Rueben O'Neill to the Force is confirmed now.
@SouthernMann ouch our midfield stocks are being decimated. We have good depth elsewhere but behind the top 6 midfielders we are looking a bit thin. Higgins is the biggest loss though gutted he is leaving for Scotland. Good chance for young talent to shine i this years NPC as there are plenty of holes to fill at Super level.
Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa now locked in by NZRU. Now a game of where he will end up.
Article states he has already met with the Highlanders.
Highlanders or Crusaders seem the most realistic landing spots. Highlanders have a massive gap at 8. While the Crusaders may potentially lose Lio-Willie over the next couple of years. All the North Island franchises have starting quality 8s.
@reprobate said in Super Rugby confirmed and rumoured transfers 26 - 27:
Avoid injury to the tighties and that starts looking like a very competitve pack with Ta'avao, EDG, Taylor, Lavanini, Holland, Casey, Howden, STT (Frizell, Withy, Lasaqa)
Hopefully we will have a forward group of
Loosehead: de Groot, Bartlett, ??
Hooker: Taylor, Moananu and Bell
Tighthead Ta'avao, Ainsley and Ma'u
Lock: Holland, Lavinini, Dunshea, Tengblad, Stodart, Cribb
Six: Frizzell, Howden (still to be confirmed), Stodart, Cribb,
Seven: Casey, Lasaqa, Withy,
eight: STT, Casey, Stodart
Broughton is an unknown at this stage.
Should match up pretty well against most sides and has the depth to give guys a rest if need be.
@SouthernMann really hoping a strong (dominant?) forward pack will sit better in Josephs wheelhouse
@SouthernMann if I had a dollar…
@jimmyb said in Super Rugby confirmed and rumoured transfers 26 - 27:
@SouthernMann if I had a dollar…
Otago property still going cheap then?
I wouldn't be surprised if NZR asks for Super teams to hold off player announcement until between the end of the home series and the South African tour.
Sometime between 18 July and 30 July when NPC kicks off.
ABs hold the narrative over the next three weeks.
Then re-inject Super footy.
NPC kicks off at the end of July.
ABs then take back over in August.
Keep the product in the news cycle. No point using Super news when it will be drowned out by the ABs.
26 days later
With Semisi Tupou-Ta'eiloa still a free agent. This is the first time I can remember when there has been a genuine free agent in the All Black ranks who could still potentially go anywhere.
He goes to the Highlanders and we have the best 8s (Wrampling/Savea, Sititi/Parker, Lakai, CLW and Tupou-Ta'eiloa).
On the other hand the Highlanders had no interest when he was in our system.
He has been up in Auckland for the last couple of years. Could be a strong lure. The Crusaders could pitch for him to be the sucessor to CLW.
Really hope he comes back to the Highlanders. Can see the rationale if he doesn't.
@canes4life well wouldn't be this/next year and if it's 27/28 they will be without him for the start of the season.
@southernmann I don’t know heaps about contracting, but just speculating here. I wonder if his agent, or even he himself, got a whiff of some All Blacks interest and decided to hold off finalising a deal until after this announcement. I’d assume there’s a huge amount more money on the table in terms of contracts and endorsements that can be negotiated once you’re an All Black.
@handa457 said in Super Rugby confirmed and rumoured transfers 26 - 27:
@southernmann I don’t know heaps about contracting, but just speculating here. I wonder if his agent, or even he himself, got a whiff of some All Blacks interest and decided to hold off finalising a deal until after this announcement. I’d assume there’s a huge amount more money on the table in terms of contracts and endorsements that can be negotiated once you’re an All Black.
He had already signed an extension with NZR through to 2028, post Super. That is where the main money comes from. Was initially signed by MP to the end of 27. That deal was penned last year.
He needs to be starting every week next year. Is guaranteed that down at the Highlanders. Would have a fight at some other franchises.
@southernmann that would create an interesting situation at 7 for the Landers
@bones said in Super Rugby confirmed and rumoured transfers 26 - 27:
@canes4life well wouldn't be this/next year and if it's 27/28 they will be without him for the start of the season.
I assume it’s for post the WC. Not even sure where the rumour has come from. Savea has also been quoted that he wants to return to his club team in Japan after the WC so who knows.
@canes4life said in Super Rugby confirmed and rumoured transfers 26 - 27:
Not sure where to post this but is Ardie about to follow Jordie and Ioane to Leinster…
Next year?!!!!