2015/16 Squad/Contracts/Rumours Thread Part 1

[iceman_19]

My understanding is that the NZRU are reluctant for their 7s players - world champions, most of them - to be bumped out in favour of non-specialist 15-a-side players looking to add to the trophy collection. I'm sure there may be exceptions of course.

Yep, of course Harry could quite possibly be pulling his leg, although there's no reason for him to do so.

And with Aaron Mauger here, who he's worked with before, I don't think it's beyond the realms of possibility - although at this stage it is firmly in the 'spurious rumour' category of course.

[4071]

My understanding is that the NZRU are reluctant for their 7s players - world champions, most of them - to be bumped out in favour of non-specialist 15-a-side players looking to add to the trophy collection. I'm sure there may be exceptions of course.

Yep, of course Harry could quite possibly be pulling his leg, although there's no reason for him to do so.

And with Aaron Mauger here, who he's worked with before, I don't think it's beyond the realms of possibility - although at this stage it is firmly in the 'spurious rumour' category of course.

Sonny-Bill and Liam Messam have both been included in the NZ sevens squad for next season. It's been announced, and they are likely to withdraw from their SupeRugby squads as a result.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/a ... -nz-sevens

[iceman_19]

Cheers 4071, I missed that. Looks like Hazza is having some fun, unless he's talking about 2016-17 season?

I reserve the right to be smug if this does actually happen.

[sam16111986]

SBW still has a deal with NZRU and the Chiefs. That deal has a sabbatical built in which allows him to play for NZ Sevens so he can try and get to the Olympics. There's no chance he'll be here next season.

[Coops]

Worcester beefing up their pack with the signing of Donncha O'Callaghan, being released early from his Munster contract.


http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2015/0903 ... g-munster/

[4071]

Worcester beefing up their pack with the signing of Donncha O'Callaghan, being released early from his Munster contract.


http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2015/0903 ... g-munster/

They needed that. Not sure he's the force he once was, but Worcester's tight five looks very average. A lot of youth mixed with mid-level journeymen. They have a lot of quality elsewhere in the team, but looking at their squad the lack of 'names' in the tight five was pretty obvious.

Props:
Ryan Bower
Nick Schonert
Na'ama Leleimalefaga
Val Rapava-Ruskin
Derrick Appiah
Mike Daniels
Joe Rees

Hookers:
Niall Annett
Dan George
Ben Sowrey

Locks:
Dan Sanderson
Christian Scotland-Williamson
Darren Barry
Darren O'Shea

[mol2]

Yes, Tigers would never have been desperate enough to play Johnny Foreigner before the accursed professional era!

Oooh, hang on though.... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Obolensky

England international who was raised in England? That Obolensky, you mean...?

Good example!

Born in Petrograd, russian citizen, russian parents, political refugee. That Obolensky. So, what would make him English? At which point did he become English? When he attended English schools, or universities, or played for England?
At which point would people consider him to have made the transition?

Let's face it, this whole question of what defines an Englishman is an anachronism, fraught with grey areas and difficulties in definition. As such, complaining that we don't have enough in the sqaud is building an argument on sand.

There's a world of difference between a player who came to the country as a child and adopted England as his home country (Manu for example) rather than one who came over as an adult to work and adopted home nationality simply to play internationally such as Shane Howarth for Wales.

[loretta]

Shane Howarth is an interesting example. IIRC he claimed to have a welsh granny, which gave him the option of playing for Wales, but when someone bothered to check they found none.

(Correction, grand-dad https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shane_Howarth
"In 2000 it was discovered that his grandfather was not born in Wales but New Zealand, and he was ineligible to play for Wales. The scandal that followed was termed "grannygate" and Howarth was banned from representing Wales. He retired at the end of 2003. Howarth could have qualified for Wales through residency before he retired but by then the IRB had changed the rules so that players could only represent one country.")

It seems to me that the whole question of eligibility to represent a nation is too complex. It would be interesting to consider how things would be if the old Yorkshire cricket criteria were applied. What if you could only represent the country where you were born? Wales would lose Cuthbert, North and Charteris. We would lose the Vunipolas, Manu and Hartley (shame). But it could be a whole lot simpler.

[4071]

Shane Howarth is an interesting example. IIRC he claimed to have a welsh granny, which gave him the option of playing for Wales, but when someone bothered to check they found none.

(Correction, grand-dad https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shane_Howarth
"In 2000 it was discovered that his grandfather was not born in Wales but New Zealand, and he was ineligible to play for Wales. The scandal that followed was termed "grannygate" and Howarth was banned from representing Wales. He retired at the end of 2003. Howarth could have qualified for Wales through residency before he retired but by then the IRB had changed the rules so that players could only represent one country.")

It seems to me that the whole question of eligibility to represent a nation is too complex. It would be interesting to consider how things would be if the old Yorkshire cricket criteria were applied. What if you could only represent the country where you were born? Wales would lose Cuthbert, North and Charteris. We would lose the Vunipolas, Manu and Hartley (shame). But it could be a whole lot simpler.

On the other hand, a lot of people are born in countries to which they have no links whatsoever. Many people work abroad for periods of their lives and have kids before moving home: Jamie Heaslip born in Israel, Lee Dickson in Germany, etc.

Tell those guys that the country they have lived in for all but a few months of their life is not their country and they have to represent some nation to which they have no links or affiliation.

[loretta]

Tell those guys that the country they have lived in for all but a few months of their life is not their country and they have to represent some nation to which they have no links or affiliation.

To be honest, I really can't imagine the opportunity arising. But thanks for giving the suggestion your full consideration.

[sam16111986]

Brendan O'Connor update. Scored one and gave a scoring pass. Some highlights on this link.

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/r ... 09192.html

[RagingBull]

He has been very impressive looks like good over the ball but also a very good link player between forwards and backs.

The fact he can also play 8 and 6 is a huge bonus as well.

Excellent signing by the looks of it.

[sam16111986]

The line he cuts for his try is really nice. From deep, at speed and straight off the shoulder of the ball carrier. Hard to defend against that. He looks a very mobile player. I said it when I saw him playing for the Blues, he does remind me of Craig Newby, no obvious weakness to his game and a massive work rate.

Hope he comes over soon. If he fancies bringing a team mate with him for our back line I wouldn't say no either.

[bendalloway]

We seem to have descended into a 'homegrown' v 'import' debate, which I won't wade in on, but to take it back on point about transfer rumours...

I work colleague of mine used to play for the Leicester junior sides with Harry Ellis and still keeps in touch. They met up at a function last week, where Hazza mentioned that we're in talks with Sonny Bill Williams. Now my pal is reliable and I believe him, but how much would Harry know about this stuff? Not sure. Also, 'talking' - as we know - is a long way off 'signing'.

Still, rather exciting.

I have also heard the same from a mutual friend who is still in touch with Haz. He also mentioned Burns last season before it was known. I don't see it happening myself what with SBW playing 7's, but it could be for next season?

[Dr H Flashman MBE]

I am the eternal optimist and if we got SBW I would wear a bath top at work whilst declaring Bath are better than and deserve to be classed as the best EPL ever!!