Blues 2020
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BB working on improving his skills at HQ, to give himself a chance of cracking the Blues starting xv!
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NEW BLUES ROOKIE SUPER RUGBY DREAM SHATTERED Bay of Plenty lock Baden Wardlaw has announced his immediate retirement from rugby because of an historic medical condition. The 29-year-old had realised his lifelong dream when he was named in the Blues team for the upcoming Investec Super Rugby season. However, medical checks showed that he has three fused vertebrae in his neck, and after further tests and extensive expert opinions, the advice was that he should not play rugby again. Blues coach Leon MacDonald said he was “gutted” for Wardlaw, who was set to become the oldest rookie in the team. “Baden has worked so hard and impressed us with his work ethic and quality of play. We are bitterly disappointed for him but at the same time this is a very serious condition which could have been life-threatening.” Wardlaw said he was born with the condition but had always played sport and been active throughout his life, playing rugby for Bay of Plenty through the age grades before then focussing on his family and career. He returned to rugby four years ago, putting his career on-hold to give the sport his full attention and playing a key role in the success in Clayton McMillan’s Bay of Plenty Steamers side. “I thought I had finally made it. This was my dream to play for the Blues,” Wardlaw said. “I have had the fused vertebrae since birth and it has not stopped me doing anything. But to then receive this news that I should give up rugby for the rest of my life is hard to come to grips with. “The medical people have gone to a number of specialists and they have all said the same thing. That is that if I got a knock in the wrong position I could end up as a tetraplegic or worse, I could die. “I need to be thankful that this was found out, although right now I am still gutted because this was my dream.” Wardlaw, a competitive cross-fit athlete, said that fitness has always been an interest, and he will look to move into strength and conditioning training as a way of remaining in the sport. The Blues are expected to announce a replacement in the coming days.https://blues.rugby/new-blues-rookie-super-rugby-dream-shattered/
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Shit news for the man. And the Blues will be looking for another lock. That's possibly two franchises (the Highlanders being the other one if NZR rips up Selby-Rickit's contract) fishing in the same pond with very few big fish in it.
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Sam Caird is already training with the team covering for Cowley-Tuioti who has apparently had shoulder surgery and will start the season late. Maybe he will be upgraded and someone else brought in to cover C/T. Ben Nee Nee maybe?
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@Daffy-Jaffy yep, hopefully the pro enviroment will add a few kegs to Caird slender looking frame, had also heard the Highlanders had been looking at Temo Mayanavanua, who would be a lock/loosie option too (if Selby-Ricketts contract torn up, they might go to him)
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2020:
Sam Caird is already training with the team covering for Cowley-Tuioti who has apparently had shoulder surgery and will start the season late. Maybe he will be upgraded and someone else brought in to cover C/T. Ben Nee Nee maybe?
The GCT injury complicates things. Those names make sense.
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@Stargazer said in Blues 2020:
@Dice Clermont is my Top 14 team, too, and particularly Toeava has been playing really well for them, since he joined them a few years ago.
i'm really happy that lad finally got a consistent go at it. good on him.
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@mariner4life His versatility has been very valuable. He has played at 10, 12, 13 and 15 for Clermont.
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@Duluth that’s very bad luck for Wardlaw, hoping he can have some sort of recovery that at least gets him through life without too much discomfort
On a replacement , I would imagine Sam Caird because he’s already in the squad would probably go straight into the squad full time .
In terms of a recovery replacement you are probably looking at Temo Mayanavanua given he was with the development squad last year
Looked pretty comfortable playing for Fiji on debut last weekend against reasonable opposition.
Other options might be Jamie Lane given he’s been around the Blues in the past..someone out of left field could be Geoff Cridge who was left out of the Canes or Matahi Martin who was in the Blues in 2018.. -
@Steven-Harris Martin is a journeyman and I doubt Lane will ever have the physicality for Super Rugby.
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@KiwiMurph totally agree, but you never know what coaches are thinking , I think we can discount Lane and Martin..
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@KiwiMurph Hanks bro, Hanks!
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I'd fear for Lane's safety if he played at SR level. Shit luck for Wardlaw though. Ben Nee Nee or Martin would be my pick as a replacement as there isn't much out there.
