Super Rugby News
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Patrick T news not good for Blues.
All Blacks lock Patrick Tuipulotu will not report for duty with the Blues Super Rugby franchise next week and will be sidelined indefinitely by an "ongoing personal matter".
Tuipulotu toured the Northern Hemisphere with the national side last November, starting against Ireland in Chicago and then against Italy in Rome but the giant second rower returned home a week early, along with injured flanker Sam Cane and utility back Ben Smith, for what coach Steve Hansen described at the time as "personal reasons".
Since then, all the tourists have been serving a mandatory 12-week stand-down between seasons. They are due back with the Super Rugby franchises next week to begin pre-season training.
New Zealand Rugby Players' Association rep Rob Nichol has confirmed Tuipulotu will not be among them, but would not elaborate any further on the issue.
The Blues referred any further comment on the matter to the Players' Association.
Tuipulotu's management company, WeAreTenzing, through founder Brooke Howard-Smith, refused to comment.
Tuipulotu has been with the Blues since 2014, playing 34 games and scoring five tries.
He made his All Blacks debut that same year, coming on as a substitute in a 28-27 win over England in Dunedin, and has 12 test caps.
His prolonged absence would be a huge blow to Blues coach Tana Umaga in his second year at the helm and hoping to improve on their eight-win, six-loss and one-draw 2016 record, to take them to their first playoff appearance since 2011.
Meanwhile, the Blues are poised to announce an official Super Rugby match in Samoa this year.
It's understood the Blues' scheduled home competition match against the Reds on June 2 will now be played in Apia.
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I know they are entitled to their privacy, but given this became an 'issue' on the EOYT, they should probably put something out to avoid speculation as to what these are.
1 News had Savea on there last night and he did look in pretty good shape, he said he felt mentally better too, hopefully points toward a fit and firing Savea which is good for the 'canes and ABs
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@MN5 said in Super Rugby News:
@Crash said in Super Rugby News:
@Rocky-Rockbottom said in Super Rugby News:
@MN5 said in Super Rugby News:
Rightly or wrongly he'll definitely be there just in time to stir up the Stuff.co.nz comments section that by then will have run out of things to whinge about Trump so will enjoy having him in the spotlight again.
d'uh did someone mention my name....
Sympathy upvote for a crap joke at your service
You of all people should know the politically correct term is "Dad joke".
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@KiwiMurph and you'd think that given the Reds is a Super game and the Lions is, well the Lions, both will be of high importance to play in and win.
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@KiwiMurph said in Super Rugby News:
Blues playing a game v Reds in Apia 4 days before the Lions game. That is weird. Youd think with all the travel involved very few players would play in both games.
I think it's five days?
The draw isn't that bad around the Lions match. They play at Eden Park the week before the Reds game too
Date Match Venue Fri 2 Jun vs Reds Apia Wed 7 Jun vs British Lions Eden Park Sat 15 Jun vs Sunwolves Tokyo -
This post is deleted!
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@Wurzel While their is some potential in the Blues locking stocks there is little experience which could be a worry. Scrafton, Nanson, Cowley-Tuioti and Goodhue are all very green to super level and all 24 or younger. I guess Jimmy Tupou will now play more lock after being initially listed as a loose forward, Luatua being another possible option. I came across 'Getty images' Blues head shots for this season and the two locks from outside the squad with photos were Tom Robinson (Northland) and 19 year old Jacob Pierce (Son of All Black Scott) both with potential but there is no help with experience there.
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@Daffy-Jaffy Tom Robinsons father Alistair (also a lock) made the ABs in 1983 too, apparently Tom now holds one of the Blues fitness records after pre-season training, is very good in the air, but he seems to play a bit lightweight (110kg) for super rugby, but he is still young and a professional environment could Sort that....
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Kind of sad about PT.
Hopefully he comes back, looked a real talent.
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@Daffy-Jaffy Is Jacob Pierce son of All Black Murray Pierce or son of not All Black Scott Pierce?
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Another vague article:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11790800
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