Super Rugby confirmed and rumoured transfers 26 - 27

Midfielders leaving:

Lam
Foketi
Ennor
McLeod
Havili
Lowe
Tele'a
Higgins

And possibly B Sullivan ?

@Tim

Te Hiwi is rumoured to go to the Force as well.

Bailyn Sullivan potentially Japan bound too.

Most squads carry five midfielders. Meaning we need to replace 40% of the midfielders across the five teams.

Good for the young fellas coming through … Higgins didn’t read the tea leaves very well!

Peni too

I wonder if King Maxwell will get picked up?

@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.

@Rugbyman

There will be hope that some guys can put their hands up at NPC level. Unfortunately opportunities may be limited as some of the departing players will still be preferred during the provincial season.

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.

STT for the clan!?! Make it happen!

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)

@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.

As posted in the exodus thread. Have been told Bailyn Sullivan is heading to Japan.

Unless Bridge is ALB's direct replacement at Kobe they might need a centre.

Jordan Lay announcing his retirement -

Updated with the latest player movements