Blues 2020
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@Dice I agree that its frustrating to loose Choat, especially at 21 years old. I enjoy what he brings to the game and he was improving by the match and was super rugby ready imho. However I also understand his option. Even if he was included in the wtg he probably saw Gibson, Hunt, Papalii and possibly Matich being used at 7 ahead of him and then for future selection sees the likes of Niko Jones and Aleks Dabek coming up behind him. He is probably about to find a Scottish grandmother and will be playing 6 nations in about 12 months!
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@Daffy-Jaffy That last bit you said wouldn't suprise me haha. Even if his opportunities are limited, it's unusual for someone to pack up and leave for Europe this early in his career unless, as you said, he qualifies for another country.
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@cgrant caught up with Northland assistant coach George Konia yesterday at the Northland club sevens..he confirmed to me Sam Caird will be joining the Blues as injury cover until late January and also Josh Goodhue is signed with the Blues for 2020.
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@KiwiMurph He is very good -
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Was just discussing this signing with a mate. From a NZ perspective, the main reason for the deal between NZR and Harlequins was to enable a NZ player to temporarily earn some good coin in England and then return to NZ. Basically, to prevent NZ players from moving overseas permanently. We wonder whether this signing of Marchant is part of an exchange deal, with a NZ (Blues) player making a one-year move to Harlequins for the 2020-2021 season? Could be in any position.
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@KiwiMurph Strange to read that in the release as Caleb is a back 3 player and Marchant is a centre
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Assume they had to get permission from NZR for him given he is potentially taking the spot a young NZer could be occupying...assuming he isn't planning on staying for 3 years...
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@taniwharugby The media release seems to suggest that that's not going to happen. 2020 only.
The Blues have today announced that England international Joe Marchant will play the 2020 Investec Super Rugby competition for the club. The 23-year-old back has recently signed a long-term extension with the Harlequins club that includes a sabbatical leave that will enable him to experience a long-held ambition to play for a New Zealand team in the Investec Super Rugby competition. Marchant‘s signing bolsters the Blues back options and balances the absence of Caleb Clarke who has been released by the Blues to join the New Zealand Sevens’ Tokyo Olympic programme. -
From the Harlequins media release:
Harlequins centre Marchant has signed a three-year contract extension with the London Club, until 2023. Additionally, in a ground-breaking move for club rugby, Joe Marchant will join Investec Super Rugby side the Blues for six months, to support the development of his rugby career. The 23-year-old, who has played for Harlequins since 2014, will represent the Auckland-based Blues club from January 1 to June 30 in a revolutionary move made possible through the Club’s ongoing relationship with New Zealand Rugby (NZR).https://www.quins.co.uk/news/marchant-signs-new-harlequins-contract-and-joins-blues-on-loan/
