Super Rugby News

Canes4life

Four players confirmed to miss Super Rugby next year due to Olympic commitments.

http://allblacks.com/News/34585/olympics-beckon-for-investec-super-rugby-players

Yeetyaah

@Canes4life Gregory is a weird one as it'll be his first year in SR but will only be there til March. Suppose they want a gold medal.

KiwiMurph

No Crusaders - so the rich get richer

Stargazer

@KiwiMurph Entirely predictable though. As soon as the Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes and Highlanders signed these players, you could expect them to be unavailable for most of the 2020 season. None of the Crusaders players has played for the AB7s, so obviously there was less chance that they would opt to play for a spot in the Olympic squad.

Stargazer

For who missed it in the Hurricanes 2020 thread:

https://twitter.com/Hurricanesrugby/status/1164341603101622272

https://twitter.com/Hurricanesrugby/status/1164341756000735233

taniwharugby

@Yeetyaah yeah odd to make the step into Super rugby when he is going to be unavailable for a good portion anyway, that said, I am sure this was part of the negotiations he and his agent had with the Highlanders.

Yeetyaah

@taniwharugby Just means the Landers will still need a cover for him when he's gone.

Bovidae

The Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, and Highlanders all get to sign an extra player which helps.

Reece would have been great for the NZ7s but that ship has sailed.

mikey07

@Bovidae I had been saying that Reece would be good all along, though I think he’s only recently became eligible hasn’t he?

Bovidae

@mikey07 said in Super Rugby News:

@Bovidae I had been saying that Reece would be good all along, though I think he’s only recently became eligible hasn’t he?

Eligible from late last year after the 3-yr stand-down.

I saw Sevu's debut 1st XV game and many more since then. He was a star at the Condor sevens for Hamilton BHS.

Stargazer

@Bovidae Also great at the National 7s for Waikato. That tandem with Guildford a few years ago was awesome.

Billy Tell

I see Penney is being suggested for the Waratahs and Rennie for the Wallabies.

Find it ridiculous that Penney never got a Super Rugby job in NZ - did he burn some bridges?

Stargazer

For who hasn't seen it in the Hurricanes 2020 thread (more info there):

Wellington Lions Head Coach Chris Gibbes will join the Hurricanes as their new Assistant Coach (Forwards). He has signed a two-year contract and will replace Richard Watt.

Canes4life

@Stargazer good to see Watt go, they need a fresh approach.

Stargazer

Ma'a Nonu isn't missing the hype of being an All Black during the Rugby World Cup in Japan, as he enjoys being a stay at home dad for the last few months.

The 37-year-old says the freedom from rugby won't last too long as he will be lacing up next season, but he is not giving away any secrets of where that might be.

Nonu played for the Blues this year and was an outside chance for selection for a third World Cup, but missed out. He said he's enjoyed the freedom and time with the family - dropping the kids off at school and spending as much as time as he can with them.

It's a short holiday before he announces his playing future, he says.

"Should be out soon in a couple of months, so I am not anytime soon hanging up my boots.

"It's been a great couple of months, I've been that stay at home dad taking them to school. . . it's been good family time and I think all parents who get to take the time should take the opportunity to do that."

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/rugby-world-cup/rwc-2019-japan/115924843/maa-nonu-receives-order-of-merit-award-and-confirms-hes-not-finished-with-rugby