Exodus 2018
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Augustine Pulu and Pauliasi Manu have signed with Hino Red Dolphins in Japan for the 2018/2019. This was announced by the club on Monday (30 July). I've seen no info about whether Pulu and Manu will return to the Blues next season.
@stargazer You'd think that Manu would be gone for good with Tu'inukuafe signing. Would be suprised if Pulu was due to our lack of options at halfback unless we've signed someone that hasn't been announced yet? Wouldn't care if he was gone for good tbh.
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James Marshall won't play Mitre 10 Cup either. He has signed with Coca-Cola Red Sparks in Japan.
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Dan Pryor has signed with Munakata Sanix Blues for (at least) the 2018/19 Top League season. There's no information about whether he'll return to the Highlanders next season. I have no good info about the duration of his current Highlanders contract, so don't know when it expires.
One thing is sure though: another player, who will be missing from the Māori All Blacks squad later in the year.
http://rugby.sanix.jp/topics/2018/6/0bd6b2801a5fe13b2470c984ee59a705.html
https://www.rugbypass.com/news/another-highlanders-loose-forward-japan-bound
@stargazer said in Exodus 2018:
Dan Pryor has signed with Munakata Sanix Blues for (at least) the 2018/19 Top League season. There's no information about whether he'll return to the Highlanders next season. I have no good info about the duration of his current Highlanders contract, so don't know when it expires.
Pryor's latest instagram post seems to suggest he won't return to the Landers.
It’s been one hell of a ride! Came in skinny and going out skinny! Proud lander man, have met the greatest people along the way, made some unreal memories! Unfortunately shes time to drift on.. so if I was going to leave on any note it would be .. Up the tanis
:call_me_hand_medium_skin_tone: -
Found this instagram post from Pulu, which seems to suggest he may not return to the Blues:
One last ride with @jeromekaino and my @bluesrugbyteam :oncoming_fist_medium_skin_tone: :waving_hand_medium_skin_tone: :oncoming_fist_medium_skin_tone: :waving_hand_medium_skin_tone: #hoka #bless #2018
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Found this instagram post from Pulu, which seems to suggest he may not return to the Blues:
One last ride with @jeromekaino and my @bluesrugbyteam :oncoming_fist_medium_skin_tone: :waving_hand_medium_skin_tone: :oncoming_fist_medium_skin_tone: :waving_hand_medium_skin_tone: #hoka #bless #2018
@stargazer said in Exodus 2018:
Found this instagram post from Pulu, which seems to suggest he may not return to the Blues:
One last ride with @jeromekaino and my @bluesrugbyteam :oncoming_fist_medium_skin_tone: :waving_hand_medium_skin_tone: :oncoming_fist_medium_skin_tone: :waving_hand_medium_skin_tone: #hoka #bless #2018
Yeah, tbf it didn't really work out the way that Tana planned for Pulu. He was meant to translate the good rapport he had with players off field to captaincy but injury compounded by disintegrating confidence within the team dashed that idea.
He is obviously not in the AB sights so his option is either to go now or hamstring plans for change at the Blues. -
Toni Pulu to Brumbies. Not NZ eligible but an NZ product.
@mikedogz said in Exodus 2018:
Toni Pulu to Brumbies. Not NZ eligible but an NZ product.
Locked in for Niue?
You'd think the big NH clubs would come knocking. Not much danger of losing him to test duty.
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@mikedogz said in Exodus 2018:
Toni Pulu to Brumbies. Not NZ eligible but an NZ product.
Locked in for Niue?
You'd think the big NH clubs would come knocking. Not much danger of losing him to test duty.
@booboo said in Exodus 2018:
@mikedogz said in Exodus 2018:
Toni Pulu to Brumbies. Not NZ eligible but an NZ product.
Locked in for Niue?
You'd think the big NH clubs would come knocking. Not much danger of losing him to test duty.
That actually sucks for him as I assume he would have been eligible for other teams who have proper international calendars. Wasn't he born in the states?
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@booboo said in Exodus 2018:
@mikedogz said in Exodus 2018:
Toni Pulu to Brumbies. Not NZ eligible but an NZ product.
Locked in for Niue?
You'd think the big NH clubs would come knocking. Not much danger of losing him to test duty.
That actually sucks for him as I assume he would have been eligible for other teams who have proper international calendars. Wasn't he born in the states?
@nepia said in Exodus 2018:
That actually sucks for him as I assume he would have been eligible for other teams who have proper international calendars. Wasn't he born in the states?
LA.
Seems an odd career choice at 29 years to go from the Chiefs to the Brumbies, woulda thought the NH woulda been calling.
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@booboo said in Exodus 2018:
@mikedogz said in Exodus 2018:
Toni Pulu to Brumbies. Not NZ eligible but an NZ product.
Locked in for Niue?
You'd think the big NH clubs would come knocking. Not much danger of losing him to test duty.
That actually sucks for him as I assume he would have been eligible for other teams who have proper international calendars. Wasn't he born in the states?
@nepia said in Exodus 2018:
@booboo said in Exodus 2018:
@mikedogz said in Exodus 2018:
Toni Pulu to Brumbies. Not NZ eligible but an NZ product.
Locked in for Niue?
You'd think the big NH clubs would come knocking. Not much danger of losing him to test duty.
That actually sucks for him as I assume he would have been eligible for other teams who have proper international calendars. Wasn't he born in the states?
Totai Kefu mentioned him, among a few others, who said were potentially wanting to play for Tonga.
But Pulu would have to go through the olympic loophole to be able to do that.
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It is being reported Pulu is immediately eligible for the Wallabies
New Brumbies signing Toni Pulu is immediately eligible to play for the Wallabies thanks to a dispensation granted by World Rugby.
The former Chiefs flyer holds an Australian passport and has previously played sevens for Niue — his ancestral home.
But a Rugby Australia spokesman told foxsports.com.au that World Rugby had cleared the 29-year-old speedster for Wallabies takeoff should coach Michael Cheika come calling.
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It is being reported Pulu is immediately eligible for the Wallabies
New Brumbies signing Toni Pulu is immediately eligible to play for the Wallabies thanks to a dispensation granted by World Rugby.
The former Chiefs flyer holds an Australian passport and has previously played sevens for Niue — his ancestral home.
But a Rugby Australia spokesman told foxsports.com.au that World Rugby had cleared the 29-year-old speedster for Wallabies takeoff should coach Michael Cheika come calling.
@kiwimurph under what rules has he been granted dispensation, odd decision?
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It is being reported Pulu is immediately eligible for the Wallabies
New Brumbies signing Toni Pulu is immediately eligible to play for the Wallabies thanks to a dispensation granted by World Rugby.
The former Chiefs flyer holds an Australian passport and has previously played sevens for Niue — his ancestral home.
But a Rugby Australia spokesman told foxsports.com.au that World Rugby had cleared the 29-year-old speedster for Wallabies takeoff should coach Michael Cheika come calling.
@kiwimurph Hmmm, I'd be really keen to find out more about that dispensation, such as under which rule(s) and what were the reasons for granting dispensation.
You'd think that - under Reg 8.12 - he first has to make use of the Olympic loophole and play during 5 legs of the 2018-2019 World Sevens Series for the Aussie 7s team.
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It's called the Gosper Rule.
@antipodean said in Exodus 2018:
It's called the Gosper Rule.
Did they ask for the special dispensation by hounding him on Twitter?
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Off the top of my head I think that there is an avenue to appeal eligibility if the 'locking' reasons are light. eg minimal game time at a low level game.
I'm not sure about Pulu's gametime for Niue but am guessing it would have been at the Welly Sevens a number of years back. Maybe it was a short appearance?I was also bemused about his shift but this now makes sense if Australian rugby has trawled for eligible players and made him an offer.
Edit: not much online with a quick search but I found one reference to him playing 3 tournaments for them - 2 in Welly and a Gold Coast one
