Aussie Pro Rugby

NTA

Mate that's fucking great for him and for the club! Get that all over socials

Kiwiwomble

@NTA trust me, its happening

Kiwiwomble

for all those people running rugby that dont think there should be a connection between the club game and the pro game....or just dont care, fuck you, half the club is probably going to go to the pub to watch the game, seeing people you have a connection with play matters, ive instantly got a softspot for the Brumbies

KiwiMurph

Wallabies captain Harry Wilson has committed long-term to Australian Rugby, signing a four-year extension.

The deal sees Wilson commit his future to Queensland and Australia until the end of the 2029 season, the first Wallaby to do so.

https://wallabies.rugby/news/harry-wilson-extension-wallabies-captain-reds-rugby-australia-2025220

Machpants

That's good news for Oz

Mauss

Ikitau confirmed to be moving to Exeter after the 2025 Rugby Championship:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2025/02/25/exeter-complete-signing-of-australia-centre-len-ikitau/

It looks to be a deal not too dissimilar to what Fainga'anuku has done, where he'll go for a season or two to Europe before returning to Super Rugby. At least, that's what Christy Doran is reporting at The Roar.
https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/02/25/exclusive-cashed-up-english-club-signs-ikitau-and-they-have-sights-set-on-another-star-wallaby-in-aussie-raid/

African Monkey

Any reason why so many Aussies go to Exeter? Is there a link between them and Aussie rugby?

Machpants

So aside from the societies media blow up, this is what the 5 year residency rules mean, poaching players at a younger age. Pushing the pro wage to lower and lower age brackets, which often isn't great in the long term for younger peoples mental health and the health of the game in schools

https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/03/04/rugby-australia-accused-of-obstructing-giant-16-yr-olds-historic-move-to-french-glamour-club/

antipodean

Needing official clearance from club, state and national representatives before any such moves can be made official

Wait, what? Did I read something wrong? He's 16 and has no contract.

Machpants

@antipodean said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

Needing official clearance from club, state and national representatives before any such moves can be made official

Wait, what? Did I read something wrong? He's 16 and has no contract.

Yeah it's a bit confusing, I think those rules kick in at 17. But AR want clarity from WR if that should this cover under 17, as frogs are poaching so early in this case

NTA

FMD France has a bucketload of clubs and talent pathways galore, and they're taking kids now?

Let him go if his parents are that keen for him to earn money. One locking prospect here or there isn't going to make a difference.,

Mauss

@African-Monkey said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

Any reason why so many Aussies go to Exeter? Is there a link between them and Aussie rugby?

This article goes a bit more into it:
https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/how-australian-rugby-can-combine-gourmet-home-cooking-and-the-overseas-takeaway/

There doesn't seem to be anything formalized between RA and Exeter Chiefs, just a lot of positive feedback from former Australian Exeter players, like Nic White and Greg Holmes.

Might be a bit misleading given their current financial insecurities and poor sporting performances, but, to be fair to Exeter Chiefs, they were always a very well-run rugby club until the economic effects of the pandemic hit them hard. (see for example: https://www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-union/article/exeter-blame-covid-hangover-as-pre-tax-losses-nearly-double-mrgb6mmkc)

KiwiMurph

https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/03/13/aussie-rugbys-great-day-as-mcreight-turns-down-mega-1-3m-japanese-deal-to-re-sign-with-reds/

In a major boost for Australian rugby, the country’s best Super Rugby player of the past two years, Fraser McReight, has re-signed with the Queensland Reds.

A week after The Roar revealed that McReight was strongly weighing up a move to the land of the rising sun, the 26-year-old turned down a $1.3 million deal in Japan to sign a new three-year deal with the Reds that will keep the openside flanker in the country beyond the 2027 home World Cup.

An announcement is expected in the coming days.

frugby

There is no Waratahs thread on here, but at what point do people start to question if maybe Dan McKellar isn't actually as good a coach as is always claimed?

mariner4life

@frugby said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

There is no Waratahs thread on here, but at what point do people start to question if maybe Dan McKellar isn't actually as good a coach as is always claimed?

The Waratahs are the biggest underachievers in Super Rugby. Failure is.baked in to the walls of that organisation.

booboo

@mariner4life said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

@frugby said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

There is no Waratahs thread on here, but at what point do people start to question if maybe Dan McKellar isn't actually as good a coach as is always claimed?

The Waratahs are the biggest underachievers in Super Rugby. Failure is.baked in to the walls of that organisation.

If there is a team to dislike it's the Waratahs