Exodus
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@taniwharugby said in Exodus 2019:
BBBR NOT exiting stage left until at least 2023.
Can I like this twice?
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Highlanders loose forward Elliot Dixon has confirmed that he has signed a two-year deal with Ricoh Black Rams and will head there in October to play in the Japan Top League.
With the World Cup in Japan from September to November, the Japan league has been switched to a January start and will clash with Super Rugby next year. There have been suggestions another season will be played in the second half of the year - bringing two seasons in the calendar year, and a lucrative payday for many players. But that appears to have been ruled out. The suggestion is the next three seasons in Japan are set to be played in the first half of the year, directly clashing with the Super Rugby season. Dixon (29) said the season structure was still undecided in Japan but it appeared to be the end of being able to play in two competitions back to back. ''At the moment the competition is pretty cool over there. The Top League is awesome to play and then you can come back again and play for a season for the Highlanders again. But not sure if we are going to be able to do that,'' Dixon said. ''I would love to do that but it hasn't worked out that way so I'm going to head off to Japan.''Dixon is one of seven Highlanders from this season's original squad who will play in Japan next season. He will be joined by locks Tom Franklin and Jackson Hemopo, loose forward Liam Squire, first five-eighth Marty Banks, midfielder Richard Buckman and winger Tevita Li, who has joined Suntory..
I'll post the link to the press release of the clubs concerned, once they have confirmed the signings of Franklin and Banks. All I have on Franklin at the moment is that he still has a 2nd year on his Kobelco Steelers contract, but that wouldn't necessarily rule out a return to SR (depending on the Top League format).
Dixon's decision to choose Japan all about family
The Japanese threat continues to grow and may become even more of a menace to New Zealand rugby. Highlanders loose forward Elliot Dixon confirmed...
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@Stargazer That would put him out for 2020 SR at least, due to Japan League schedule for 2020 ?
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The rate this is going
- The highlanders will be Coltman + 14 rookies
- The ABs will soon be selected from Super Rugby and the Japanese Top League
If that proposed world rugby league falls thru the game will be up.
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@Billy-Tell Nah, that's not necessary at all. The examples of Matt Todd, Ash Dixon, Heiden Bedwell-Curtis and maybe a few others has shown (last year), that players can sign contracts with Japanese clubs for only part of the Top League season. To highlight Ash Dixon's example for those who don't know: he signed a contract with Panasonic that allowed him to play for Hawke's Bay during the regular season of the Mitre 10 Cup, but miss the finals, and play for Panasonic from mid-October to mid-December. So only for 2 months!
So, there's nothing stopping Japanese clubs from signing All Blacks for only part of the season again, allowing them to return to NZ in time to play Super Rugby.
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@Stargazer said in Exodus 2019:
@Billy-Tell Nah, that's not necessary at all. The examples of Matt Todd, Ash Dixon, Heiden Bedwell-Curtis and maybe a few others has shown (last year), that players can sign contracts with Japanese clubs for only part of the Top League season. To highlight Ash Dixon's example for those who don't know: he signed a contract with Panasonic that allowed him to play for Hawke's Bay during the regular season of the Mitre 10 Cup, but miss the finals, and play for Panasonic from mid-October to mid-December. So only for 2 months!
So, there's nothing stopping Japanese clubs from signing All Blacks for only part of the season again, allowing them to return to NZ in time to play Super Rugby.
Yeah nah. Japanese season is now going to overlap with super rugby.
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@Billy-Tell So far, the overlap only exists in 2020, and anyone who follows Top League a bit knows that the Top League format changes as often as the weather. There's no way they're going to select the ABs from the Top League, as that would open the flood gates for even more players to leave NZ for Japan than is the case now. And also, the quality of rugby in Japan isn't good enough to select ABs players from.
It all depends on what format the Top League will have after the firs half of 2020, but no doubt NZR will be following the developments and look for alternatives and other ways of keeping players in SR.
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A few more players leaving NZ for Japan, although it's not clear whether it's only for this years Top League Cup (June - August), or for the entire Top League season after the RWC:
Jimmy Tupou - NTT Communications Shining Ark
Ben Funnell - Ricoh Black Rams
Jeffery Thwaites - Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers
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The way things are going all overseas professional teams will be filled with kiwis thus overseas test teams will only be able to select second echelon players for internationals in which case it won't really matter if we are left with the bare 15 players of our normal All Black test level status and ability as we should be able to cream them with that. Eventually there will be no spots available in overseas teams to sign any more New Zealanders (or other foreign players for that matter) so any aspiring players seeking overseas contracts will virtually have to stay in NZ by dint of there being no spots available in overseas team's rosters available.
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@mikey07 I don't bag players or clubs, but you've obviously watched the wrong player. Rangihuna not only had a great pass, his kicking game was good and his decision making and captaincy proved to be one of the best in the Wgtn comp. In my opinion, I'm sure Wainui and some of the other teams will be glad he's gone, cause he was threat, but as you say, each to their own opinion.
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Brodie Retallick is joining Kobelco Steelers, the articles were saying it wasn't announced, but his name is on the list here.
Also, Ataata Moeakiola is leaving and joining Kobelco.
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@Yeetyaah When I checked last night (when I posted the names of other players who are leaving), it wasn't published yet. It must have been added today.
This is the official announcedment (dated yesterday, but posted today): https://www.top-league.jp/2019/06/12/kobe-2019-5/
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@Chris said in Exodus 2019:
@Yeetyaah Also, Ataata Moeakiola is leaving and joining Kobelco.
Are you happy about this one.He has been bagged a lot by some chiefs fans on the Fern ?
Why fill SR position with an average foreigner?
If you must pick a foreigner get a Tyler Ardron and make it worthwhile.
Selection criteria has to be preference for NZ qualified. I'm good with Pacific qualified within reason. Beyond that they have to be damned special.
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@Chris said in Exodus 2019:
@Yeetyaah Also, Ataata Moeakiola is leaving and joining Kobelco.
Are you happy about this one.He has been bagged a lot by some chiefs fans on the Fern ?
He was shit and not even "PI" (I'm good with a few PI qualified like @booboo) as he was a Japanese player. Sullivan looked better than him in his minutes early in the season.
選手＆スタッフ一覧｜コベルコ神戸スティーラーズ
