RugbyRebels

General Zod wrote:Did we have a list somewhere on here of potential SQ players? Trying to find it - am sure there was some full back in super rugby not mentioned above who is SQ.

Maybe somebody better at the Internet than me could knock one up on Wikipedia. Am sure agents would be all over it once it’s up and running.

I doubt there are any, certainly not many at super rugby or even a tier below who are SQ and not known to the SRU.

Something to bear in mind. There was an article a week or two back which explained that PI Q players do not get a NZ franchise contract unless they commit to NZ. I would be very surprised of the same restriction does not apply to SQ players. Of course contracts end but the emerging player is always likely to sign a deal there, once established we can't afford them.

Agents represent the player and get involved if a player shows an interest in playing overseas, or when contracts get near re-negotiation time, and will be right on top of any dual Q possibilities their client has

Hardly surprising news, but I've read that Greig Laidlaw has put pen to paper for a three-year contract with NTT Shining Arcs (a fine name for a rugby club, and no, I've never heard of them either!) in Japan.

francoisfou wrote:Hardly surprising news, but I've read that Greig Laidlaw has put pen to paper for a three-year contract with NTT Shining Arcs (a fine name for a rugby club, and no, I've never heard of them either!) in Japan.

At his age a 3 year contract is impressive. Should be a good payout and he'll be well received (and marketable) there.

hugh_woatmeigh wrote:

francoisfou wrote:Hardly surprising news, but I've read that Greig Laidlaw has put pen to paper for a three-year contract with NTT Shining Arcs (a fine name for a rugby club, and no, I've never heard of them either!) in Japan.

At his age a 3 year contract is impressive. Should be a good payout and he'll be well received (and marketable) there.

Well it's not as if his game relies on pace, in any sense of the word. Good for him though.

In other scrumhalf news I see that Scott Steele has been released by LI. Don't see a slot for him with the pro sides so I'm guessing it's championship for him.

switchskier wrote:

hugh_woatmeigh wrote:

francoisfou wrote:Hardly surprising news, but I've read that Greig Laidlaw has put pen to paper for a three-year contract with NTT Shining Arcs (a fine name for a rugby club, and no, I've never heard of them either!) in Japan.

At his age a 3 year contract is impressive. Should be a good payout and he'll be well received (and marketable) there.

Well it's not as if his game relies on pace, in any sense of the word. Good for him though.

In other scrumhalf news I see that Scott Steele has been released by LI. Don't see a slot for him with the pro sides so I'm guessing it's championship for him.

but the Japanese game does rely on pace, a very quick 9 who get to breakdowns and has a sharp pass, tracks breaks and breaks himself. Like most modern rugby in fact.

Scott Steele might get a gig as 4th choice 9 at either Glasgow or Edinburgh, and although the money wouldn't be good, it would be difficult to be worse than the championship these days (bar a couple of teams). He might struggle, mainly because he isn't actually good enough. Getting games for one of the perennially poor yoyo teams in the English Premiership is hardly a sign of class, not getting games and let go by the same team tells you quite a lot

Laidlaw will get bums on seats though & be super marketable. Was he not really popular in Japan? Pretty sure someone from Scotland was.

hugh_woatmeigh wrote:Laidlaw will get bums on seats though & be super marketable. Was he not really popular in Japan? Pretty sure someone from Scotland was.

yep. Mr Greig.

I think he fitted right in, apparently they stand and point a lot

septic 9 wrote:

switchskier wrote:

hugh_woatmeigh wrote:
At his age a 3 year contract is impressive. Should be a good payout and he'll be well received (and marketable) there.

Well it's not as if his game relies on pace, in any sense of the word. Good for him though.

In other scrumhalf news I see that Scott Steele has been released by LI. Don't see a slot for him with the pro sides so I'm guessing it's championship for him.

but the Japanese game does rely on pace, a very quick 9 who get to breakdowns and has a sharp pass, tracks breaks and breaks himself. Like most modern rugby in fact.

Scott Steele might get a gig as 4th choice 9 at either Glasgow or Edinburgh, and although the money wouldn't be good, it would be difficult to be worse than the championship these days (bar a couple of teams). He might struggle, mainly because he isn't actually good enough. Getting games for one of the perennially poor yoyo teams in the English Premiership is hardly a sign of class, not getting games and let go by the same team tells you quite a lot

Steele has seemingly picked up a contract at quins, which looks like a great move for him as Care is often injured and Landajo rarely impresses.

Skinner is also one of the 30 at Exeter to sign a contract

septic 9 wrote: but the Japanese game does rely on pace, a very quick 9 who get to breakdowns and has a sharp pass, tracks breaks and breaks himself. Like most modern rugby in fact

Not sure about the breaking (genuinely). Haven't seen too many breaks from Japanese 9s, but maybe I haven't been looking enough. Thought their pace came mainly off 1st/2nd receiver & ability to link in a 3rd, with varying angles.
I'm sure Greig will do as good a job there as he did for Scotland.

Is it just the hair that makes him look 2 stone lighter here?

That just accentuates his nickname of Boggy!

Christie starting every week for the Blues and got a sneaky try on the weekend. Better player than I had thought and has some real pace (mainly shown in defence so far).

Don't think Scotland should be making any big moves, and would be surprised if he welcomed them when he has just got a starting slot, but expect they have kept in touch. I'd say he's probably the third best Scottish qualified 9 playing pro (/the only one just now)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/53567352

Interesting move. Is super 6 in danger of becoming fit for purpose?

“Journeyman” Finlay Christie definitively nailing his colours to the mast here.

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/r ... r-run-form

Well, not really, but it’s something to read. Only just over 3 weeks to go until some proper rugby.

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/inter ... -wallabies

Here’s a video interview with him at the top of an unrelated article. Or it’s at the top of that link when I click on it - dunno if it changes, depending on what else you’ve been clicking on.

Some excellent footage of Finlay Calder too!

Dougie Fife signs for the New England Freejacks on 2 year deal. Best of luck to him.

Is that... a rugby team???

Mikey Brown wrote:Is that... a rugby team???

It is - part of Major League Rugby (same league as Mtawarira and Bastareaud were last year and Robshaw is next year). And that's very far from the stupidest team name in the league.

Puja

Well now I definitely have to check it out.

Mikey Brown wrote:Well now I definitely have to check it out.

Puja

Big D wrote:Dougie Fife signs for the New England Freejacks on 2 year deal. Best of luck to him.

I see that Sam Beards there already. Think that there's a fair chance that the US season is cancelled due to covid though.

switchskier wrote:

Big D wrote:Dougie Fife signs for the New England Freejacks on 2 year deal. Best of luck to him.

I see that Sam Beards there already. Think that there's a fair chance that the US season is cancelled due to covid though.

He's signed for next season. The 2020 season would have finished by now anyway - it goes from February to June, like Super Rugby.

Mind, given the state of Yank country, 2021 might be in danger too.

Puja

Anyone watching Exeter against Leicester? Hogg and Gray taking on Scott. SHC and Kerr on the bench.

One nice kick from Hoggy. Gray still not quite on the same page as his teammates.

switchskier wrote:Anyone watching Exeter against Leicester? Hogg and Gray taking on Scott. SHC and Kerr on the bench.

One nice kick from Hoggy. Gray still not quite on the same page as his teammates.

Great shout. Completely forgot it was on. Leicester doing well so far. They were 1/33 for this. Thought the racists would be ahead by now.

Nice try, Hogg.