Blues 2020

Stargazer

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/

Duluth

@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

Machpants

@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

Nogusta

@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.

African Monkey

@Nogusta Yeah he's far more suited to wing at this stage of his career. He doesn't have the vision or distribution skills to play in the midfield yet. Love his attitude though. Always gives it his all.

Bovidae

Do we know who Manu has signed with?

Tim

@Daffy-Jaffy From those highlights he looks like he could be a gun wing. Didn't see a lot of distribution though.

Duluth

What are the options at 12?

TJ and?

Yeetyaah

@Duluth Rieko

Nogusta

@Duluth Got it....a loosie that played at the RWC, has played SR

Dice

@Duluth That's why I'm keen on Ray Nu'u, because I had a feeling we'd lose SBW.

Dice

@Nogusta said in Blues 2020:

@Duluth Got it....a loosie that played at the RWC, has played SR

Jack Lam?

Duluth

@Dice said in Blues 2020:

Jack Lam?

Thats the name I guessed from those clues too. Most of the other possibilities have current european contracts

Daffy Jaffy

@Duluth signed with NEC Green Rockets

Daffy Jaffy

It would be awesome if it was Zane Kapelli who was fantastic for Tonga at the W.C. Although I don't think he has played super rugby and I seem to remember reading that he signed somewhere but can't find anything about it now.

Yeetyaah

@Daffy-Jaffy someone in the Landers thread said he might be joining them.

Nogusta

@Dice Jack Lam would've been niiice....

https://instagram.com/tonylamborn?igshid=1unl8d8g4htr

Duluth

That's underwhelming.

I would've preferred guys from inside the region like Choat or Matich

Hopefully he doesn't get in the 23 very often

Stargazer

@Nogusta If it's Lamborn, I hope that doesn't automatically imply a return to the Magpies as well ... Southland can have him. I prefer some of the younger blokes coming through in our province.

Nogusta

@Duluth taking over the solid/dependable role player role from Jed Brown?

The Silver Fern

Blues 2020