Exodus

[Yeetyaah]

https://www.hurricanes.co.nz/news/article/ardie-savea-announces-offshore-playing-break-in-2024/

All Blacks and Hurricanes loose forward Ardie Savea has confirmed he will take an offshore playing break in 2024 before returning to rugby in New Zealand.
Under the terms of the four-year contract extension he signed with New Zealand Rugby (NZR) last year, the 67-Test All Black will transfer to Japan at the end of 2023.
The 29-year-old will then return to New Zealand in June 2024 and play through until the end of the 2025 season.

[Canes4life]

The Canes definitely have the loosies to cover Ardie. Now I see why we signed Kirifi until 2025.

[Kiwiwomble]

thought i was the first to spot this

[Higgins]

@Kiwiwomble They have seriously miscalculated their new signings height by about ten or fifteen centimetres.

[mariner4life]

@Higgins said in Exodus:

@Kiwiwomble They have seriously miscalculated their new signings height by about ten or fifteen centimetres.

this motherfucker just will not stop growing!!

[MN5]

@Higgins said in Exodus:

@Kiwiwomble They have seriously miscalculated their new signings height by about ten or fifteen centimetres.

Speaking of ex Hurricanes growing has anyone seen Neemia Tialata lately ?

[Canes4life]

@mariner4life said in Exodus:

@Higgins said in Exodus:

@Kiwiwomble They have seriously miscalculated their new signings height by about ten or fifteen centimetres.

this motherfucker just will not stop growing!!

To be fair I’m pretty sure those were his stats from like 2016. Pretty sure he’s nearly 2 metres now.

[Tim]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/the-sauce-with-liam-napier-another-all-blacks-exodus-the-growing-queue-of-players-leaving-new-zealand-after-the-world-cup/ACSC5MBJBI5RWC6AIFVNED5OF4/

At some point in the near future Ioane is expected to follow Ardie Savea, who this week announced he will join Kobe Steelers in 2024, Brodie Retallick, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie and Patrick Tuipulotu, among other recent high-profile deflections, to spend at least one year cashing in on Japan's enticing seven figure Top League wages.

Ioane is far from a lone ranger in that regard, with the number of All Blacks deflections post World Cup expected to hit double figures.

All Blacks captain Sam Cane has the option to trigger a one season leave clause in his contract through to 2025 following the World Cup.

Earlier this year 28-year-old Richie Mo'unga signalled his intent to spend one, possibly two years of his prime, in Japan. The Herald understands negotiations are close to being finalised on that front.

Barrett has fielded interest from French club Racing and others in Japan for his services beyond next year.

McKenzie, after playing one season with Tokyo Sungoliath, could also return to Japan.

[Stargazer]

No doubt, more names will follow, but here are a few more MLR signings:

Tom Florence has signed with NOLA Gold (New Orleans) in the MLR (2023-2024)
https://www.nolagoldrugby.com/news/tom-florence-signs-with-the-gold/

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Magpies hooker Gene Syminton has signed with Toronto Arrows in the MLR.
https://torontoarrows.com/news/signing-221011/

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Magpies halfback Connor McLeod has signed with Utah Warriors in the MLR (multi-year deal).
https://www.warriorsrugby.com/news/warriors-sign-scrum-half-connor-mcleod/

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I don't remember him, but former BOP/Manawatū/Chiefs WTG? wing/centre Taniela Filimone has signed with New England Free Jacks in the MLR.
https://freejacks.com/featured-news/free-jacks-sign-explosive-wing-and-center-taniela-filimone/

[muddyriver]

@Stargazer super rugby medical depth really getting roasted with guys Jacobson and Florence gone plus Moana Pacifica

[ARHS]

@muddyriver said in Exodus:

@Stargazer super rugby medical depth really getting roasted with guys Jacobson and Florence gone plus Moana Pacifica

Can't believe they were not picked up by other franchises. Poor really.

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer said in Exodus:

I don't remember him, but former BOP/Manawatū/Chiefs WTG? wing/centre Taniela Filimone has signed with New England Free Jacks in the MLR.

Filimone was a player I was talking about earlier this year as a good option as the injury replacement for ALB. He was injured for most of this season for the Poo.

I don't blame the likes of Jacobson and Florence going if all they are offered in NZ is a WTG spot. That seems to suggest McMillan hasn't selected another specialist no.7 for the Chiefs.

[Stargazer]

Ma'a Nonu going back for another season with San Diego Legion in the MLR:

[MN5]

@Stargazer said in Exodus:

Ma'a Nonu going back for another season with San Diego Legion in the MLR:

Even seeing him walking through town recently trying to look all small and inconspicuous with the hoodie up and at the age of 40 he still looks a better bet than any AB midfielder we have currently.

He’s one of the only guys I can think of that maxed out on every Rugby skill there is to have.

God I miss Ma’a…..

[Stargazer]

Inga Finau has signed with Provence Rugby in the French Pro D2 competition.

[Stargazer]

Richard Judd has signed with San Diego Legion in the MLR.

[Bovidae]

There seems to be less players hanging around for only a WTG spot than in recent years. Money talks.

[ARHS]

Would have thought both Judd and Finau were in line for injury cover call-ups. So Triple T and Lalomilo shorten their odds...

[Stargazer]

I don't remember him, but google tells me he's from Bay of Plenty and has been in the AB7s environment.

Rewita Biddle has signed with Atlanta in the MLR:

[Stargazer]

Among the players announced as returning to the Seattle Seawolves are Sam Matenga and AJ Alatimu.

https://seawolves.rugby/news/returning-core-pod-ready-to-hunt-again-in-2023/