Exodus

[Bovidae]

@booboo Toka Natua is another from the rugby nursery of Tokoroa. Not many props can say they scored a hat-trick in a RWC final, which she did in 2017.

[booboo]

Shows how much interest I had in women's rugby

[Billy Tell]

The end of a sorry saga. Based on what I’ve seen I’m not expecting too much at ASM. Definitely not another Fritz Lee IMHO.

[Stargazer]

It seems he's giving up on the black jersey way too easily/quickly. I can't help thinking there's more to the Pita Gus story that we don't know.

[canefan]

@Stargazer said in Exodus:

It seems he's giving up on the black jersey way too easily/quickly. I can't help thinking there's more to the Pita Gus story that we don't know.

It has been mentioned that he had some off field issues. Seems a shame and now he can't play for Fiji or anyone else

[taniwharugby]

@canefan if you were a cynic you might say he took the AB route to improve his market value...

[Bovidae]

Sowakula will be playing for Taranaki next season before heading to France.

https://www.chiefs.co.nz/news-item/pita-gus-sowakula-confirms-his-future-in-france

[nzzp]

@Bovidae said in Exodus:

Sowakula will be playing for Taranaki next season before heading to France.

Chalk that one up to the Foster/Hansen school of mismanagement. Frustrating.

[Machpants]

@nzzp said in Exodus:

@Bovidae said in Exodus:

Sowakula will be playing for Taranaki next season before heading to France.

Chalk that one up to the Foster/Hansen school of mismanagement. Frustrating.

Or his main supporting coach getting fired

[Stargazer]

Ben Afeaki is joining the Rugby New York coaching group.
Also Andy Ellis.

[Stargazer]

Manawatū prop Sean Paranihi has signed with New Orleans.

[Stargazer]

Canterbury hooker Shilo Klein has signed with San Diego.

[Bovidae]

I am surprised Semple isn't involved with coaching a SR Aupiki team next year.

[muddyriver]

@Bovidae 4 games, vs full year employment.

Much higher level athletes.

Can't say many would choose women's super other than lifestyle reasons.

[MN5]

@Stargazer said in Exodus:

Manawatū prop Sean Paranihi has signed with New Orleans.

Living in the bayou would be way more interesting than living in Palmy.

[Higgins]

These never ending departures will surely be having a big effect on club rugby here in NZ this coming season, particularly in the front row where reasonable props were hard enough to come by even before this mass exodus gathered steam.

[Stargazer]

@Higgins Yep, the departure of the better players is diminishing our Super depth and will make it difficult to find replacements when injury strikes, and the departure of all players is bad for club rugby. But if they get paid somewhere else for playing rugby and they get the opportunity to see other parts of the world, then it makes totally sense from a player's point of view.

[mikedogz]

You would hope that once the competition is well established that they have a limit on the number of foreign players match day squad.

[Tim]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/300768903/nz-rugby-offered-contract-exemption-to-all-blacks-star-beauden-barrett

[Chris]

@Tim said in Exodus:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/300768903/nz-rugby-offered-contract-exemption-to-all-blacks-star-beauden-barrett

I can not see why they would want to sign a almost 36 year old BB in 2025.