Blues 2019
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@bones yeah his mistake was that he kept his NZ passport, he still has it and he never got around to getting a Fijian passport so basically he cannot stay in Ireland for much longer unless he gets a job there and i'm not sure Leinster are looking for a backline coach right now and also, Isa's family are all in NZ including his wife and kids so i don't see why he will stick around in Ireland unless he gets a major coaching gig which would allow him to move his whole family there, remember he "re-signed" with Leinster only for a season which dragged to 2 seasons s his visa has definitely run out..
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Brilliant news.
http://theblues.co.nz/nz-u20-trio-commit-to-the-blues/
Three players from the Blues and NZ U20s have been signed for the next two years. Congrats Harry Plummer, Taniela Tele’a and Hoskins Sotutu. -
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Fullback Michael Collins has re-signed with the Blues for 2019, believing that better days are just around the corner for the beleaguered franchise.
So confident is he, that he's prepared to stick around for
the long terma year...@antipodean said in Blues 2019:
Fullback Michael Collins has re-signed with the Blues for 2019, believing that better days are just around the corner for the beleaguered franchise.
So confident is he, that he's prepared to stick around for
the long terma year...Amusing as long as our crap coach. Maybe Leon has started with the broom...
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Players known to be signed for 2019:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2018–19_Super_Rugby_transfers#Blues
Alex Hodgman
Ofa Tu'ungafasi
Leni Apisai
Gerard Cowley-Tuioti
Scott Scrafton
Patrick Tuipulotu
Jimmy Tupou
Blake Gibson
Hoskins Sotutu
Otere Black
Harry Plummer
Tanielu Tele’a
Sonny Bill Williams
Matt Duffie
Melani Nanai
Michael Collins -
With Black and Plummer there, where does that leave Perofeta in his development? He’s starting to find his feet with regular play but will likely have to share starts with Black next season.
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@crucial You'd have to assume that Black will start and Perofeta will end up on the bench. Don't think Plummer will play that much in his first year?
@stargazer said in Blues 2019:
@crucial You'd have to assume that Black will start and Perofeta will end up on the bench. Don't think Plummer will play that much in his first year?
Not any more. You'd have to see how they go in preseason, after Perofeta has ad a full season at the helm. That's more than Otere I think.
I don't particularly care which one gets the nod -- they have to be better than some of the 10s we've had recently
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Players known to be signed for 2019:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2018–19_Super_Rugby_transfers#Blues
Alex Hodgman
Ofa Tu'ungafasi
Leni Apisai
Gerard Cowley-Tuioti
Scott Scrafton
Patrick Tuipulotu
Jimmy Tupou
Blake Gibson
Hoskins Sotutu
Otere Black
Harry Plummer
Tanielu Tele’a
Sonny Bill Williams
Matt Duffie
Melani Nanai
Michael Collins -
@tim Moulds signed for 2 years, so has another year on contract with the Blues.
@northlandallday Have you got a link for that? If so I'll update the wiki.
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@stargazer said in Blues 2019:
@crucial You'd have to assume that Black will start and Perofeta will end up on the bench. Don't think Plummer will play that much in his first year?
Not any more. You'd have to see how they go in preseason, after Perofeta has ad a full season at the helm. That's more than Otere I think.
I don't particularly care which one gets the nod -- they have to be better than some of the 10s we've had recently
@nzzp said in Blues 2019:
@stargazer said in Blues 2019:
@crucial You'd have to assume that Black will start and Perofeta will end up on the bench. Don't think Plummer will play that much in his first year?
Not any more. You'd have to see how they go in preseason, after Perofeta has ad a full season at the helm. That's more than Otere I think.
I don't particularly care which one gets the nod -- they have to be better than some of the 10s we've had recently
Yeah. I just think it will be an interesting dynamic and at least one of the three will look to take their ambitions elsewhere depending on what happens. At the moment (according to that list) Perofeta isn't signed up yet. Will he commit for more than one year to keep options open?
There's also the question of whether their may be a spot in 2020 at the Highlanders. Will Gatland be the answer for them or will they be looking for someone else. -
My guess of probable squad signings for 2019:
(38 players)
Prop
Alex Hodgman
Ofa Tu'ungafasi
Pauliasi Manu
Another TH x2
Another LHHooker
Matt Moulds
Leni Apisai
Another HookerLock
Patrick Tuipulotu
Scott Scrafton
Gerard Cowley-Tuioti
Josh Goodhue
Another Lock or Lock/6Loose Forward
Blake Gibson
Dalton Papali'i
Akira Ioane
Hoskins Sotutu
Jimmy Tupou
Another 6 or 8
Another 7Halfback
Augustine Pulu
Another Halfback x21st 5
Otere Black
Harry Plummer
Stephen PerofetaMidfield
SBW
Rieko Ioane
Orbyn Leger
Tanielu Tele’a
Another MidfielderWing/Fullback
Matt Duffie
Melani Nanai
Michael Collins
Caleb Clarke
Tumua ManuAdditional Cover
Another Fullback
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Additional player possibilities:
(Let me know if they are unavailable, opinions on the players or suggestions of other players welcome.)
Another TH x2
Marcel Renata, Mike Tamoaieta, Sione Mafileo, Isaac Salmon, Angus Ta'avao
Another LH
Ezekial Lindenmuth, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Ross Wright, Jack Straker
Another Hooker
James Parsons, Ross Wright, Kurt Eklund
Another Lock or Lock/6
Quentin Strange, Scott Pierce, Ben Nee Nee, Mitchell Dunshea
Another 6 or 8
Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Pita Gus Sowakula, Mitchell Dunshea, Sam Slade
Another 7
Sione Havili, Kara Pryor, Jed Brown, Billy Harmon
Another Halfback x2
Jack Stratton, Jonathan Ruru, Carlos Price, Bryn Hall, Lewis Gjaltema,
Ere Enari, Richard Judd, Nico CostaAnother Midfielder
Tamati Tua, T.J. Faiane, Matty Johnson, Matt Vaega, Michael Little
Another Fullback
Shaun Stevenson
