Super Rugby News
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So turns out Gatland was offered the Chiefs role, he knocked it back (assume this is where the rumours about him staying in NZ after the Lions) and confirmed he will see out his Welsh contract.
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All of this is a bit odd though regarding KK.
I thought he stepped up to the Chiefs with a view of taking over from Rennie.
Either the Chiefs management aren't getting good feedback or KK won't commit to the time period they want, has a better offer overseas and is jumping from NZ rugby without even doing a full Super gig. -
Also posted this in the Mitre 10 Cup thread:
Ta$man Mako$ (and former Highlanders) prop Ross Geldenhuys returns to South Africa ... Quite a step down from the Highlanders, but I guess a contract at the Kings is better than no contract at all and it's in his home country.
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had heard Geldenhuys was eying a move from Ta$man at one point, although I believe this was driven by not getting a Super contract
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think joe royal been drafted in to blues for pre season
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Southland first five Wharanui Hawera has picked up a full time contract at the Brumbies for 2017. (He's the guy who was kicking 60m penalties in the Mitre 10 cup.)
Otago winger Faaasi Fuatai and flankers Dillon Hunt and Adam Knight have been drafted to the Highlanders for pre season -
Cooper confirmed.
Former Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper has been named the next Chiefs coach, taking over from Scotland-bound Dave Rennie in 2018.
Rennie has led the Chiefs since 2012, and won a pair of Super Rugby titles in his first two seasons.
Cooper has added to an impressive resume in recent years, scooping a provincial title with Taranaki in 2014 and successfully defending the Ranfurly Shield seven times from 2011.
Prior to his time with Taranaki, who are in the Chiefs region, Cooper led the Hurricanes for eight seasons from 2003 to 2011, making five playoff appearances.
Cooper has also been head coach of the New Zealand Maori team since 2013.
"To be involved in coaching Super Rugby again within the ambitious and innovative setup at the Chiefs is exciting and to have the opportunity to develop young players and coaches for the future of New Zealand rugby is something I'm very passionate about," Cooper said.
"I strongly believe that establishing a cohesive team culture where our people are constantly striving to become better people as well as better players, coaches and administrators is the only way to create meaningful long-term success. I'm excited by what's to come in the near future beginning with the Maori All Blacks and Taranaki in 2017, and then launching into a new era with the Gallagher Chiefs in 2018."
The Chiefs will undertake a process in the New Year to confirm the wider coaching group for 2018.
Colin Cooper - Coaching CV
2013 - 2017: Head Coach, Maori All Blacks
2010 - 2017: Head Coach, Port Taranaki Bulls (2014 ITM Cup Premiership Winners, 2011 Ranfurly Shield)
2003 - 2010: Head Coach, Hurricanes
2005 - 2009: Co-Coach, New Zealand Junior All Blacks
2002: Forwards Coach, Crusaders
2001: Head Coach, New Zealand Under 21s
1999 - 2002: Head Coach of Taranaki, National Provincial Championship
1997 - 1998: Assistant Coach of Taranaki, National Provincial Championship
1996 - 1997: Director of Coaching at Taranaki Rugby
1993 - 1994: Assistant Coach of Taranaki, National Provincial Championship -
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@Bones said in Super Rugby News: Injuries:
Pretty good appointment I reckon, no problem with "going back to the well" as it's been put - it's worked before.
Like if the Crusaders bring back Toddy in a couple of seasons...
Think it's a retrograde step myself. I suppose they couldn't get Schmidt nor Gatland (no big loss imo for Gatland), and Keane seems to have rubbed people up the wrong way in both Crusaders and Chiefs territory so maybe it was the default option.
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@Billy-Tell said in Super Rugby News: Injuries:
Think it's a retrograde step myself. I suppose they couldn't get Schmidt nor Gatland (no big loss imo for Gatland), and Keane seems to have rubbed people up the wrong way in both Crusaders and Chiefs territory so maybe it was the default option.
Sure Keane wasn't complimentary to the Crusaders (justifiable, given how Ta$man players were ignored) but I haven't heard anything at the Chiefs to suggest there are any issues.
So Cooper has a 3-yr deal and we wait to see who his assistants are. That will be just as important to attract players.
Gats is back in 2020...
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The Melbourne Rebels have signed Ben Volavola.
http://melbournerebels.com/2017/01/06/rebels-add-fijian-international-ben-volavola-to-squad/
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The Jaguares have also named their 2017 squad: http://www.jaguares.com.ar/2017/01/plantel-para-la-temporada-2017/
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@Stargazer said in Super Rugby News: Injuries:
The Melbourne Rebels have signed Ben Volavola.
http://melbournerebels.com/2017/01/06/rebels-add-fijian-international-ben-volavola-to-squad/
Didn't know the Crusaders had signed him for 2 seasons, but good that they didn't keep him. He just isn't good enough.
Sydney-born Volavola, who also played for the Ranfurly Shield and Mitre 10 Cup winning Canterbury squad in 2016, had signed a two-year contract with the Crusaders but was released late last year. -
@Stargazer said in Super Rugby News: Injuries:
Is it a new development in Super Rugby that un-contracted players join SR squads for preseason as either injury cover or "supplementary" players? Or did it always happen and the public were just not told about it?
After the news that Magpies Jonah Lowe and Tiaan Falcon would join the Canes for preseason, and then 7 players were invited to join the Blues, now Southland first-five Wharenui Hawera has been invited to join the Brumbies for preseason:
https://www.brumbies.com.au/2016/12/hawera-looking-take-opportunity-brumbies/
Wharenui Hawera has now been signed by the Brumbies for the 2017 season.
https://www.brumbies.com.au/2017/01/brumbies-complete-hawera-signing/
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@Stargazer So none of the Brumbies first 5/8 options were born in Australia?
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@antipodean Of the 5 players that can play 1st 5/8 for the ponies, Hawera and Lealiifano were born in NZ, and Kyle Godwin in Zimbabwe, but rookies Nic Jooste and Jordan Jackson-Hope were born in Perth and Canberra, respectively.
