Super Rugby News

[SammyC]

@KiwiMurph said in Super Rugby News: Injuries:

Interesting, according to NZ Herald

Chiefs and All Blacks centre Seta Tamanivalu is set to sign with the Crusaders for the 2017 Super Rugby season, sources have confirmed.

Excellent, good stuff Razor

[Bovidae]

@KiwiMurph I wouldn't be starting him next year for the Chiefs ahead of ALB and Ngatai. The only issue will be if Ngatai has concussion problems again.

[Hooroo]

@Bovidae said in Super Rugby News: Injuries: @KiwiMurph

and that is a pretty major issue by the sounds of it

[gt12]

@Bovidae said in Super Rugby News: Injuries:

@KiwiMurph I wouldn't be starting him next year for the Chiefs ahead of ALB and Ngatai. The only issue will be if Ngatai has concussion problems again.

I'd have liked to have kept all three.

[Bovidae]

@gt12 Me too but if the Chiefs are going to lose one of the three midfielders then Tamanivalu is the player I'd choose. I assume Rennie and Keane will have suitable replacements with Horrell out of the equation too. Vaka was in the squad this year. Who else might be in the mix? Beaver as a 2nd 5 again?

[KiwiMurph]

What about someone like Cardiff Vaega? From his performances in NPC over the last few years he more than looks up to it.

[pukunui]

That would be a very good signing for the Saders if it happens IMO. Provides something a bit different to what they have.

[cgrant]

Is Sam Vaka with the Chiefs ? He is now playing centre so I guess he can provide a good cover there in case of injury.

[Daffy Jaffy]

Paulasi Manu returns to the Blues for 2017.

[Duluth]

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Super Rugby News: Injuries:

Paulasi Manu returns to the Blues for 2017.

Great news

So Manu and Faumuina to start with Hodgman and Ofa on the bench

http://theblues.co.nz/experienced-prop-returns-blues/

[Wurzel]

Chiefs seem to be losing a few 'All Blacks'. Players jumping ship with Rennie on his way out?

I wonder if Hames has signed for the Chiefs if they can afford to lose Manu?

[Stargazer]

Confirmed: Tamanivalu has signed with the Crusaders. It seems to be a deal for only one year.

http://crusaders.co.nz/news/1022-seta-tamanivalu-to-join-bnz-crusaders-in-2017

[Frye]

@Stargazer said in Super Rugby News: Injuries:

Confirmed: Tamanivalu has signed with the Crusaders. It seems to be a deal for only one year.

http://crusaders.co.nz/news/1022-seta-tamanivalu-to-join-bnz-crusaders-in-2017

That's a big signing!

Chiefs still have Ngatai, ALB and Vaka but still quite a loss to lose Seta.

[Stargazer]

@Wurzel said in Super Rugby News: Injuries:

Chiefs seem to be losing a few 'All Blacks'. Players jumping ship with Rennie on his way out?

It makes you wonder, doesn't it?

I'm also a bit confused about the contractual side of it. In a media release from the Chiefs from February 2015 it says that

prop Pauliasi Manu and winger James Lowe re-committing to the franchise for another two years

Initially I thought the "two years" referred to 2016 and 2017. But if that's correct, Manu would still have another year on his contract with the Chiefs. He wouldn't be the first to move from one franchise to another mid-contract, but I'm not sure whether that's happening in his case.

If, as this move to the Blues suggests, the two years in the media release include 2015, both Manu's and Lowe's contract end in 2016. That raises the question, has James Lowe re-signed with the Chiefs yet?

http://www.chiefs.co.nz/news/news/latest-news/49-two-chiefs-re-commit (media release from 24 February 2015)

[Billy Tell]

@Stargazer I'm happy with that, but only 1 year?

Either -
He doesn't trust the Crusders...
He is thinking of heading overseas if he doesn't make the ABs...

Still it's a much needed boost of X-factor, not sure I could have faced another season with Fonatia-type midfielders.

[Stargazer]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/84800130/crusaders-grab-all-black-seta-tamanivalu-from-chiefs

[African Monkey]

@Daffy-Jaffy Interesting. Some good depth in our front row now.

[Bovidae]

@Wurzel If the Chiefs lose the likes of BBBR, Cane and Cruden then we worry.

Re: Hames - he's signed on for 2017 along with Pulu (2017-18). He and Graham would do the job for the Chiefs with Laulala and Moli at TH.

http://www.chiefs.co.nz/news/news/latest-news/263-hames-and-pulu-to-continue-rising-rugby-careers-with-gallagher-chiefs

[KiwiMurph]

Blues have confirmed their skills coach for next season - David Ellis - who has been the skills coach with Connacht for the last three years I think - a Kiwi who has been on the scene in NZ before in a skills capacity it seems.

[Billy Tell]

That is a good signing. Connacht had a very NZ-style offloading game going on last season.