Pasifika SR team
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Just makes me smile at the assumption that any player who plays for MP will be of Pasifika heritage. With the 3 ABs etc allowance it could be maybe Brodie Retallic, Beauden Barrett etc for instance. You fellas maybe need to stop thinking skin colour etc is the criteria.
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@derpus said in Pasifika SR team:
@dan54 Soooo... what's the point?
80% of the team are Samoa/Tonga qualified, giving a leg up to those national teams. They will have control over those players same way NZR and AR have control of theirs, rather than trying to prise them from Euro clubs
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@machpants it seems to me that the majority who can play for MP will also be AB eligible. So as soon as they turn out half decent they'll shift to another franchise because the ABs actually pay you to play test rugby.
On top of this they are working with a smaller pool of potential players and likely less resources.
Just seems like they'll be flogs who get their best talent poached whenever it comes through. That, or they just become the sixth NZ franchise (which may actually be a half decent move).
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@derpus said in Pasifika SR team:
@machpants it seems to me that the majority who can play for MP will also be AB eligible. So as soon as they turn out half decent they'll shift to another franchise because the ABs actually pay you to play test rugby.
On top of this they are working with a smaller pool of potential players and likely less resources.
Just seems like they'll be flogs who get their best talent poached whenever it comes through. That, or they just become the sixth NZ franchise (which may actually be a half decent move).
I thought that 8% had to declare for Samoa or Tonga, which takes them out of AB's or Aussie's reach doesn't it?
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@arhs said in Pasifika SR team:
@derpus There are a few players now floating around Counties Manukau and neighbouring regions that view does not apply too. I wonder if their return from offshore has anything to do with MP?
Yep think that's why Sekope Kefu is back, think I heard him talk about it on tv.
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@dan54 I think 80% (not 8%) needs to be eligible for Tonga, Samoa (or other Pacific nations?) or have already played for them. I don't think they have to declare for (i.e. committing to) them. In any case, as long as they're contracted to MP, they'll be ineligible for any other nation, such as NZ and Oz.
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@dan54 said in Pasifika SR team:
Yep think that's why Sekope Kefu is back, think I heard him talk about it on tv.
They could also sign the likes of Manu and Lam (if not returning to Japan) to provide some experience. Apisai is a local who isn't in a current NZ squad.
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@bovidae other possibles are Puafisi, Slade, Motuga, Rarasea (Drua), Taumateine, Tuiloma, Tatafu, N Latu, Tikoirotuma (Drua), Leuila, Anae, Woonton, Lay, S Tuipolutu. Pretty much all captured by the Pacific Islands and not in super franchise contract.
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i may have missed it, have the confirmed where MP will play their home games?
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@Kiwiwomble I feel like I heard Mt. Smart? Could be wrong.
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@yeetyaah said in Pasifika SR team:
@Kiwiwomble I feel like I heard Mt. Smart? Could be wrong.
Sure I heard that too mate.
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@yeetyaah id been assuming Mt Smart or Pukekohe or maybe split between, as you say we much be due some sore of announcements soon
I also might have missed this but, i thought when we had the MP v maori games they were saying it may have the same name but the super team would be different etc, but theyre using the same logo and branding etc
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First rugby post here ...
I follow NZ rugby closely from afar and Moana Pasifika "appears" a cool idea "in theory" but practically I'm d*mned if I can see it achieving it's lofty goals unless it can maintain a core squad with say 50% of the squad having ALREADY played for Samoa or Tonga i.e. REALLY locked in.
Up-and-coming talent can either make themselves eligible for the ABs if NZ resident, by moving to an NZR franchise and-of-year (can they be stopped, under NZ employment law, or contractually with multi-year contracts??).
Or they can make more cash overseas, Europe or increasingly in Japan with an expanding pro competition.
Otherwise at best, it looks like a sixth franchise with a dollop of "we're helping the islands, aren't we very nice and PC?" which will scoop up mainly borderline SR talent, diluting other NZR franchise squad talent and may help Australia compete in SR (may, lol).
Then adding a sprinking of (being realistic?) ex-ABs or borderline ABs reminds me of Thrush and Kahui at the force. Good for TV viewer numbers, great marketing, but not much more in terms of rugby success.Thinking long-term about Pacific Island Rugby in Samoa and Tonga, due to the grand-parent international eligibility rule and high percentages already being resident and citizens in NZ ... surely over time fewer and fewer "Pacifika" folk will even be eligible to play for Samoa and Tonga unless rules change?
So if it can even survive competitively and commercially, it becomes a sixth NZ (-based) franchise with a "Pacifika flavour".
Which is fine ... but can we expect any more, unless international and SR structures change significantly?
What am I missing????
