Exodus

The most hated thread. Time for the 2019 version, because some rumours are becoming stronger and stronger, and the French (sports) media are full of them at the moment (RMC, Midol, Sud Ouest etc).

First, Ben Smith. The rumour is that he will join Pau after the RWC on a 7-month contract. This is not a new rumour. It's possible he'll go to a Japanese club after this short-term stint with Pau. (text in italics added)

Second, Ardie Savea. The rumour is that he will join Pau as well after the RWC on a 3-year contract. According to the French media, NZR is trying hard to keep him in NZ, but they claim there are only some details to finalise, before they'll ink the deal. That's supposed to happen when he's in England with the ABs.

Other All Blacks. This comes from the Midol, and these negotiations are said to be less advanced.
Nehe Milner-Skudder maybe to Toulon.
Ryan Crotty, supposedly getting offers from both French and other overseas clubs.
Kieran Read, possibly to join Racing 92, but these negotiations are difficult, especially from a financial viewpoint. They say there is interest from mulitple clubs in Europe and Japan.

All in the rumour stage. French media have been wrong before.

@stargazer said in Exodus 2019:

First, Ben Smith. The rumour is that he will join Pau after the RWC on a 7-month contract. This is not a new rumour. Sounds like a "sabbatical" type of contract.

I read it was France before going to Japan.

@bovidae Yes, haha, I was just going to edit my post to add that.

I suspect Aaron Smith and Waisake Naholo will be playing in Europe in 2020.

Matt Todd, Izzy Dagg, SBW and Maa Nonu will be fully Japan-based players by then

@sparky said in Exodus 2019:

I suspect Aaron Smith will be playing in Europe in 2020.

Not so sure.
The airport security is much heavier in Europe and I'm not sure he wants to be facing these guys if he tries anything in the toilets...

@stargazer said in Exodus 2019:

The most hated thread. Time for the 2019 version, because some rumours are becoming stronger and stronger, and the French (sports) media are full of them at the moment (RMC, Midol, Sud Ouest etc).

First, Ben Smith. The rumour is that he will join Pau after the RWC on a 7-month contract. This is not a new rumour. It's possible he'll go to a Japanese club after this short-term stint with Pau. (text in italics added)

Second, Ardie Savea. The rumour is that he will join Pau as well after the RWC on a 3-year contract. According to the French media, NZR is trying hard to keep him in NZ, but they claim there are only some details to finalise, before they'll ink the deal. That's supposed to happen when he's in England with the ABs.

Other All Blacks. This comes from the Midol, and these negotiations are said to be less advanced.
Nehe Milner-Skudder maybe to Toulon.
Ryan Crotty, supposedly getting offers from both French and other overseas clubs.
Kieran Read, possibly to join Racing 92, but these negotiations are difficult, especially from a financial viewpoint. They say there is interest from mulitple clubs in Europe and Japan.

All in the rumour stage. French media have been wrong before.

Given age, form etc, it would really only be disappointing to lose Savea. Kieran Read is no spring chicken. However, NZ generally churn out good 7s, I'd be confident new guys would come along.

Of the OP I can only see a real push to get Savea to stay, because of age. BFA, Read, Crotty will be of the age to go by post RWC, and NMS is only a SR depth loss now. I'd rather have them all but the reality is we going to lose another ton o caps. Now the worrying thing is if both Sam and BBBR decide to go...

I would have thought all of those except maybe Savea were a given.

@mariner4life said in Exodus 2019:

I would have thought all of those except maybe Savea were a given.

Yeah - Savea is the only one that I'd be slightly surprised and annoyed about.

A couple of months ago I posted a radio interview by Razor where he (probably inadvertently) said Kieran Read has only 18 months left in NZ rugby.

@chris-b said in Exodus 2019:

@mariner4life said in Exodus 2019:

I would have thought all of those except maybe Savea were a given.

Yeah - Savea is the only one that I'd be slightly surprised and annoyed about.

A couple of months ago I posted a radio interview by Razor where he (probably inadvertently) said Kieran Read has only 18 months left in NZ rugby.

He's done his work, go get paid. What a gem he has been. Let's just hope he has 12 golden months left in that body.

The problem we may face for keeping Savea is that Sam Cane is only 26 years old. I can't fucking believe that. And, he's signed until 2021. And, could be made captain.

@gt12 said in Exodus 2019:

The problem we may face for keeping Savea is that Sam Cane is only 26 years old. I can't fucking believe that. And, he's signed until 2021. And, could be made captain.

The way the game changes so regularly it could be a bonus. The Todd/Savea show at Bled3 was an inkling to future thinking. Half an hour to go bring Ardie on with Cane moving to 6 (or vice-versa). Ardie also capable of being injury cover for 8.
Blindsides tend to be less effective as energies drop from both sides late in the game whereas if you re-assigned your starting 7 to playing closer and brought on a fresh ranger/chaser it makes sense.

@chris-b said in Exodus 2019:

@mariner4life said in Exodus 2019:

I would have thought all of those except maybe Savea were a given.

Yeah - Savea is the only one that I'd be slightly surprised and annoyed about.

A couple of months ago I posted a radio interview by Razor where he (probably inadvertently) said Kieran Read has only 18 months left in NZ rugby.

And the number 53 player in the country will be ready to walk into his job.

@crucial

I agree with that. but will Savea stay if he doesn't start? With Papali'i coming?

@gt12 said in Exodus 2019:

@crucial

I agree with that. but will Savea stay if he doesn't start? With Papali'i coming?

I doubt he'll be off to France given the feedback Julian must be giving him. Jules and family do not appear to like it there. He seems to be struggling even more in getting his game on track when dealing with the T14 style/level of play

@crucial

I hope that's true, but if Pau is throwing around huge money, it must be very hard to turn down.

@gt12

Snake is on the coaching team at Pau which will be a pull factor for guys who played with him. It's a much more friendly and human set up than Toulon's.

If not Ardie, then I suspect another ex-All Blacks loose forward will end up on Pau's roster.

@sparky said in Exodus 2019:

@gt12

Snake is on the coaching team at Pau which will be a pull factor for guys who played with him. It's a much more friendly and human set up than Toulon.

If not Ardie, then I suspect another ex-All Blacks loose forward will end up on Pau's roster.

I spend a lot of time near Pau. I can tell you its a lot more relaxed here then Toulon the players are under nowhere near as much pressure and the team is not run by a megalomaniac.

Plus the people here are much less rugby obsessed. Could see how it would be tempting.

Bristol is another club with spare cash, ambitions, a good ethos and increasing Kiwi connections which I think will be tempting for someone.

@sparky said in Exodus 2019:

Bristol is another club with spare cash, ambitions, a good ethos and increasing Kiwi connections which I think will be tempting for someone.

But it is in Bristol.

@crucial pretty easy to get to Heathrow...

@bones said in Exodus 2019:

@crucial pretty easy to get to Heathrow...

Are we talking about Ardie still or AS?

I feel the need for an after david

Not sure what they are saying, not a very coherent article, but Sam signing for Toulon - it is not clear if this is for a sabbatical or full time - hopefully the first!

More from the rumour mill: Sam Whitelock

All Blacks Sam Whitelock and Nehe Milner-Skudder appear set to play for Toulon after next year's Rugby World Cup in Japan. 

Whitelock has been linked to the French club since February 2017, and speculation both he and Milner-Skudder are on the verge of signing has ramped up. 

Whitelock, who has played 107 tests for the All Blacks, is contracted to New Zealand Rugby through 2020, and is understood to be in talks with NZR regarding a new four-year contract. 

Any new deal would certainly include a sabbatical clause, and the 30-year-old hasn't hid the fact his future might include a stint in Japan, an option more New Zealanders are considering over Europe. 

The lock will again captain the Crusaders in next year's Super Rugby campaign, although there is a chance he will take an extended break after the northern-tour. 

It could see him miss the first month of the competition, although coach Scott Robertson said "nothing is definite" until he has spoken to All Blacks coach Steve Hansen later this year. 

Whitelock has got through a power of work this year, leading the Crusaders to a second Super title on the bounce, and shouldering an increased load for the national side with Brodie Retallick hindered by injury. 

Word he and Milner-Skudder are off to Toulon follows news fullback Ben Smith has reportedly agreed to join French club Pau on a short-term deal after next year's World Cup.

French rugby newspaper Midi Olympique reported the deal was as good as done last week, and said the Highlanders co-captain would then head to Japan. 

If Sam wants another 4 years in Black, based on the evidence of this year, he needs less games, not more. Give him a sabbatical, then give him the rest of the year off.

@machpants would think if he is in negotiations with NZR, then it will be a sabbatical, but his workload needs to be managed better.

I have no issues, he has earnt special treatment form NZR that allows him to head off and earn half a mill+ for a season or so.

@mariner4life That depends. From what I understand, Japanese rugby isn't that demanding, so a short stint in the Top League wouldn't be too bad. French rugby is another story.

@taniwharugby said in Exodus 2019:

@machpants would think if he is in negotiations with NZR, then it will be a sabbatical, but his workload needs to be managed better.

I have no issues, he has earnt special treatment form NZR that allows him to head off and earn half a mill+ for a season or so.

surely he would be on more than that now?

BFA had a short-term sabbatical where he was paid to not play and spend more time with the family. I'm sure Whitelock could do the same thing.

@bovidae said in Exodus 2019:

BFA had a short-term sabbatical where he was paid to not play and spend more time with the family. I'm sure Whitelock could do the same thing.

and spend the entire time reminding how he is far and away the best player in the family.

@mariner4life am sure he is, just putting a number up...although I guess on a sabbatical it'd be more icing to add to his NZR contract anyway?

But yeah, buggar off and spend 6 months doing fuck all would be a better bet for him.

Hello guys, i'm looking for "unlucky" players omitted from Super Rugby squads in 2019, especially at lock and midfield. Thank you

@jauzy019 said in Exodus 2019:

Hello guys, i'm looking for "unlucky" players omitted from Super Rugby squads in 2019, especially at lock and midfield. Thank you

SNAKE!! we got a snake here!!!

Out with you snake!!

Given the double season in Japan in 2020 I think we'll see players going there before Europe as the stress on the body will be less and decent cash

@stargazer The way things are going Toulon are going to be in the Pro D2 next year. All the signs are that they are not a happy playing environment.

@jauzy019 Of interest?

Mitch Jacobson might be injury cover at the Chiefs for Sam Cane.

@jauzy019 said in Exodus 2019:

Hello guys, i'm looking for "unlucky" players omitted from Super Rugby squads in 2019, especially at lock and midfield. Thank you

You can have Jesse Parete.

Kieran Read will be part of Exodus 2019. I hope someone called Bill makes an appearance at his All Blacks leaving party:

Man Ardie must be tall, that jacket doesn't come down anywhere near his waist