being willing to stick around to try for a Super Rugby contract, there should be an automated bot response that posts the cost of living index for NZ, and the ratio of median house price to median wage.
It's a mad world where 10 years overseas' as a professional rugby player wouldn't allow you to come back and buy an average house in Auckland
debt freewith a 50% loan. I guess it would cut down the average of 11 years to save a deposit though. -
@stargazer said in Exodus:
@canes4life Players have no patience these days. Rather go overseas than work their way up the pecking order and compete for a spot at a SR franchise. It's not mentioned in the media release, but it wouldn't surprise me at all if he had Irish ancestry with that name. That could mean that - if they hope he'll develop into a test player - he doesn't have to wait 5 years.
Don’t think we’ll see him again. Even though not currently Irish qualified with a name like that he’ll be adopted by the Irish and if he’s any good go on to play for them.
-
-
When people post stuff about young players not being willing to stick around to try for a Super Rugby contract, there should be an automated bot response that posts the cost of living index for NZ, and the ratio of median house price to median wage.
It's not helped by the structure of NZ rugby either
40% of pro contracts are in the South Island. 20% are in Dunedin. They do not produce that many pro players. So the system forces a movement of talent from north to south
More opportunities near the regions that produce the players would allow younger players to stay with family and be picked for a SR Dev side. That still isn't ideal, but asking them to move away from family and get paid fuckall pushes more players overseas
-
-
Not quite, because it's mostly for PI qualified players
I've always been in favour of a real 6th SR side based in the NI. Moana Pasfika isn't that
Mostly PI qualified NZers, plus a few extra plain old NZers not PI and other PI qualified Ozzies. It is mostly a kiwi team, and (like Samoa and Tonga national teams) it will stay that way.
-
@stargazer not sure if he is grandson, but def of his lineage, @Steven-Harris may know.
He played for the Northland dev side last year
-
@taniwharugby yes this is correct Zion informed Northland a couple of weeks ago that he had picked up a contract In the MLR .really wrapt for the young man it will be great for his own personal development.