Blues 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/
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@DrivingMaul said in Blues 2020:
Strange to read that in the release as Caleb is a back 3 player and Marchant is a centre
Probably means that Tele'a spends another year as mostly a winger
Eventually he will be a specialist centre but he's not quite ready
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@taniwharugby said in Blues 2020:
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...
Five years
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@Duluth probably a good thing. Tele'a made a good fist of things on the wing this season. Came from nowhere really. Never played a full game of Mitre 10 prior to playing Super.
Stats would indicate he had a far more effective season than Clarke - way ahead of Clarke in all the major stats - linebreaks, metres gained, defenders beaten, tackles made. Didn't quite kick on though in the M10. -
@Daffy-Jaffy From those highlights he looks like he could be a gun wing. Didn't see a lot of distribution though.
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