Exodus 2016
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<p>SA rugby seems fcuked.</p>
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<p>There are more SA rugby players in Europe than Syrian refugees I reckon.</p>
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<p>Marcell Coetzee the latest.</p>
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<p>TBH, I kind of hope in the long run that the ANZAC unions align themselves with Argentina/Japan/The Pacific for Super Rugby and ditch SA. The problem is SA falls into the European time zone and brings in the most money I think.</p> -
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<p>A bit off topic but Toulon has signed Goromaru, the Reds fullback for the next season. Did you know that he is the highest paid rugby player in the world ? He is earning about 340 000 NZD per month.</p>
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<p>Just a rumour at this stage. Not confirmed by Toulon (usually the first to scream it off the roof tops) and denied by the Reds.</p> -
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<p>Well, I'm shocked - he's not really next level popular here (no rugby player is) although he is clearly the most popular player. Maybe when things went crazy following the World Cup, he cashed in, but I'd be surprised if he is making that much.</p>
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<p>Nothing would surprise me as far as Toulon is concerned. Toulon's owner clearly has too much money.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Wurzel" data-cid="558975" data-time="1455586926"><p>Fair play to him if it's true. Most Premier League teams have a random Japan/Korea/Thai player in their squad in the hope of capitalising on Asian fans.</p></blockquote>
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I'm not sure that the logic holds though - we don't even get the European rugby on JSports (on demand anyway). Pretty small market for rugby jerseys, although he might be the player who could stimulate the interest.<br><br>
Anyway, according to the Reds, it's not going to happen - and if it were confirmed I'm sure my breakfast TV show would have been going on about it. They love home right now. -
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://mobile.twitter.com/thepaulwilliams/status/701836259136823297?s=09'>https://mobile.twitter.com/thepaulwilliams/status/701836259136823297?s=09</a><br><br>
Should we be worried? -
<p>of those 3 names, Kaino would be the one most likely to go*, but the other 2, you'd think the Lions next year would be a huge carrot, and didn't BB also recently withdraw from the 7s to focus on 15s?</p>
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<p>*although if Kaino is still the AB 6 at the years end, surely he'd be keen to give the Lions a crack in a Black jersey!</p> -
The only player I can think of with 30+ caps off contract in 2016 is beauden Barrett. He would get megabucks in France or the uk. And I wouldn't be surprised to see him go if the money was enormous.
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<p>The ones I was thinking of were Kaino, Franks and Crockett, since they're getting on in years, but all three have signed up until at least the end of 2017. Kaino does apparently have a sabbatical option in his contract though, so he could use that.</p>
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<p>Messam and SBW might be possibilities, since we don't know what their plans are after the Olympics, but I imagine at least one of them would be keen to play the Lions.</p>
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<p>Otherwise, like you said Billy, Barrett's the only one with 30+ caps and whose contract expires this year.</p> -
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<p>of those 3 names, Kaino would be the one most likely to go*, but the other 2, you'd think the Lions next year would be a huge carrot, and didn't BB also recently withdraw from the 7s to focus on 15s?</p>
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<p>*although if Kaino is still the AB 6 at the years end, surely he'd be keen to give the Lions a crack in a Black jersey!</p>
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<p>I would have thought Kaino was staying just for the Lions - there's not much left for him to do on his international bucket list.</p> -
<p>Both Kaino and Crockett have indicated that they want to end their careers in New Zealand and both are contracted through to 2018.</p>
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<p>Owen Franks' contract is until 2017.</p>
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<p>Thinking about ex/fringe All Blacks, Andy Ellis has 28 caps and will be free at the end of the season.</p>
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<p>I think Barrett fits the 30+ and free in 2016 best, but whether he wants to leave before the Lions tour?</p> -
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<div>I think Barrett fits the 30+ and free in 2016 best, but whether he wants to leave before the Lions tour?</div>
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<p>I doubt he would leave, but Barrett's decision to re-sign might depend on whether he gets the no.10 AB jersey. Would he be that keen to be the super-sub again?</p> -
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<p>SBW has over 30 caps and I would be shocked if he added to it.</p>
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<p>Isn't he still contracted to the NZRU after the Olympics? He could pick up a few caps on the EOYT. </p>
