Crusaders 2018
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I don't know the details of Samu's contract but the fact he was born in Aust and, as the article states, is an Aust citizen should be no different than Fiji, Samoa or Tonga wanting their players released in June. It's still his decision to accept any request to play.
But to answer your question, yes.
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I think the brad shield clause applies to the Ozzies, as it stands Ozzie can't pick him as he doesn't play for an Ozzie SR team nor have 60 caps. But like England with Brad shields, rugby Australia might let Cheika pick him early as he is coming next season. He's probably not signed the clause brad signed that holds him to NZ, like peers Francis but I don't know for sure
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The only way it would be similar to Shields is if he's been here 3 years + and is qualified for NZ and in his latest Super contract he declared he wanted to play for NZ only and went through the steps to fulfil 9.38. Other than that, Oz can select him and the Crusaders can't stop him from going.
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I'd be very pleased for Samu.
Done it the right way. Came over to play some NPC for Ta$man, impressed enough to get a Crusaders contract. The NZ pyramid (albeit parachuting in already above club level) working to perfection.
Brock James thinking if only in my day.
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@rapido said in Crusaders 2018:
@antipodean said in Crusaders 2018:
@stargazer That's an unflattering photo of Read.
and of DMac.
"That's quite the monstrous noggin for a small fella" ala MN5
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We are excited to announce that @drewzah22 (Andrew Makalio) has recommitted to the team for the 2019 season!Andrew Makalio re-signs for 2019 Crusade
BNZ Crusaders hooker Andrew Makalio has re-committed to the club for the 2019 Investec Super Rugby season. Makalio said that, in just his second season with the BNZ Crusaders, it was an easy decision to sign on for a third: “The start of my professional rugby career has moved quite fast, and I never would have believed that after my first season with Ta$man I’d be representing the Crusaders the following year. “It’s a huge honour to be a part of this team and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities I‘ve had to wear the jersey. I’m happy with the progress I have made in developing my game and in the end, the decision to continue here with this group of players and a really engaging coaching group, was easy to make,” Makalio said. -
@stargazer FFS. So this weekend we will be without Franks, Moody and Perry. Sam Whitelock. Probably Luke Romano. Kieran Read, Ryan Crotty and Israel Dagg.
And that's just our All Blacks...
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George Bridge commits to BNZ Crusaders and Canterbury through to 2021/22 seasons
BNZ Crusaders speedster George Bridge has become the first player to ink a long-term deal with the club through to the 2022 season, and has also re-committed to Canterbury through to 2021. It has been a meteoric rise for the 23-year-old, who was born in Gisborne but moved to Christchurch and progressed through the Crusaders and Canterbury development programmes. In 2014, Bridge was named Canterbury Under 19 Player of the Year, and the following year he was a member of the New Zealand Under 20 squad that won the Junior World Championship in Italy. From there, he made the Canterbury Mitre 10 Cup team for the 2016 season, and did enough during Canterbury’s Premiership-winning campaign that year to earn a spot in the BNZ Crusaders squad for 2017. Bridge was the last year’s Crusaders’ Rookie of the Year, scoring eight tries during his debut season, including two hat-trick games in consecutive weeks against the Stormers and Cheetahs. He helped Canterbury to their third straight provincial title in October, and then received the call up to the Barbarians squad, who faced the All Blacks at Twickenham on 5 November. This season, the versatile back has featured in all but one of the BNZ Crusaders games so far, and has played the most minutes of anyone in the squad. BNZ Crusaders Head Coach Scott Robertson said it was fantastic to secure a player of Bridge’s promise through to 2022: “George is one of the form players of the Super Rugby competition, who continues to impress us with his skillset, pace and attacking nous. He had a superb debut season for us last year and has made massive strides again this year - he’s a player who is knocking on the door of international rugby. “George has played some big minutes in 2018 but regardless of whether he’s on the wing or at fullback he delivers consistent performances for us which has been a hallmark of his career so far. At just 23 years of age his best rugby is still ahead of him, and we are thrilled he’ll be playing in a Crusaders jersey for at least the next four seasons,” Robertson said.Canterbury Head Coach Joe Maddock said Bridge is an exceptional talent who, despite his age, is already an important leader in the Canterbury backline: “George progressed through the academy programme and burst on to the provincial scene in a big way back in 2016. His game has moved from strength to strength in such a short space of time. “He’s a quick, instinctive player with plenty of energy and flair, but he also makes good decisions and knows his way to the try line so his is most certainly a star on the rise. We’re excited that he’ll continue to wear red and black and I know his voice will be important among our young playing group this season,” Maddock said. Bridge said he had no hesitation in re-committing to the BNZ Crusaders and Canterbury: “It’s fair to say I’ve had a busy couple of years, but the experience has been invaluable to me and the development of my game during that time has really cemented the fact that I am in the right place to further my rugby career. “Having been a part of the success of last season for the Crusaders and Canterbury, I want to continue to be a part of that and contribute as best I can to teams that mean a lot to me. "As a young player, it’s nice to have some certainty at this early point in my career and I have no doubt that the best decision for my rugby future is right here in Christchurch,” Bridge said. -
The closer Friday night gets, the happier I am to be out for a cosy birthday dinner with my betrothed as I'm fearful of another loss to the Canes here. Any forward dominance I thought we would have had with Moody, Franks and Whitelock in the side has now dissipated substantially and they have us in the backs, on paper at least.
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@shark Strangely the TAB currently has the Crusaders as favourites - though I suspect that will change when the teams are named.
At full strength our forwards should be able to plough the Canes forwards under, but we're going to be miles from that.
I can't see us having either Crotty or Mataele in the backs, so probably Bateman will be back in the midfield and Ennor on the bench.
Get on the Canes now is my advice!
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@stargazer Possibly.
I reckon he's a significantly better player this year than what he was last year and not far from being locked into the starting XV. To be honest, I think - given his lack of game time - Dagg is going to struggle to push George out of the team for the play-offs (assuming he's fit after the test window).
Given their relative ages, if someone was to be signed elsewhere I'd prefer it to be Israel.
Wouldn't have said that last year.
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