Exodus
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@Steven-Harris You would also have noticed a couple of promising first five in the black and white hooped jerseys this year as well, even if one of them had to play at fullback! Might only be a year or two away from pushing for higher honours.
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@Steven-Harris Josh Ioane is a long way off test quality, so it's pretty open unless DMac shows some form at 10.
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Confirmed:
Matt McGahan has signed with Ricoh Black Rams.
Sefo Kautai is joining Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers.
https://www.kobelcosteelers.com/news/information/2019/11/2019-10.php -
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Exodus 2019:
Teleni Seu off to Japan.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/114735484/injuryplagued-chiefs-forward-taleni-seu-leaving-super-rugby-for-stint-in-japanNot sure whether the club he'll be playing for has already been posted in this thread.
He has signed with Toyota Industries Shuttles. This team isn't competing in the Top League, so I assume he'll play in the next tier (Top Challenge League?).
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@Tim said in Exodus 2019:
@Steven-Harris Josh Ioane is a long way off test quality, so it's pretty open unless DMac shows some form at 10.
DMac has stated quite clearly that he now thinks he should stick at 15. Whether that is because he lost confidence last year after a poor run at 10 when his forwards played shite, or whether that is a genuine self assessment with the clarity of sitting back for a while with an injury, I don't know.
At 15 he will be relying on the playing style of an incoming AB coach with decisions to be made around the BB/Mounga experiment and whether the rose tinted glasses remain on for Jordie.
Could be that he would prefer to have fun and be a crowd favourite at Super level, carving things up then moving north for a big payday.
As for 10s, I think we may go back to either one of Mounga or BB with the other as support so there is time for Ioane to develop. -
Confirmed:
Sonny Bill Williams has signed a two-year deal with the Canada-based Toronto Wolfpack rugby league club which plays in the UK Super League competition.
https://www.allblacks.com/news/sonny-bill-williams-says-thank-you-as-he-confirms-overseas-move
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Big excitement for the signing, even had a couple of non-rugby fan, not even sport fan types mention it. Ironically both in the medical profession with one a theatre nurse at one of the major hospitals downtown - so perhaps they have been put on alert by the team?
Looking forward to reading the SBW autobiography someday more than watching his stint with the Wolpack. His farewells throw some pretty obvious shade (as did his refusal to say anything about Foster at the RWC).
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Former Timaru BHS (2013) and Christchurch club player (Shirley RFC) departs to play professionally in the USA
Siua Maile lands US rugby contract after World Cup exposure
Christchurch, New Zealand: Siua Maile, a roofer by trade, who got a late call-up for Tonga’s Ikale Tahi team at the Rugby World Cup, has been rewarded with an opportunity to play professional rugby in the United States.
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@Stargazer You will be pleased to know Ihia West is going OK for La Rochelle in their away match against Top 14 Table Toppers Lyon (I can't sleep so am watching the game on line). He is in the company of Victor Vito (Capt) and Tawera Kerr-Barlow but they are not being helped by their team mates and are currently down 38 - 17 15 minutes into the second half. Of note is that former Frog midfield back (and ocassional captain) Mathieu Fatsoreaud is playing No 8 against Vito but it looks like it won't be too much longer before he finds a new position in the front row!
Charlie Ngatai also going ok for Lyon. -
As already posted in the Hurricanes 2020 thread, Lincoln McClutchie has signed with a Japanese club after being snubbed for a SR contract. His club is NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes. That's the team of Liam Squire, Marty Banks and Keepa Mewett (coached by former AB Mike Brewer). It's also the team where Gareth Evans played a few games, last year.
It's ironic that he is playing for a team called the Hurricanes ...
【リリース】2019年度 新加入選手のお知らせ（追加） | ニュース | レッドハリケーンズ大阪
レッドハリケーンズ大阪のオフィシャルウェブサイトです。試合スケジュール・試合結果・選手等を紹介しています。
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@Number-10 said in Exodus 2019:
Was he snubbed?
Is it definite that he was not offered a contract by the Hurricanes,
It seems the only logic explanation. Why would a 20-year old NZ rugby player refuse a full Super Rugby contract? (Development contracts may not pay enough if you have financial responsibilities.)
or was not going to be offered one?
Do they have to buy a crystal ball to know that, or do you prefer a clairvoyant?
Is it definite that the Japanese contract did not come first, before any approach from the Hurricanes?
Most new players for the Japanese clubs were announced before the RWC. Preseason in Japan has been underway for a few weeks already. So it's reasonable to assume that they're now picking up the leftovers ...
But if you have inside knowledge that indicates that McClutchie refused a full SR contract to go to Japan, or that a NZ franchise made an offer after he accepted the Japanese contract, please, do tell ...
Edited to add that as long as there is no complete openess about why certain players were not included in the announced SR squads, you can expect speculation about players being snubbed until the facts are known. I'd love to know the facts! Unfortunately, we have to wait until a journalist asks the right questions, gets clear answers and writes them down in an article on the Stuff or NZH website.
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