Aussie Pro Rugby
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Ikitau confirmed to be moving to Exeter after the 2025 Rugby Championship:
Exeter to make Australia centre Len Ikitau one of highest-paid Premiership players
Centre will join Premiership side in October following conclusion of Rugby Championship
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/ -
Any reason why so many Aussies go to Exeter? Is there a link between them and Aussie rugby?
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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
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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.
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@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
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@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:
How Australian rugby can combine gourmet home cooking and the overseas 'takeaway'
Player 'hubs' in Europe, coupled with the rise of domestic franchises, can pave the way towards a bright Wallaby future.
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)
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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. -
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@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.
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@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
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He'll be eligible to play against the Lions - both for Tahs and Wallabies
Matt Philip returns to Australian Rugby after inking Waratahs deal
31-Test capped lock Matt Philip will return to Australian Rugby, signing with the NSW Waratahs after a brief stint in Japan.
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Lolesio’s Japan move puts Lions and World Cup hopes at risk
Wallabies five-eighth Noah Lolesio has agreed to move to Japan to play club rugby in 2026, with an option to play until the end of 2027.
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@Tim said in Aussie Pro Rugby:
It's interesting because I've been watching the NFL IPP series on YouTube and they've only just got around to putting him on camera.
His vertical was insane as a side point
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@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?
I think Tahs fans are pretty realistic about our chances this year. A lot of turnover on our list, and that's going to take time to come together. Finals this year would be fantastic considering we won the wooden spoon last year, but not the end of the world if we miss out.
The second half meltdown was concerning though. Went out in a Rolls Royce and came home in an ambulance. The talent is there, just need to put together a full 80 minutes.
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@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 Tahs went 2 wins 12 losses last season and got the wooden spoon
The Tahs are 4 wins 3 losses at the moment
What were people expecting? I think Mckellar is doing just fine in year 1
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@KiwiMurph 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 Tahs went 2 wins 12 losses last season and got the wooden spoon
The Tahs are 4 wins 3 losses at the moment
What were people expecting? I think Mckellar is doing just fine in year 1
Results have been decent, but the performances have been atrocious accounting for the talent in the squad.
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@frugby said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:
@KiwiMurph 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 Tahs went 2 wins 12 losses last season and got the wooden spoon
The Tahs are 4 wins 3 losses at the moment
What were people expecting? I think Mckellar is doing just fine in year 1
Results have been decent, but the performances have been atrocious accounting for the talent in the squad.
Looking at their run to finish the year I’ve actually got them battling for the spoon with the Drua, starting with a loss to the Chiefs this week.
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@frugby said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:
@KiwiMurph 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 Tahs went 2 wins 12 losses last season and got the wooden spoon
The Tahs are 4 wins 3 losses at the moment
What were people expecting? I think Mckellar is doing just fine in year 1
Results have been decent, but the performances have been atrocious accounting for the talent in the squad.
Atrocious is harsh - they looked good in the home wins vs Force and Brumbies.
I think they really struggle at 9 and 10 if Gordon isn't at 9.
He is a pragmatic coach is Mckellar - The Brumbies were hardly the Harlem Globetrotters under his stewardship but they had good results.
