Super Rugby 2026
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@Steven-Harris said in Super Rugby 2026:
Kyle Brown to the Chiefs
Initially reported as WTG, is this still the case or are you unsure?
Dylan Eti (in discussion with 2 franchises)
Do you know which 2?
Appreciate the updates too cheers.
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Jordan Trainor is a serviceable player but I would have thought his (brief) Super days were past him
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@zedsdeadbaby had the 2nd best stats for a fullback in the NPC and the best in terms of high kick receives
Easily the most consistent rugby I have seen from Jordon during his career still only 29 and besides the Crusaders had no issue signing a 34 year old James O’Connor
He would be handy cover preseason and injury for the Crusaders ,great to see a player rewarded on merit -
@Steven-Harris said in Super Rugby 2026:
Taniela Filimone to the Canes
Interesting, I haven't watched too much NPC this year, is this a good signing?
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@Canes4life Filimone has already played for the landers will be a fine enough depth player for you, mans a big winger with some good skills, tho in saying that in the long run I think landers fans will be thanking you for S Solomon
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@Canes4life said in Super Rugby 2026:
@Steven-Harris said in Super Rugby 2026:
Taniela Filimone to the Canes
Interesting, I haven't watched too much NPC this year, is this a good signing?
Filimone has been great. Just check out his stats and watch some highlights from Manawatu. The perfect depth guy for Super.
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As was mentioned there are major changes coming. A summary from a Paul Cully article.
- Each NZ team will be able to have a WTG of 12 players.
- They have to cover all positions and can only play if a fully contracted player in their position is injured.
- There will be a draft to fill out your 12 WTG players (up to 6 players can be protected).
- There will be a SR development competition driven by NZR.
- The SR U20 competition has been scrapped.
- Three NDC contracts available at each SR club for U20 players. That number had been variable for each team.
These changes are why the likes of Oudenryn and Casey have been given a WTG contract for 2026 before getting a full contract in 2027.
I expect a lot of work has been going on behind the scenes to get the WTG players each SR club wants.
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This new model is going to rely on firstly, the PUs, and then the SR teams getting their U20 talent ID right for the NZ U20s as there will be less players on display compared to the Taupō tournament. Having a SR U20 competition like the proposed Development competition should be the goal.
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@Wurzel said in Super Rugby 2026:
According to that article a WTG player will also be on a NPC contract effectively making them a year-round pro player. Which makes Harry Inch's departure to a better pathway all the more frustrating.
In his case I don't believe the better pathway excuse, he was already on a pathway, he was in Crusaders U20s and a Ta$man NPC squad. He's now signed a contract for the equivalent of starting in the U20s. Dude just left because he wanted to.
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@Bovidae said in Super Rugby 2026:
This new model is going to rely on firstly, the PUs, and then the SR teams getting their U20 talent ID right for the NZ U20s as there will be less players on display compared to the Taupō tournament. Having a SR U20 competition like the proposed Development competition should be the goal.
I've already got my pitchfork ready for when Welly-Canes uses this to further promote their playing stocks over the Bays.
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Giving the U20s rhe boot is sensible. It means the U20s lads get to focus on club footy with some Super training involvement.
That the lads 20 - 22 have some competitive rugby to keep them going while they bridge the gap between U20s footy and Super.
It means we get to keep some of the players who would have headed to MLR in the past.
