Super Rugby 2017

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/nanai-williams-re-signs-with-chiefs-20161015

Nanai-Williams re-signs with Chiefs

Cape Town - Tim Nanai-Williams is set to give the Chiefs a major boost by re-signing with the franchise.

Fairfax understands Nanai-Williams has committed to the Hamilton-based side despite being pursued by the Blues, who were keen to offer him the opportunity of linking up with cousin Sonny Bill Williams.

Nanai-Williams, 27, represented the Chiefs between 2010-2015, winning two titles, and was a firm favourite at the franchise because of his try-scoring instincts and ability to play a number of positions.

The Chiefs have lacked experience in their outside backs in recent years, but Nanai-Williams will give them options at centre, wing and fullback.
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:)

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/blues-add-exciting-duo-to-squad-20161015

Blues add exciting duo to squad

Cape Town - The Blues have announced that versatile backs Stephen Perofeta and Michael Collins have signed for the franchise for Super Rugby 2017.

Teenage flyhalf Stephen Perofeta, originally from Wanganui but playing for Taranaki, and Otago utility Collins have both inked contracts.

Both players have represented New Zealand at age grade level, Schools and/or New Zealand Under-20, and have impressed in 2016's Mitre 10 Cup.

Perofeta, 19, is a player for the future, and joins established pivots Ihaia West and Piers Francis at the Blues. He was a finalist for Heartland player of the year in 2015 after his debut for Wanganui as a schoolboy, scoring more than 100 points before scoring 58 points in three games for the NZ Heartland XV.

He moved to Taranaki and was selected for the NZ Under-20s for the World Rugby U20 Championship.

...

Collins, 23, is formerly from Queenstown before moving to Dunedin where he captained Otago Boys and was selected for the NZ Schools in 2011 and New Zealand Under-20s in 2013.

He moved to the Otago team and last year spent the off-season playing for Llanelli in the Welsh competition as injury cover before returning for the Mitre 10 Cup.

Collins is a utility who can play midfield or in the back three, and has made his mark this year at fullback.
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OT, but relevant:

http://theprovince.com/sports/rugby/fiji-to-join-australias-national-rugby-championship-in-2017

Fiji to join Australia’s National Rugby Championship in 2017

SYDNEY, Australia — A Fiji team will join Australia’s National Rugby Championship in 2017, laying the platform for a potential future push for a Pacific island team in Super Rugby.

Fiji provided one of the feel-good stories of the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in August when its men won the first rugby sevens title, and secured the country’s first Olympic medal.

But while being a long-time leader in the abbreviated sevens format, Fiji has never progressed beyond the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals.

Because of a lack of infrastructure and funding, talented rugby players have tended to go abroad to Europe, New Zealand, or Australia to seek professional opportunities. The momentum of the exodus has recently been increasing.

To help Fiji keep some homegrown talent at home, World Rugby is underwriting the participation of the Fiji Warriors in Australia’s NRC.
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The Warriors have had a superb season in 2016, which is their A team, they are still man handled by the Pampas XV.

It is no secret that NZ is pushing their participation in the Super Rugby. The Argentines have also made a call to include a 2nd team. I’m under the impression that we may see the,

Sunwolves,
Jaguares,
Warriors

and a Singapore (Dragons) team, which represents Asia and Melanesia, and a 2nd Argentine team in 2020 or 2021. Then to see the Western Force and Kings being dropped, also maybe a 2nd Australian team and 2nd SA team, and maybe NZ will have to drop a team as well.
 
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Sevens/super-rugby-franchises-show-interest-in-blitzbok-20161019

Super Rugby franchises show interest in Blitzbok

Cape Town - Blitzboks star Rosko Specman has revealed that several Super Rugby franchises have expressed an interest in his services.

The 27-year-old was recently nominated alongside Kyle Brown and Seabelo Senatla for the SA Sevens Player of the Year award.

But in an interview with Netwerk24, Specman admitted that a return to the 15-man code is something he is pondering.

He is no stranger to the 15-man game, having played Currie Cup rugby for the Pumas between 2013 and 2015.
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Sharks or Stormers?
 
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/will-he-stay-or-will-he-go-cruden-undecided-20161021

Will he stay or will he go? Cruden undecided

Cape Town - Although he has been linked with a move to Top 14 club Montpellier, All Blacks flyhalf Aaron Cruden said he has not made a decision on his future.

The Chiefs No 10 is contracted to New Zealand Rugby until the end of 2017 and is set to return to Test action after being named on the All Blacks' bench for Saturday's Bledisloe Cup Test with Australia in Auckland.

Montpellier will be coached by New Zealander Vern Cotter from next season and Cruden was coy when initially asked about his future.

"No, I'm not aware of it," he told reporters in Auckland.

"Do you want to fill me in?"

But when he was told about the Montpellier link, he replied: "I suppose you can't believe everything you read in the media. I am off contract with New Zealand next year.

"Obviously I'm working through that at the moment. I've got a few decisions to make, but the time probably isn't right now to be making those decisions. I guess coming back in after an injury lay-off, my focus is on the game this weekend.

"I haven't put too much thought into it."
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A man divided on choice?
 
Shock as Gary Gold quits Sharks

Following two years at the helm of the Sharks, Gary Gold has requested the opportunity to pursue another avenue in his rugby career, according to the Sharks website.

Gary Teichmann, the Sharks CEO, stated: “We respect Gary’s decision to move closer to home to pursue this opportunity and we thank him for his positive contribution and efforts during a period of transition with the Sharks. During this time there have been some Sharks stalwarts who moved on while a young and exciting squad has been assembled, opening up a new phase in our history.”

“In his role as director of rugby, there were many systems implemented that will aid our growth in the coming years. I would like to take this opportunity to wish him and his family the very best moving forward.”

Gold said: “I have had an unbelievably enjoyable two years in Durban, with many highs and a few lows. There is an exciting group of youngsters that are currently in the system, who have great futures ahead of them.

“I look forward to the next challenge in my career and I would like to thank everyone at the Sharks for the great memories and the wonderful opportunity I was given to be at the helm of a fantastic team, the Sharks.”

Teichmann also announced that former Natal and Springbok scrumhalf and current Sharks Currie Cup head coach, Robert du Preez, will take charge of the Sharks 2017 Super Rugby campaign.

“Robert is a true son of KZN and is a passionate Sharks man. Having played here, he understands the culture we want to create and our vision moving forward”, added Teichmann.

“We extend our best wishes to Robert and his coaching team as they commence their pre-season training programme on Monday, ahead of the start of next year’s tournament.”

The Sharks will open their 2017 Super Rugby campaign against the Reds in Brisbane on Friday, February 24.
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The Sunwolves have one player to return to their roster. Liaki Moli which had a good season, acknowledged that he is to be contracted by the Sunwolves. He is also leaving Auckland behind; this will possibly be his last NZ national provincial championship. He might be a Cherry Blossom prospect down the line.
 
http://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/messam-and-nanai-williams-return-to-chiefs/

MESSAM AND NANAI WILLIAMS RETURN TO CHIEFS

Liam Messam and Tim Nanai-Williams will both return to the Chiefs for the 2017 season, bolstering the squad with over 200 combined Chiefs caps.

The loose forward and utility back are huge coups for the Chiefs, having both played significant roles in the Club’s success as part of the 2012 and 2013 squads that won back-to-back Investec Super Rugby Championships.
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:)

Michael Leitch is still open to be signed, questionable whether he will tag up with Sunwolves as he have withdrawn his rugby duties towards the JRFU, and is likely to be retained by the Kiwis.
 
http://www.supersport.com/rugby/super-rugby/news/161028/Larkham_to_leave_Brumbies

Larkham to leave Brumbies

Stephen Larkham will stand down as coach of the ACT Brumbies at the end of the next Super Rugby season to take up a fulltime position in the Wallabies set-up, the Australian Rugby Union said on Friday.

Larkham, a former flyhalf who played 102 times for Australia, has combined his job at the Brumbies with the role of 'attack coach' for the Wallabies under Michael Cheika since last February.

The 42-year-old World Cup winner has committed to the post with the Wallabies until after the 2019 World Cup, the ARU said in a statement.

"I have really enjoyed working with this current Wallaby group, as well as the national coaching group," Larkham said.

"I hope we can continue to grow to be where we know we can be, and I'm looking forward to being part of that."

Cheika also has a contract until after the 2019 World Cup and Larkham's appointment to a fulltime position has all the hallmarks of Australia looking to emulate New Zealand's successful coaching succession planning.
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Daryl Gibson is a much better successor than Larkham imho. Then again, Larkham is a Aussie and Gibson is a Kiwi.
 
boeriebuffet said:
Isn't "Kiwi" these days considered synonymous with being a great coach? Everybody certainly seems to look for Kiwi coaches.
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They had Robbie Deans...

http://www.news.com.au/opinion/robb...h-sheepish-shrug/story-e6frfs99-1226676170030

Opinion: Robbie Deans leaves Wallabies post with sheepish shrug

TAKE it from a Kiwi. Removing New Zealand born Robbie Deans as Wallabies coach was absolutely the right decision. It's time for an Australian to coach Australia again.

Having led the Canterbury Crusaders to five Super Rugby titles, Deans' record was unimpeachable when the ARU hired him. There is no connection between that stellar resume and Deans' abysmal performance as Wallabies coach.

In five and a half years, Deans oversaw a spectacular World Cup failure, allowed the All Blacks to win their tenth consecutive Bledisloe Cup series and even lost to the likes of Samoa and Scotland. To put that in perspective, Deans' native New Zealand has never been beaten by either team.

Every humiliation was met with the same steely, strangely distant stare. The same frustratingly dispassionate platitudes. Deans never built a meaningful relationship with Australian rugby fans because he never truly engaged with them.

A victory against the Lions on Saturday may have prolonged his stint as coach, but that reprieve would only have been temporary. In typically classy fashion, Deans reportedly offered to step down himself when he met ARU boss Bill Pulver on Monday.

This isn't just about Deans being a foreigner. Look no further than Warren Gatland, the Kiwi who just coached the British and Irish Lions to their first series victory in 16 years, for an example of imported success. Foreign coaches can work, but Deans' personality didn't.
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That is why Larkham will be groomed, but it doesn't mean that he will be head coach down the road. Just that in the Super Rugby setup, the Waratahs are better coached than the Brumbies in my humble opinion. Next year, the Brumbies will be without many playmakers which will be Larkham’s test in coaching beyond and above.

To take note, Eddie Jones is an Aussie (well, part Japanese) and he had a terrible year in 2005 coaching the Wallabies. See where he is today and he have publicly admitted that those years helped him improve as coach.
 
http://www.rugby.com.au/news/2016/10/29/01/42/force-fan-ownership

Force taking radical route to Super Rugby survival

The Western Force are taking a radical route to keep their long-term future alive, giving fans the option to own a part of the club.

Following a strategy used by NFL team, the Green Bay Packers, and international football giant FC Barcelona, the Force is offering 5000 $1000 ownership certificates, that will be valid for a year, a move that could raise $5 million for the franchise.

The Force’s financial struggles have been well-documented and in conversations about the Super Rugby’s structure moving forward, the West Australian team has been touted as a potential casualty of any change.

One of the key arguments in speculation around the Force’s prospects of being cut from the Australian Super Rugby conference after next season, in a bid to make the tournament more competitive and cost effective, is a lack of local support for the team.

This latest move is one aimed to disprove that notion, the latest in a number of fan initiatives in recent weeks to try and keep the club out of danger.

Fan owners will have voting rights and power of approval over the reappointment of crucial positions within the franchise and a say in match day activities.

They would also receive discounts on their own memberships and registration fees in local rugby.

Rugby WA President Hans Sauder said they wanted to engage the grassroots in order to keep the franchise alive.
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This may work, however, teams will be chopped...
 
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/frenchman-in-sharks-super-rugby-squad-20161031

Sharks sign French fullback

Durban - The Sharks will boast a number of new faces to go with the tried and tested names for next year’s Super Rugby competition, with a French international adding to the excitement.

Pre-season training has now commenced giving head coach, Robert du Preez, the opportunity to announce signings and re-signings for the new season.

The most high-profile name on the list of new signings is that of French international Clement Poitrenaud, who joins the Durbanites on a one-year deal.

The 34-year-old fullback played 47 Tests for France between 2001 and 2012.

Other newcomers include Enoch Mnyaka (tighthead prop - EP Kings - 2 years), Stormers loose-forward Jacques Vermeulen (3 years), Southern Kings centre Jeremy Ward (2 years), Namibia/Leopards centre Johan Deysel (2 years) and Kobus van Wyk, Stormers Centre (3 years).

Commenting on the new signings, Du Preez told the Sharks’ official website: “The new players who have joined us will ensure that we have much needed depth in certain positions. We welcome them to our family and we look forward to their positive influence going forward.

“We have a young and exciting team who are building for the future. It’s a key focus area for us to retain the young talent in our squad, which will create continuity and stability with our vision going forward.

“With this in mind, I am delighted to announce the names of the following players, who have shown their commitment to the team and our jersey by signing contract extensions."
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^^ Following in the footsteps of Lacroix and Michalak. What is it about the Natal coast that appeals to cheese eating surrender monkeys? :p
 
OT:

Agree, but in my opinion the dwindling New Zealand National Provincial Championship would had been better suited,

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/n...h/news-story/3ac845d19baf99185fd0568ec35c7e5c

National Rugby Championship inclusion is the missing piece of the puzzle for Fijian rugby, says coach

FIJI coach John McKee says the Warriors’ inclusion in next year’s National Rugby Championship is the missing piece of the puzzle which will help lift the island nation’s status in the rugby world.

Australian Rugby Union boss Bill Pulver recently announced in Sydney that Fiji will become the ninth team in next year’s NRC.

For the Pacific Island nations, who have been crying out for a professional domestic team for years, the news is music to their ears.

“One of the big challenges for us in the Pacific is developing and strengthening our pathway for our talented young players,” McKee told foxsports.com.au.

“It’s quite evident — you can see across the sevens and 15s game — that we’ve certainly got plenty of talented young rugby players, but to transfer that talent through this to the level where we’re getting teams to Rugby World Cups that are truly competitive, is a big, big challenge.

“Competitions such as the NRC help align what we’re doing around our academies and our domestic competition and under-18s.

“It’s almost like the missing piece that will help some of our best young talent in the Pacific for a little longer.”

...

McKee, who is preparing his Flying Fijians to face the Barbarians in Belfast before two Tests against England and Japan, said that although Fiji had qualified for the NRC, the long-term goal is still to have a team included in Super Rugby.

But the Fijian coach said that his adopted nation had to first build on its marketability to become sustainably viable.

“The reality is, as much as there might be a will to have a Super Rugby team in the Pacific, it’s got to be a commercial reality for SANZAAR and the broadcasters,” he said.

“Fiji and the Pacific have a lot to prove, this competition is a great move down that pathway.

“It’s going to come open in the next round (of competition negotiations) or sometime in the future, certainly from Fiji’s point of view we want to be in the best position to show that we can host events, that we can play in cross border competitions, but we’re going to have to work hard to put together some commercial partners to make it a reality because at the end of the day when the bid’s on the table, if it hasn’t got a commercial reality around it, it’s not going to get across the line.”

...

McKee said that Fiji were targeting the knockout stages at the 2019 World Cup and hoped that an increased emphasis on sports science would help them monitor their players after years of last minute preparation.

“We’ve got the talent pool to be serious contenders to get into the play-offs, now we need to get some other things around our game right,” McKee said.

“But there’s a lot more than getting a talented bunch of athletes these days.

“Probably around the off field, around our sports science and with our players around the world, I think we’ve gone in three years from almost having no structure and process to having an OK way of tracking our players.

“We could improve on that a lot in the next 12-18 months, so that in the 18 months leading up to the World Cup, we really know who our top players are and what their form is.

“Around our sports science, we could be a bit better.”
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The other issue here is that the Warriors have a busy international schedule, playing NRC might expose them to too much rugby. They will need more players which this is all about anyways. I can see them in the newly revised expanded Super Rugby in 2020... the question is whether they will replace an Aussie or Kiwi team?
 
Seems the Stormers have retained their NZ coaching influence.

Former Blues and Auckland coach Paul Feeney has extended his 10-day visit in Cape Town to a three-year stay.

Feeney visited the mother city in August, where he provided 'fresh' insights and exchanged ideas with the Stormers and Western Province coaching staff.

The New Zealander, a specialist attack coach, at the weekend told Auckland-based Star Times that he has now signed a three-year deal to help coach the Stormers.

Feeney and his wife leave on Monday for Cape Town, where he'll take on the role as assistant coach.

According to the Kiwi, his brief is to focus on attack and skills under head coach Robbie Fleck, the former Springboks midfielder, and Director of Rugby Gert Smal.

A 'well travelled' coach, having also worked in France, Japan and Fiji, Feeney has just completed a one-year stint as Blues skills coach under Tana Umaga.

Feeney attended training sessions, met players and coaches, and visited the academy in Stellenbosch where he viewed the Under-19 and Under-21 players.

He said he was impressed by the budding talent the region has to offer.

"I'm excited by the opportunity to go and coach in South Africa," Feeney told Fairfax Media of his new role.

"When you're a young kid you talk about South Africa and New Zealand all the time.

"Now I've got the chance to go over there and see what they do first hand. I'm going to learn a lot and hopefully I can help them as well."

After a season where the Stormers played no Kiwi teams during the Super Rugby round robin and were then embarrassed 60-21 in their home quarterfinal against the Chiefs, the union clearly believes harnessing a New Zealand influence will be beneficial.

"They're keen to get an overseas coach and one from New Zealand as well," Feeney said.

"We can bounce ideas. They'll look at some of my skills and blend them with their own. It's always good to get ideas from outside and a different culture as well. We had a good chat about that with the coaching staff."
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