Super Rugby News
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<p>It's hard to take this seriously, but the French paper Midi Olympique reports that Ali Williams is close to coming out of retirement and to put on his boots for Racing 92. Apparently, they are short on locks because of illness/injury/suspension of other players. Williams wasn't too keen at first, but is said to be close to signing now.</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://www.midi-olympique.fr/article/22729-ali-williams-sort-sa-retraite'>https://www.midi-olympique.fr/article/22729-ali-williams-sort-sa-retraite</a></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="587763" data-time="1465880431">
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<p>Ash Dixon has re-signed with the Highlanders for the 2017 season!</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href=''>
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<p>In case anyone is wondering about the random appearance of Nasi Manu at the end of the clip, he's back for his wedding. Stag do was apparently up in QTown at the weekend.</p> -
<p>Michael Foley sacked as coach of the Force. They really are going nowhere out west.</p>
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<p>Foley is a shit coach though. </p>
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<p>Edit: Wait, after a re-read, he might be seeing out the season, and then not seeing out the last year of his contract. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="588615" data-time="1466040438"><p>Michael Foley sacked as coach of the Force. They really are going nowhere out west.<br><br>
Foley is a shit coach though. <br><br>
Edit: Wait, after a re-read, he might be seeing out the season, and then not seeing out the last year of his contract.</p></blockquote>
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Effective as of today, he's gone -
<p>ok, the article i read was fucking poorly worded, it started off saying he was gone, then finished by saying he wouldn't see out the last year of his contract. </p>
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<p>Results and football have been terrible, and players keep wanting to leave, this is a deserved sacking. By rights he should get the Reds job next aye?</p> -
<p>This may not be popular</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/81158832/Robertson-emerges-as-favourite-to-replace-Blackadder'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/81158832/Robertson-emerges-as-favourite-to-replace-Blackadder</a></p>
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<p>An announcement on Todd Blackadder's successor is imminent, with Scott Robertson tipped to take over as the Crusaders head coach next year</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="588793" data-time="1466110610">
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<p>This may not be popular</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/81158832/Robertson-emerges-as-favourite-to-replace-Blackadder'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/81158832/Robertson-emerges-as-favourite-to-replace-Blackadder</a></p>
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<p>Old boys club again, in all honesty was to be expected.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="588807" data-time="1466111883">
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<p>Old boys club again, in all honesty was to be expected.</p>
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<p>Yep, have heard being a former AB certainly gives you a good step up.</p> -
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<p>Yep, have heard being a former AB certainly gives you a good step up.</p>
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<p>I think the criteria is like this</p>
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<p>Former Crusader</p>
<p>Former AB</p>
<p>Drinks at the bar with the old farts on the board of directors.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="588822" data-time="1466117905">
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<p>Yep, have heard being a former AB certainly gives you a good step up.</p>
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<p>Being the players' favourite as well.</p> -
<p>I read this at the end of an article about Scott Robertson.</p>
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<p>You've got to feel sorry for Robbie Fruean that, after all his trouble with his heart, now a chest injury (which he - if I remember it correctly - suffered during pre-season training) will probably keep him out of the Super Rugby season completely. He's probably without a Mitre 10 Cup and Super Rugby contract, so I'm wondering whether this will be the end of his rugby career?</p>
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<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The Crusaders take on the Highlanders in an 80-minute training match in Oamaru on Thursday before Super Rugby resumes next weekend after the international break.</span></span></p>
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<div><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Blackadder will take 25 players south for the game, which will feature rolling substitutions.</span></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">He will have an almost full squad to pick from, outside his All Blacks, with midfielder Jack Goodhue and loose forward Jed Brown returning from long spells on the sideline.</span></span></div>
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<div><strong><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Centre Robbie Fruean remains out and is likely to miss the remainder of the season because of a serious chest injury, which has prevented him from featuring this year.</span></span></strong></div>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/81249492/crusaders-not-bringing-in-scott-robertson-until-end-of-season'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/81249492/crusaders-not-bringing-in-scott-robertson-until-end-of-season</a></p> -
<p>Such a shame for a player that could have been so devastating if he wasn't hit with the continuing injuries and health issues that have prevented him from reaching his peak.</p>
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<p><span style="font-family:calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/81326623/former-chiefs-coach-tom-coventry-quits-london-irish-returns-to-new-zealand'>Former Chiefs coach Tom Coventry quits London Irish, returns to New Zealand</a></span></span></p>
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<p>Classic.</p>
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<p>Coach: Fuck the senior players are useless at following the game plan. It's their fault. Here, put my concerns in your report.</p>
<p>Senior players: Nup, not our fault. We don't like the coach or the report.</p>
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<p>It's always easier to sack the coach than the players.</p>
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<p>Be interesting to see where he ends up if he "returns to New Zealand". The article's heading states this, but the body make no further mention. </p> -
<p>Hmmm...not a good look when the coach and players are pointing fingers at eachother. </p>
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<p>Also Franks was signed before Coventry was the LI coach. One of the major problems was that the squad wasn't very strong compared to other English clubs.</p> -
<p>Blues team named for hitout vs Northland Barbarians.</p>
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<p>Blake Gibson is back.</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/81342959/Blues-flanker-Blake-Gibson-makes-his-return-after-three-months-on-sideline '>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/81342959/Blues-flanker-Blake-Gibson-makes-his-return-after-three-months-on-sideline </a></p>
