Exodus

[cgrant]

How many NZers will play next year in Japan ?

[frugby]

@cgrant Across the top 3 divisions, I think there will be about 35.

[Stargazer]

Does anyone know this young player? Is this a loss to NZ rugby (for the future)?

According to the Legend of Marty Banks' instagram, he co-captained Nelson College 1st XV in 2022. So he's really young and because he's going through Vannes' academy, he'll be regarded as a French player (JIFF) if and when he starts playing in the senior competition (Pro D2 in Vannes' case) in a few years. If he's really good, he'd qualify for France. This is exactly the pathway they also use for their French U20 squad: recruit players far and wide for their academies and make them France eligible (by that the time he'd qualify for a French passport as well), circumventing all rules limiting the use of foreign players.

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer He was in the Barbarians U18s, so had been identified.

[Darren]

I know it was posted earlier that he left, but he is straight into the Wales squad
"Taine Plumtree has been called up to Wales’s training squad"

Jul 4, 2023  /  Sport

Wales call up former New Zealand star to Rugby World Cup training squad

Back-rower Taine Plumtree plays in Super Rugby for the Blues and represented the All Blacks at under-20 level

Good for him, but not sure he is international quality at the moment.

[Winger]

@Darren

Not even close to being good enough. He wasn't even in the Wellington NPC starting 15 last year. But hope he does well.

[cgrant]

Welsh standards are looking very low nowadays.

[Bones]

@Darren New Zealand star!

[Daffy Jaffy]

Luteru Tolai is leaving MP to sign with Biarritz.

[Stargazer]

[Stargazer]

[Bovidae]

The fact that Moli can't even make the Ta$man 23 says it's time to move on for the Chiefs.

[ploughboy]

yeah was wondering what the chiefs were going to do with him. will be interesting to see who they replace him with. would imagine AT will get join dyer so would leave room for one more

[Stargazer]

Tali Ioasa, ex-Hastings Boys' High School and recent - or soon to be - school leaver, and son of Tafai Ioasa has signed with Kobe Kobelco Steelers. I wonder whether this is a full contract?

Disappointing to see this talented 18-year-old midfielder moving overseas already, although being signed by Kobe this young, seems huge. I hope he doesn't end up playing for Japan in a few years time.

2023-24シーズン　新加入選手（追加）のお知らせ｜コベルコ神戸スティーラーズ

[mikey07]

[Stargazer]

@mikey07 Not an exodus, unless he's signed with an Australian SR franchise. He's signed with another SR franchise.

[mikey07]

@Stargazer Didn’t know where to post it and wanted to know if anyone had an idea where he’s going to.

[kidcalder]

@Stargazer
Maybe Moana?
I can't see a kiwi franchise signing a 33 year old winger.

[Smudge]

@mikey07 said in Exodus:

@Stargazer Didn’t know where to post it and wanted to know if anyone had an idea where he’s going to.

Perfectly fine to post it here. The hall monitor can take a breather for once in his life.

[Stargazer]

@Smudge I assume you mean me (although apparently it's you), but I wasn't criticising @mikey07 for posting it here. I just meant that he had signed with another SR franchise, so was unlikely to go overseas, unless it was an Aussie franchise. Apologies if it was worded in a way you're allergic to.