Super Rugby News

taniwharugby

Confirmed: <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11653637'>Bryns a Crusaders</a>

Canes4life

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="585859" data-time="1465446493">
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Confirmed: <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11653637'>Bryns a Crusaders</a>
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Hopefully he can hit his straps at the Crusaders. Probably suits their style of play more than he does at the Blues tbh.

Stargazer

Tweet from Nigel Yalden: "Super Rugby over 4 @Chiefsrugby Johan Bardoul (fractured ankle) & Glen Fisiiahi (knee) @BOPRugby outside back Monty Ioane replaces Fisiiahi"
 
Edited to add this link: <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/80932270/chiefs-suffer-injury-blows-as-glen-fisiiahi-and-johan-bardoul-ruled-out-for-season'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/80932270/chiefs-suffer-injury-blows-as-glen-fisiiahi-and-johan-bardoul-ruled-out-for-season</a>

Stargazer

The Reds have signed George Smith for 2017 and 2018.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/reds/queensland-reds-sign-former-wallabies-breakaway-george-smith-20160609-gpfxtr.html '>http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/reds/queensland-reds-sign-former-wallabies-breakaway-george-smith-20160609-gpfxtr.html </a>

Higgins

Not injured yet but possibly might be this time on Saturday.
The following have been listed as starters in club rugby here in Wellington tomorrow. Good to see them not being hidden away and being made available for their club teams
 
Old Boys-University v Upper Hutt - Jason Woodward at centre for Upper Hutt with Ben May (No and Wes Goosen (centre) for OBU
 
Johnsonville v Old Boys-University 2nd XV - Te Tairoa Tahuriorangi and Chris Eves are both down to start for Johnsonville
 
Poneke v Oriental-Rongotai - Reg Goodes (loosehead) and Willis Haloholo at centre for Poneke whilst Roy Kinikinilau laces up his boots to take on Haloholo.
 
Tawa v Marist-St Patricks - Hisa Sasagi fronts at tighthead for Tawa with Loni Uhila doing likewise for MSP. Victor Vito is also listed to start for MSP at No 8 whilst non Hurricane Shaun Treeby will be making a start at second five for Tawa.
 
Petone v Marist-St Patricks 2nd XV - Both Brad Shields and James Blackwell front for Petone at blindside and lock respectively.
 
There could be others getting a run that have not been named at this stage (eg Vaea Fifita fronted last week for Wellington despite not being listed as a starter on clubrugby.co.nz) so fans might be in for a bit of a treat with all these professionals showing what they are capable of.

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Higgins" data-cid="586115" data-time="1465535894">
Not injured yet but possibly might be this time on Saturday. 
The following have been listed as starters in club rugby here in Wellington tomorrow. Good to see them not being hidden away and being made available for their club teams 
 Old Boys-University v Upper Hutt - Jason Woodward at centre for Upper Hutt with Ben May (No and Wes Goosen (centre) for OBU 
 Johnsonville v Old Boys-University 2nd XV - Te Tairoa Tahuriorangi and Chris Eves are both down to start for Johnsonville 
 Poneke v Oriental-Rongotai - Reg Goodes (loosehead) and Willis Haloholo at centre for Poneke whilst Roy Kinikinilau laces up his boots to take on Haloholo. 
 Tawa v Marist-St Patricks - Hisa Sasagi fronts at tighthead for Tawa with Loni Uhila doing likewise for MSP. Victor Vito is also listed to start for MSP at No 8 whilst non Hurricane Shaun Treeby will be making a start at second five for Tawa. 
 Petone v Marist-St Patricks 2nd XV - Both Brad Shields and James Blackwell front for Petone at blindside and lock respectively. 
 There could be others getting a run that have not been named at this stage (eg Vaea Fifita fronted last week for Wellington despite not being listed as a starter on clubrugby.co.nz) so fans might be in for a bit of a treat with all these professionals showing what they are capable of. 
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This is from the Dominion Post: 

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Hurricanes players released to play club rugby on Saturday:
 
Wellington: Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Victor Vito (Marist St Pats); Wes Goosen (Old Boys University); Reggie Goodes, Willis Halaholo (Poneke); Hisa Sasagi (Tawa); Jason Woodward (Upper Hutt Rams); Peter Umaga-Jensen (Wainuiomata); Vaea Fifita (Wellington); Brad Shields, James Blackwell (Petone); Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Johnsonville). Withdrawn due to injury: Ben May (OBU), Loni Uhila (MSP) Hawke's Bay: Geoff Cridge (Hastings Rugby and Sport), Mark Abbott (Napier Old Boys Marist), Ricky Riccitelli (Havelock North). Manawatu: Chris Eves (Kia Toa), Callum Gibbins (Varsity), Otere Black (College Old Boys).
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 <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/80939221/hurricanes-players-released-to-play-club-rugby.html'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/80939221/hurricanes-players-released-to-play-club-rugby.html</a>

Higgins

I like to think I keep reasonably up to date with things rugby but seem to have missed the news that Peter Umaga-Jensen is a Hurricane. Hopefully Canes4Life will be able to point me in the right direction re this happening. Also noticeable that the mysterious Hugh Renton has not been released to play nor included in the "unavailable because of injury" category. There seems to be no valid reason behind this as he cannot possible be fatigued or overworked. Perhaps he has been awarded Life Membership in the "unavailable because of injury" ranks and it does not need to be proffered as the reason why he is not able to play?

Canes4life

I read somewhere not too long ago that Plumtree was excited yo work with the kid so that says it all really. 
Id say Peter Umaga Jensen is 99% garaunteed a spot in the Canes next year. He is already in the environment and has been killing it for Wanui scoring something like 7 tries in 3 games over the last three weeks. He is carrying that impressive strike rate from school rugby. Still only 18 aswell. 
He will bring so much more to the side than boring old James Marshall. 
A back three of 11. Julian Savea 14 Nehe Milner Skudder 15. Peter Umaga Jensen will be deadly in years to come.

Higgins

Well if John Plumtree is allegedly excitedly to work with the guy why then is he not getting selected to play, which is what he is getting paid for? It is taken that he is finally not injured given by his absence in the not released because of injury list. Interesting to note that he is also not listed as starting for either his Club's first or second XVs so how can he justify receiving his salary when he is hardly ever available for, nor selected for, either his club team nor the team he is drawing a decent salary from (Hurricanes). Either he is a player or he isn't. There is very little evidence to show he is actually a player other than the wages returns from the NZRFU sent to the Inland Revenue Department.

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Higgins" data-cid="586712" data-time="1465652260">
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Well if John Plumtree is allegedly excitedly to work with the guy why then is he not getting selected to play, which is what he is getting paid for? It is taken that he is finally not injured given by his absence in the not released because of injury list. Interesting to note that he is also not listed as starting for either his Club's first or second XVs so how can he justify receiving his salary when he is hardly ever available for, nor selected for, either his club team nor the team he is drawing a decent salary from (Hurricanes). Either he is a player or he isn't. There is very little evidence to show he is actually a player other than the wages returns from the NZRFU sent to the Inland Revenue Department. 
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Peter Umaga-Jensen doesn't have a Hurricanes contract; not even WTG, so he doesn't get paid. I think he's just in that Hurricanes development group where you find a lot of Mitre 10 Cup level players from the catchment area. Don't think he's any different from players like Jonah Lowe, Mason Emerson, Trent Boswell-Wakefield (to name a few from the Bay) who have played for the Hurricanes development team this year. He'll also be competing with Lowe and Emerson for next year's contracts. Umaga-Jensen has signed his first contract with Wellington Rugby only late last year/early this year; has he even played one single ITM Cup game?

Higgins

i was not referring to Peter Umaga-Jensen (who I watched play yesterday and was impressed with his ability to break tackles with powerful running and subtle hip swerves) but specifically Hugh Renton who is getting paid and very seldom plays for anyone. Incidentally, HB fan that you are Stargazer, Marvan Karawana also played in the game and again did nothing to indicate how he was ever given a HB contract a couple of seasons back. One special missed tackle on the Fijian guy that played in the Heartland Championship at 2nd five for Buller that resulted in a try was rather reminiscent of those nightmaresh days for us Bay supporters.

hydro11

The situation is that you need to sign up young players because if you don't someone else will. That's why all these people are given contracts even though they clearly aren't the best players.

Higgins

Well then there is very little wonder reasonably good players head off overseas when they are overlooked for young players of potential rather than players that are actually proven to be better than them. Willis Haloholo only recently a good example of this. I watched him play for his club Saturday week ago and whilst he did not get all that much involved (play really did not go his way that much) when he did he ran beautiful lines at speed and timed his passes perfectly. I have not really been a fan of his but after watching him closely I have to say he has gone up in my opinion. Strange that he would probably have been overlooked by the Hurricanes next season for the next promising young whizzkid when someone overseas is prepared to pay good money to get their hands on him.

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Higgins" data-cid="586865" data-time="1465681332">
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i was not referring to Peter Umaga-Jensen (who I watched play yesterday and was impressed with his ability to break tackles with powerful running and subtle hip swerves) but specifically Hugh Renton who is getting paid and very seldom plays for anyone. Incidentally, HB fan that you are Stargazer, Marvan Karawana also played in the game and again did nothing to indicate how he was ever given a HB contract a couple of seasons back. One special missed tackle on the Fijian guy that played in the Heartland Championship at 2nd five for Buller that resulted in a try was rather reminiscent of those nightmaresh days for us Bay supporters.
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I always did think it odd that given HBs standing compared to Northland those few years back, that Karawana couldnt get a contract up here, yet could in HB!

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="586930" data-time="1465691759">
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I always did think it odd that given HBs standing compared to Northland those few years back, that Karawana couldnt get a contract up here, yet could in HB! 
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We had some kind of shitty league convert quota going on at the time. It was that Penrith bloke before him.
 
I've actually tried to bring up how/why Karawana arrived in HB with one of the coaches but he keeps very quiet about it.

Canes4life

Peter Umaga Jensen doesnt have a contract. I never said he did but he is defs in their environment. He has been training with the Canes all year so Id say the coaches have bigger wraps on him than the likes of Lowe and Emerson who havent been near the environment at all.

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="586944" data-time="1465694308">
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Peter Umaga Jensen doesnt have a contract. I never said he did but he is defs in their environment. He has been training with the Canes all year so Id say the coaches have bigger wraps on him than the likes of Lowe and Emerson who havent been near the environment at all.
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That's no surprise, the Canes have always been backward when it comes to young HB players.

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="587004" data-time="1465704517">
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That's no surprise, the Canes have always been backward when it comes to young HB players.
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That, and nepotism.

Higgins

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="586944" data-time="1465694308">
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Peter Umaga Jensen doesnt have a contract. I never said he did but he is defs in their environment. He has been training with the Canes all year so Id say the coaches have bigger wraps on him than the likes of Lowe and Emerson who havent been near the environment at all.
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Right then that raises an interesting question on why this is happening and who exactly is paying the bills for him to be involved. I presume the NZRFU foot the bills for the coaching and other ancillary staff thus money of all members of all rugby clubs in New Zealand is being used to train up a player who at this stage is solely going to represent the Wellington Football union rather than NZ as a whole.
 
I know the Hurricanes is some sort of private organisation in which the WRFU, the Horowhenua-Kapiti RFU and a private organisation (Wellnix?) are the shareholders and it is them that are probably meeting the costs of most, if not all, other costs involved but if I was one of the two non WRFU shareholders I would be annoyed if my resources were being poured into subsidising the development of someone who at this stage will not return anything to me as a result.
 
I hope the Hurricanes organisation is sending a bill to the WRFU (or directly to the player concerned) to ensure they front up with their fair share of the money involved that goes towards his training. You can just imagine the response if someone asked the International Rugby Academy of NZ to allow someone to attend their courses at no charge. Iâ€™m sure that would be met with a thanks but no thanks sort of answer.

Dice

It looks like Will Talataina-Mu is training with the Blues. He's quite a handy player and is probably the form 10 in club rugby this year. He's played mostly in the midfield since he left school, but this year he's played all his rugby at 10. I like that he's solely stationed at 10 this season, because whenever I've seen him there, he's always looked quite good.
 
I'd love to see him get some time at 10 for Auckland, because with his attacking ability, he could really create havoc behind what should be a pretty handy pack. Just gotta hope that Nick White isn't in love with Hickey like Feeney was.

The Silver Fern

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