Exodus
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I haven't been paying attention to signings in Europe other than in the major competitions, so this one had escaped my attention. The last 10 years or so, there have been quite a few Hawke's Bay players who have played a season (or part of a season) in Spain or Portugal. Often players at the very beginning (ex.: Joe 'Apikotoa) or at the end (ex.: Chris Eaton) of their rugby career. Here's another one.
Young Magpies lock Tiaki Fabish - who also played for the Super Rugby U20 winning Barbarians team in 2022 - is playing for Basque club Gernika Rugby Taldea (División de Honor, Spain).
This announcement is from October. -
@Stargazer Plays for Auckland University club. Supposed to be one of the better props around. He's played for the NZ Universities team, and Auckland B.
May have been in an NZ Secondary Schools squad.
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@Stargazer said in Exodus:
I haven't been paying attention to signings in Europe other than in the major competitions, so this one had escaped my attention. The last 10 years or so, there have been quite a few Hawke's Bay players who have played a season (or part of a season) in Spain or Portugal. Often players at the very beginning (ex.: Joe 'Apikotoa) or at the end (ex.: Chris Eaton) of their rugby career. Here's another one.
Young Magpies lock Tiaki Fabish - who also played for the Super Rugby U20 winning Barbarians team in 2022 - is playing for Basque club Gernika Rugby Taldea (División de Honor, Spain).
This announcement is from October.Is that his dad's jersey?
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Media release Crusaders:
Richie Mo'unga is Leaving the Crusaders
The 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season will be Richie Mo’unga’s last with the Crusaders as he heads to Japan to take up a position with Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo.
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@Stargazer glad to see the back of Frizell. Mo'unga will be a huge loss to the Crusaders and All Blacks.
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@Chris Yes, sadly, the announcements of the departures of PGS, Mo'unga and Frizell is only the start of probably a huge exodus post-RWC. I expect a much greater number of players to retire or leave for greener pastures after the 2023 RWC than we saw after the 2019 RWC. While a rejuvenation of the ABs and SR squads isn't necessarily a bad thing, it also means the loss of a huge amount of experience and rugby IQ on the two highest levels in NZ. We can only hope that the next generation is ready and good enough.
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I'm happy to chip in to expedite Frizzel's contract to next year. Who's with me?
RM and Frizell will probably be followed by a few more after the WC.
Beauden Barrett,Brodie Retallick,Sam Whitelock,RTS and Sam Cane leading the way.Maybe D Mac as well,
With sabbaticals for Ardie Savea and Reiko Ioane.Those ones are expected turnover so not all that concerning (all getting close to mid 30s) - well aside from RTS. But he should probably go now to get another year in with the Dolphins.
Although, I wonder if BBBR might carry on due to his frequent injury interruptions?
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RM and Frizell will probably be followed by a few more after the WC.
*Beauden Barrett,Brodie Retallick,Sam Whitelock,RTS and Sam Cane leading the way.Maybe D Mac as well,
With sabbaticals for Ardie Savea and Reiko Ioane.RTS should not be amongst those players, he's (like all short term League purchases) a waste of time and money for ABs
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@Machpants said in Exodus:
RM and Frizell will probably be followed by a few more after the WC.
*Beauden Barrett,Brodie Retallick,Sam Whitelock,RTS and Sam Cane leading the way.Maybe D Mac as well,
With sabbaticals for Ardie Savea and Reiko Ioane.RTS should not be amongst those players, he's (like all short term League purchases) a waste of time and money for ABs
That is why he will be off overseas or back to league after the WC.
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@Machpants said in Exodus:
RM and Frizell will probably be followed by a few more after the WC.
*Beauden Barrett,Brodie Retallick,Sam Whitelock,RTS and Sam Cane leading the way.Maybe D Mac as well,
With sabbaticals for Ardie Savea and Reiko Ioane.RTS should not be amongst those players, he's (like all short term League purchases) a waste of time and money for ABs
Yep, a few on here predicated all sorts of wonderful things for RTS on the Rugby Union field.
It’s a bit of an insult to the legacy of the others to post his name alongside those guys.
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RTS played well in SR and had a couple of promising games on the EOYT. He exceeded my expectations after missing out on an NPC last year.
I doubt he leaves Auckland again. Maybe he goes back to the Warriors but I would not be surprised to see him extend his Blues/NZR contract. Depends on how 2023 goes
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RTS has done just fine. Considering he missed a bit of time with injury and the lack of a development plan for him / or a decent plan. He definitely belongs in SR, wait and see for the next level.
At what point do the ABs have their hand forced to open it up worldwide? They can only lose so much talent before they have to follow suit like the Boks and Wallabies.
