Exodus
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Otago halfback Kieran McClea has signed with NE Free Jacks.
https://freejacks.com/featured-news/free-jacks-sign-otago-scrumhalf-kieran-mcclea/
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Plenty of rumours, but nothing official about Retallick, so not posting that.
This is official:
From the media release (link in tweet):
All Blacks Test and Highlander’s centurion Aaron Smith has announced he will spend time playing overseas at the end of 2023.
Smith and Beauden Barrett have signed with the Toyota club in Japan and while Smith has committed to a long-term contract, New Zealand Rugby is working with Barrett on a return to playing on home soil.
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@Stargazer said in Exodus:
Plenty of rumours, but nothing official about Retallick, so not posting that.
This is official:
From the media release (link in tweet):
All Blacks Test and Highlander’s centurion Aaron Smith has announced he will spend time playing overseas at the end of 2023.
Smith and Beauden Barrett have signed with the Toyota club in Japan and while Smith has committed to a long-term contract, New Zealand Rugby is working with Barrett on a return to playing on home soil.
It doesn't seem to say how longs smith's contract Is? Anyone know?
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@Mackerzzzz I haven't seen the exact duration published anywhere, but "long-term" contracts with Japanese clubs are often 3 years.
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@Stargazer said in Exodus:
@Mackerzzzz I haven't seen the exact duration published anywhere, but "long-term" contracts with Japanese clubs are often 3 years.
I had a quick look at the Japanese media and couldn't find anything.
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@Stargazer said in Exodus:
@Mackerzzzz I haven't seen the exact duration published anywhere, but "long-term" contracts with Japanese clubs are often 3 years.
So long term is the same length as not long term? (Aka Barrett) sound about right
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So weird to think we are what, 16 months from an AB test that will feature a new coaching group.
And that new coaching group will be without the following stalwarts that will feature all this year
Our two veteran starting locks
Openside and Captain
Starting #8
Our starting #9
BOTH our starting options at 10, one who is the starting 15.This alone would be huge if it wasn't also followed up by the fact that, barring one lock and the openside, there is literally no one to step in that has TEST PLAYER written all over him.
Even with the ATGs that left after 2015 we were comfy that there were replacements.
2024 will certainly be interesting. If Foster already knows he is gone come November, then he won't spend even a micro-second doing anything to build depth this year either, he'll be focused on his top 23 being 100% ready for the RWC.
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@mariner4life said in Exodus:
2024 will certainly be interesting. If Foster already knows he is gone come November, then he won't spend even a micro-second doing anything to build depth this year either, he'll be focused on his top 23 being 100% ready for the RWC.
Which won't necessarily be bad for the players moving in. I haven't seen much sign that the current AB camp is making players any better. Especially as the current selection strategy means that the new players almost never get a game.
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@mariner4life The other way of looking at is players have 2 Super seasons to put their hand up for those spots - that's a long time where a lot can change.
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@Stargazer said in Exodus:
Plenty of rumours, but nothing official about Retallick, so not posting that.
https://www.chiefs.co.nz/news-item/brodie-retallick-to-play-offshore-in-2024
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