Super Rugby News

Stargazer

Just tweeted by Radio Sport:
@Chiefsrugby have lost another player to a season-ending injury, with lock Michael Allardice out for 3-4 months after having knee surgery.
 
Also the Magpies won't have any players left for the 2016 Mitre10 Cup season ...

taniwharugby

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503448&objectid=11661909'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503448&objectid=11661909</a>
 
Northland lock Josh Goodhue will join the Blues next year.
The 21-year-old, who stands 2m and 116kg, played for the New Zealand Under-17 team in 2012 and was part of the successful New Zealand Under-20 side that won the World Cup last year.
Goodhue hails from Kawakawa, where he turned out for the local United Kawakawa club before he and his twin brother Jack moved to Mount Albert Grammar in Auckland.
The twins were both selected for the New Zealand Under-20s, with Jack now playing for Canterbury and attending Lincoln University.
Blues coach Tana Umaga said the selection of Josh Goodhue is another signal that the organisation is clearly identifying its young prospects and working hard to retain them in the region.
"Josh has been on the radar of our high performance manager Tony Hanks for some time and I came across him with the New Zealand Under-20s last year," Umaga said.
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"He is big and athletic with a considerable future in the game. I'm sure he will develop well inside the Blues environment and be able to soak up so much from the likes of Paddy Tuipulotu, Steven Luatua and Jerome Kaino."
Umaga said he was also pleased because it signals that players from Northland do not need to leave the area to further their rugby.
- <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/'>Northern Advocate</a>

KiwiMurph

Stoked with that signing for Blues.

taniwharugby

yeah he seems a kid with a bright future and his head screwed on, he knocked back an ITM Cup contract in 2014 and then turned down a Blues one this year as he didnt feel he was ready

Tim

:good:
 
So, signed locks for next year:
 
Tuipulotu (1.98m)
Tupou (1.96m)
Goodhue (2.00m)
 
In the Blues zone we have:
 
Fatialofa (1.99m)
Scrafton (2.00m)
Cowley-Tuioti (1.96m)

KiwiMurph

TNW reportedly keen to return to Super Rugby. Blues and Chiefs are interested.
 
Edit - Imagine the Blues with Nanai, Williams and Nanai-Williams in the backline. It's a good thing Nisbo never gets players mixed up....

Canes4life

Fatialofas is locked in at the Canes. Keep your hands off.

Tim

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="591123" data-time="1466745360">
<div>
Fatialofas is locked in at the Canes. Keep your hands off.
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</blockquote>
 
Has he signed a contract for next year?

Canes4life

Not yet. But why would he move back to Auckland when he has finally started to show potential.

Tim

Because he played well for Auckland in the ITM Cup, and could be part of Tana Umaga's plan for the next few years?

Daffy Jaffy

From stuff.
Blues loose forward Tanerau Latimer has signed a two-year deal with French club Bayonne.
The five-test All Black will head to France for the start of the new season later this year, bringing to an end his second spell of rugby in New Zealand.
The 30-year-old has been a regular starter at openside flanker for the Blues this season and was lured back this year from Japan by Tana Umaga, where he was playing for Toshiba Brave Lupins.
However, his second stint in New Zealand has proved to be a brief one, with Bayonne confirming he's committed to them for the next two seasons.
He will join another former Blues and All Blacks player, lock Tom Donnelly, at Bayonne.
 
-- While Latimer has been solid for them, I think the Blues are well covered at 7 with Gibson, the fast improving Pryor and Jack Ram who hasn't had a look in this season but is more than capable of operating at super rugby level.

SouthernMan

The Highlanders aren't fearful of their next two opponents, here's their squad to go to South Africa and Argentina. No All Blacks.

Aki Seiuli
Greg Pleasants-Tate
Josh Hohneck 4. Mark Reddish
Joe Wheeler
Gareth Evans
Shane Christie
Luke Whitelock
Te Aihe Toma
Marty Banks
Ryan Tongia
Rob Thompson
Jason Emery
Jack Wilson
Matt Faddes
Ash Dixon
Daniel Lienert-Brown
Ross Geldenhuys
Dan Pryor
Jamie Booth
Fletcher Smith
Teihorangi Walden
Patrick Osborne
Tom Franklin
Siosiua Halanukonuka

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SouthernMan" data-cid="591354" data-time="1466816264">
<div>
The Highlanders aren't fearful of their next two opponents, here's their squad to go to South Africa and Argentina. No All Blacks.

Aki Seiuli
Greg Pleasants-Tate
Josh Hohneck
Mark Reddish
Joe Wheeler
Gareth Evans
Shane Christie
Luke Whitelock
Te Aihe Toma
Marty Banks
Ryan Tongia
Rob Thompson
Jason Emery
Jack Wilson
Matt Faddes
Ash Dixon
Daniel Lienert-Brown
Ross Geldenhuys
Dan Pryor
Jamie Booth
Fletcher Smith
Teihorangi Walden
Patrick Osborne
Tom Franklin
Siosiua Halanukonuka
</div>
</blockquote>
 
From an article on the stuff website::
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
 
Joseph will be hoping his All Black contingent are also fit after Saturday's night's third test with Wales in Dunedin, with two of Elliot Dixon, Liam Squire, Waisake Naholo and Lima Sopoaga to be added to the tour party, fitness permitting.
<div> </div>
<div>Ben Smith and Malakai Fekitoa join Aaron Smith in missing the South African trip but they are scheduled to join the squad in Buenos Aires for the final leg of their road trip against the Jaguares.</div>
</blockquote>
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/81409619/highlanders-name-three-new-backs-for-south-african-trip'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/81409619/highlanders-name-three-new-backs-for-south-african-trip</a>

Canes4life

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="591224" data-time="1466767056">
<div>
Because he played well for Auckland in the ITM Cup, and could be part of Tana Umaga's plan for the next few years?
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Hes been brilliant for the Canes this year. The best signing we've had in a while. Why would he risk losing what hes built with the Canes. He obviously suits our style of play!! And i'm sure he would be loyal to a franchise that actually were willing to sign him in the first place.

Tim

Wasn't he only signed to the wider training group for the Hurricanes?

taniwharugby

BLues gonna take another run at BB
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11663422'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11663422</a>
 
Blues looking to make another offer for Barrett
<div style="margin:0px 0px 10px;color:rgb(171,171,171);font-family:Calibri, Candara, Segoe, 'Segoe UI', Optima, Arial, sans-serif;">4:56 PM Saturday Jun 25, 2016</div>
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<div style="margin:0px 0px 20px;"><img height="310" src="http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201626/barrett_620x311.jpg" width="620" alt="barrett_620x311.jpg"></div>
<div style="margin:0px 0px 20px;">Beauden Barrett of New Zealand looks on during the International Test match between the New Zealand All Blacks and Wales. Photo / Getty</div>
The Blues could be set to find their missing link in the form of All Blacks first-five Beauden Barrett.
Newstalk ZB understands that the Blues are looking to make an offer for the Hurricanes first-five, whose contract ends with the Wellington-based side at the end of this season.
If Barrett was to confirm the signing, he would join All Blacks midfielder Sonny Bill Williams, and fill a decade-long gap left in the team's first-five position.
Speaking to Tony Veitch on Newstalk ZB, former Blues head coach John Kirwan said securing Barrett would be a game changer for the franchise and could put them in contention for a title.
"This city is crying out for a brilliant number 10, and if he came up here and delivered what we think he can with Sonny Bill... he could become a hugely popular figure in a city that is crying out for its rugby team to get back on top," Kirwan said.
 
"If he comes to the Blues and we end up winning, who gets the credit for it? He would."
Kirwan also said it was the perfect time for Barrett who would also be vesting his off-field interests in a city that is far more prolific.
"This is the place to be commercially," Kirwan said."Look at Daniel Carter, he's hanging out with Lewis Hamilton and people like that, and the place you can do that is Auckland."
Kirwan confirmed the franchise had already tried to chase Barrett's services previously, jokingly remarking they had offered him the Skytower and Harbour Bridge to come and play.
Now, Kirwan sees Barrett as the final step towards a successful franchise.
"We need that kind personality to drive our football team," he said.
"It would be the final part of the puzzle."
- <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/'>NZ Herald</a>
</div>

mimic

how tough will that be on the canes though?
they've already lost sopoaga and cruden..
 
is the canes region the new 10 factory?

taniwharugby

you'd hope they wont be putting all thier eggs in that basket...they should also be making a run at Black.

Dice

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="591364" data-time="1466824514">
<div>
Wasn't he only signed to the wider training group for the Hurricanes?
</div>
</blockquote>
Yup.
 
The Blues could have a decent chance to get Fatialofa since he moved from Southland to Auckland last year because he wanted to be back home. Also getting to play both Mitre 10 Cup and Super Rugby in one city will be pretty appealing too.

Tim

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11663690'>George Moala out for up to four weeks</a>
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">George Moala, one of the stars for the All Blacks in their 46-6 victory over Wales last night, has been ruled out for the Blues for up to four weeks due to an elbow injury. 
The centre, in his second test, was forced from the field after 49 minutes, but in that time scored a try, made several breaks, and proved he is a genuine midfield option for coach Steve Hansen. "His elbow is pretty sore," Hansen said today. "What he's done is he's stretched the ligaments that attach around the elbow joint so he could be three to four weeks, we'll just have to wait and see what happens over the next few days." 
Asked if Moala had forced himself into the Rugby Championship reckoning, Hansen said: "He certainly got our interest last night." 
The Blues, unlikely to make the Super Rugby play-offs, potentially have only three matches remaining this season, starting with a game against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday. 
Two matches against the Brumbies and Waratahs at Eden Park follow. Another injury concern for Blues coach Tana Umaga is Charlie Faumuina, who started at tighthead prop in Dunedin. Faumuina has suffered a knee injury (medial ligament) and Hansen said he could be out for between one and three weeks. 
Skipper Kieran Read suffered a "stinger" shoulder issue which wasn't serious, but Crusaders teammate Ryan Crotty, who started at second-five, is in doubt for the match against the Chiefs in Suva on Friday. 
For Hansen, it will be a nervous wait as he says goodbye to his players before the Rugby Championship, which starts for them with a test against Australia in Sydney on August 20. 
"I'm concerned about all of them, I don't want any of them to get injured," he said. 
"But at the same time we can't wrap them up in cotton wool; we need them to play footy and they've got to play some big games and let's sit back and see how they cope with it. And the guys who do cope with it, that's a big advantage."
 
</blockquote>

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