Exodus
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Kieran Read will be part of Exodus 2019. I hope someone called Bill makes an appearance at his All Blacks leaving party:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12153275
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A Wasps recruitment effort in Battersea earlier this evening?
Lima Sopoaga (@LimaSopoaga) Tweeted:
Familiar faces in new places. The brothers are in town 🙌🏾🙌🏾 https://t.co/F6BxL0Dn2j -
man Lima is small!
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Saffa Pom Cricketer Kevin Petersen trying to sign up BB for the IPL:
Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) Tweeted:
Shocker! Just lost again on the golf course! Cleaned out by an @AllBlacks today - @beaudenbarrett!Wednesday I’m having you, buddy! 😂😂 https://t.co/HPnaH3xyI8
I hope Beauden spends as much time this week with his kicking tee and tackle bags as he does with his putter and his sand wedge.
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For what an article in the Daily Mail is worth ..
New Zealand are considering the radical step of releasing three of their superstars for two-year sabbaticals in Japan, in an attempt to fight off a growing financial threat to their global supremacy. Fly-half Beauden Barrett — the reigning World Player of the Year — is one of those likely to benefit from a lucrative stint in the Far East. Sportsmail understands that lock Brodie Retallick and rookie try-scoring phenomenon Rieko Ioane are the other front-line players who may be allowed to join Japanese teams in order to keep them away from Europe. The New Zealand Rugby Union are battling to prevent a damaging exodus of their leading men to French and English clubs. What was once a pre-retirement option has turned into a career move for Kiwis in their prime —which is why the NZRU are having to take emergency steps in an attempt to protect the All Blacks’ treasured status as the best in the business. The gulf in monetary clout between north and south is biting ever harder. Earlier this season, former New Zealand playmaker Lima Sopoaga, now at Wasps, claimed that more All Blacks in their 20s are likely to defect as awareness grows about their earning power.Sopoaga’s point was that the fabled black jersey itself ‘is not enough for a better life’. This appears to be dawning on increasing numbers of New Zealand players willing to sacrifice their Test career in return for a fortune overseas. Toulon are reportedly closing in on deals for All Black lock Sam Whitelock and wing Nehe Milner-Skudder, while captain Kieran Read has confirmed that he will move abroad after next year’s World Cup. That is of less concern to the NZRU as Read is 33. But Barrett is 27, as is Retallick, while Ioane is an international novice of 21. Allowing this trio to spend time in Japan is a safer bet for the Kiwi authorities than watching them commit to the blood-and-thunder intensity of elite European club rugby. It also fits in with increasing NZRU financial and sponsorship ties with rugby and government bodies in both Japan and China. What remains unclear is whether the All Blacks will relax their policy of only picking home-based players for Test rugby. Last week, flanker Matt Todd was called up for national service despite being on a short-term sabbatical with the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan. If that selection serves as a precedent, coach Steve Hansen may yet be able to pick Barrett, Retallick and Ioane if, or when, they go to Japan. In the short-term, that keeps New Zealand strong, but it may accelerate an exodus once players sense that the strict selection policy has been compromised. Despite the commercial allure of the All Blacks brand, the NZRU lack financial clout. They do not own their own stadium and, in a relatively small economy, gate receipts are modest. In contrast, the RFU will earn in excess of £10m from Saturday’s England v New Zealand match.
All Blacks will be sent to Japan to avoid English clubs' clutches
EXCLUSIVE BY CHRIS FOY: New Zealand are considering the radical step of releasing three of their superstars for two-year sabbaticals in Japan.
IMO, Brodie is the only player of the three who won't have to fear losing his grip on his starting spot any time soon. BB, however, might lose his 10 jersey to Mo'unga pretty quickly if he takes 2 seasons off from the ABs. Even Rieko is not irreplaceable. No doubt he'll still make the ABs when he returns, but he may no longer be an automatic starter. That will also depend on whether Naholo stays, of course.
I doubt Todd's case is a precedent for relaxing their home-based players only policy.
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The “cash-rich North vs the parlous South” is becoming increasingly hackneyed and inaccurate.
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@derm-mccrum said in Exodus 2019:
The “cash-rich North vs the parlous South” is becoming increasingly hackneyed and inaccurate.
Writers also ignore the family aspect. If you have a young family, for some, it can be very attractive to be raising the kids for a couple of years overseas with an increased income and some negotiated support in the way of nannies etc. Good chance to pocket a bit of dough to help with upcoming schooling etc too
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@crucial the travel thing is the bigger issue for me than the £'s, makes it easier to have a family life when you are only away for a few days as opposed to weeks at a time.
I think if you are smart, a fringe AB player could carve out a decent career and make good coin in NZ, but this is at the expense of starting a family or being away form the family for long periods early on (some may see this as a blessing)
The comment from Lima would indicate that players in thier 20s are farking stupid if they didnt know this already.
claimed that more All Blacks in their 20s are likely to defect as awareness grows about their earning power.
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@stargazer said in Exodus 2019:
IMO, Brodie is the only player of the three who won't have to fear losing his grip on his starting spot any time soon.
I don't really see the point of letting a wing have a sabbatical. Reiko is great and all, but he has hardly earned it. That is n't a knock either I don't think there has been an AB wing in history who has been at a point in their career where they have "deserved" one of these and still had quality performances in the tank worth waiting for.
Brodie for sure. Beaudy only if it suits the team (i.e. worth getting a look at Mo'unga and/or shaking up the attack). Ioane no way.
I wonder if these negotiations bode well for the prospect of Hansen staying on, because to some degree he would have to have some input on how the mechanics of this would work.
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This article earlier in the week suggested Ben Smith and Julian Savea are off to Pau after the RWC.
Pau : Ben Smith et Ardie Savea arrivent ! - Le XV de départ
Rugby - Top 14 - Les All Blacks, Ben Smith et Julian Savea vont signer très prochainement leur contrat avec la Section Paloise !
You seen anything newer?
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@sparky said in Exodus 2019:
This article earlier in the week suggested Ben Smith and Julian Savea are off to Pau after the RWC.
Pau : Ben Smith et Ardie Savea arrivent ! - Le XV de départ
Rugby - Top 14 - Les All Blacks, Ben Smith et Julian Savea vont signer très prochainement leur contrat avec la Section Paloise !
You seen anything newer?
Not Julian, Ardie. The title is wrong. In the body of the text it says "Le petit frère de Julian Savea, Ardie" (the younger brother of Julian Savea, Ardie), which makes way more sense. Unless Toulon already want to get rid of him, Julian is not going anywhere. He's signed with them until June 2020.
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@stargazer "Julian Savea's younger brother, Ardie, would be an agreement to a longer period. Indeed, a contract of three seasons awaits its signature. If the different parties have agreed, the players have not yet officially signed but it's only a matter of time."
No signature yet.
