Blues 2024
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With Akira leaving, I hope they have Che Clark lined up to replace him. If Clark stays with Sevens Violini Ekuasi will be looking for a team.
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Genuinely gutted he’s leaving. Obviously been told he’s not wanted for the ABs, so good on him for looking after his family.
We spend years moaning about not replacing Kaino and chase off guys like Luatua and Akira.
Awesome player, great Blues legend IMO
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Never quite reached his potential but even so he can be very proud of his career.
Hopefully he can sign off with a Super title.
Always respected him for staying with the Blues - he could have up sticks and left for another franchise but he didn't. He helped lead a turnaround and now the Blues are one of the premier teams.
Definitely a Blues great.
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Oh I'm cut up by that news - he and a few others have been the reason why we have turned things around on the field. There were years (2018 for example) where he carried a poor Blues side on his own and will rightly go down as an all time great for the Blues.
Gutted to see him leave but I do truly hope he can leave a champion, we'll, he already is in fairness.
Thanks for the memories Akira Ioane.
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Seriously good player, who could hvae been a great of the game. Dead set Blues legend, carried the team on his back for a few years.
JK, Tana, Hansen- looking at you boys. You had a rare talent that just didn't coach to his capability.
Quite emotional about him leaving. He's been a massive servant, but clearly not in the AB frame and so that is that. Thanks for the efforts, the memories and the contributions. Go well, make plenty of yen and retire happy. Kia kaha.
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@nzzp said in Blues 2024:
What's really gutting is he doesn't seem like he wants to go. He wants to stay here - the impression I got was he's making the business decisiion, but his heart is not in it.
Gutting.
Razor has clearly told him he’s not in his plans, has journeymen from Crusaders to fluff.
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Gutted for you guys losing someone of Akiras caliber. Like you’ve all said a modern day Blues legend and will be a loss to NZ rugby, no matter what his doubters say.
Can understand him leaving if Robertson has told him he isn’t in the AB picture but if he’s picking a Cullen Grace over Akira that would be… interesting to say the least, and no doubt have a fair few non Crusader fans in fits.
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2024:
With Akira leaving, I hope they have Che Clark lined up to replace him. If Clark stays with Sevens Violini Ekuasi will be looking for a team.
Surely it will be Clark. He looks like a very promising xv's player. Having a crack at 7's made sense in Olympic year at this stage of his career
Maybe there will be space for Ekuasi too? Rob Rush has had a frustrating year and I wouldn't be surprised to see him go to another SR side or offshore
Getting injured in preseason didn't help. He was injured again during the middle of the season when other fringe players got a run. Then everyone ranked ahead of him played well..
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I would think that Ekuasi would be an option, wasn't he at the Rebels as a loan type agreement before they folded anyway?
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@African-Monkey Ekuasi signed a 2 year deal last year 2024-25 with Rebels so I presume he either asks for a release or goes to another Aus franchise. Tahs could use him as they are losing Hanigan and Swinton
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Haha imagine that!
