Quins

[Mellsblue]

It is good news for them, the Premiership and the RFU. Quins get their hands on players they couldn’t normally attract, and by extension so may the Premiership (assuming they’d otherwise go to France), and young English players and coaches get experience in NZ rugby.

[zer0]

Supposedly more similar deals are being worked on with other European and Japanese clubs. IIRC all the speculation is that they're with clubs that have strong NZ connections, mostly through coaching. If that's the case, then I imagine the NZRU will still be heavily involved in monitoring their players workloads.

[Scrumhead]

Surely the answer to the “Why Quins?” question is the World Class coaching from Kingston, Mapletoft & co.

[Stom]

Surely the answer to the “Why Quins?” question is the World Class coaching from Kingston, Mapletoft & co.

Or NEv...

[Tigersman]

Supposedly more similar deals are being worked on with other European and Japanese clubs. IIRC all the speculation is that they're with clubs that have strong NZ connections, mostly through coaching. If that's the case, then I imagine the NZRU will still be heavily involved in monitoring their players workloads.

Well then Quins doesn’t really make sense then.
Who do they have in the coaching Evans who was a NZ back up 10 that hasn’t been in NZ for 10 years.


Prob a perfect club for NZRFU, London, Adidas and really needed something to give to their fans (judging by the threats to boycott games).

English players could already go to NZ though from what I gather Earle did, Tigers had a couple youngster go to NZ.

Wonder if NZ are trying to get back players like Saili?

I do think Which Tyler has something on the Adidas link.

[Which Tyler]

It’s in the article:
‘With its strong ex-pat community, London is of key strategic importance to New Zealand Rugby, and when you factor in our shared relationship with adidas, this cooperation agreement is a very natural fit.‘

I have a suspicion that this may have epbeen the most relevant part.

I can easily see a situation where NZ retain some control over the sabbatical players
I can easily see any top club being unwilling to be dictated to, or to have the star player for such a short period of time (given £££ expectations)
I can easily see Addidas agreeing to pay for some of this; and insisting they go to an Addidas club, and mention Addidas with reasonable frequency. addidas

Yep.

Just had a look on Wiki - Quins are the only Prem club who use Adidas; purely conincidentally, of course

Surely the answer to the “Why Quins?” question is the World Class coaching from Kingston, Mapletoft & co.

Or NEv...

If the coaching - then surely todd Bath with a kiwi DoR would be a more obvious target

[Tigersman]

Blackadder is prob the most underachieving coach in NZ history

Although yeh both him and Saints (next season) will have more obvious NZ coaches.

[Which Tyler]

Although yeh both him and Saints (next season) will have more obvious NZ coaches.

I knew there was another one - I just couldn't work out who. The answer is "someone who hasn't arrived yet" - I feel a little less stupid for that.

[Mellsblue]

Supposedly more similar deals are being worked on with other European and Japanese clubs. IIRC all the speculation is that they're with clubs that have strong NZ connections, mostly through coaching. If that's the case, then I imagine the NZRU will still be heavily involved in monitoring their players workloads.

English players could already go to NZ though from what I gather Earle did, Tigers had a couple youngster go to NZ.

Yep players could but only a handful actually did spread over years. Now quite a few actually will every year, plus coaches.

[Scrumhead]

I was joking about the ‘World Class’ coaching at Quins. I thought that was obvious?

Right now, I’d quite like to take some coaches more than players. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to turn down top players, but I don’t trust our current coaching set-up to get the best out of them.

[Tigersman]

Supposedly more similar deals are being worked on with other European and Japanese clubs. IIRC all the speculation is that they're with clubs that have strong NZ connections, mostly through coaching. If that's the case, then I imagine the NZRU will still be heavily involved in monitoring their players workloads.

English players could already go to NZ though from what I gather Earle did, Tigers had a couple youngster go to NZ.

Yep players could but only a handful actually did spread over years. Now quite a few actually will every year, plus coaches.

Coaches could already Murphy went to Highlanders and a blues before.

Really doubt NZ will want more than 2 players from Quins, they are doing this with clubs elsewhere (prob one in Japan, one in France and one in the pro14). Will see what happens I guess the press release was very vague.

[Puja]

To start speculating about who could possibly travel to NZ from Quins - obviously Smith, Marchant, and Sinckler are the most obvious gains to be made, but Quins'd never let them go as they're too much part of the first XV.

Ibitoye is the most promising of the could-gos, but I don't know how helpful a trip to NZ is for wings - you'd've thought playmakers and back 5 of the pack would get the most out of it.

Puja

[Tigersman]

To start speculating about who could possibly travel to NZ from Quins - obviously Smith, Marchant, and Sinckler are the most obvious gains to be made, but Quins'd never let them go as they're too much part of the first XV.

Ibitoye is the most promising of the could-gos, but I don't know how helpful a trip to NZ is for wings - you'd've thought playmakers and back 5 of the pack would get the most out of it.

Puja

Archie White maybe.

[Scrumhead]

I’m not sure Archie White is good enough to be any more than an OK club player. Dino Lamb has more potential IMO. He’s quick, aggressive and a decent lineout option and would definitely benefit from some SH training.

[Tigersman]

I’m not sure Archie White is good enough to be any more than an OK club player. Dino Lamb has more potential IMO. He’s quick, aggressive and a decent lineout option and would definitely benefit from some SH training.

How’s Josh Ibuanokpe doing?

[Banquo]

I’m not sure Archie White is good enough to be any more than an OK club player. Dino Lamb has more potential IMO. He’s quick, aggressive and a decent lineout option and would definitely benefit from some SH training.

How’s Josh Ibuanokpe doing?

scrabble champ I'd think

[Stom]

I’m not sure Archie White is good enough to be any more than an OK club player. Dino Lamb has more potential IMO. He’s quick, aggressive and a decent lineout option and would definitely benefit from some SH training.

How’s Josh Ibuanokpe doing?

He'd be a potential traveler. Also, Charlie Piper, Lewis Boyce perhaps, Stan South, Lamb, Calum Waters, Smith and Lang both, and Ibitoye, too.

On Smith, it would be a great deal if we swapped 10s for a season. Smith got to go play in NZ and Barrett or Mo'unga or someone else in return.

[Mellsblue]

English players could already go to NZ though from what I gather Earle did, Tigers had a couple youngster go to NZ.

Yep players could but only a handful actually did spread over years. Now quite a few actually will every year, plus coaches.

Coaches could already Murphy went to Highlanders and a blues before.

Really doubt NZ will want more than 2 players from Quins, they are doing this with clubs elsewhere (prob one in Japan, one in France and one in the pro14). Will see what happens I guess the press release was very vague.

I know coaches could but, again, you’re quoting a small number of people - one in this case - on an ad hoc arrangement. It’s not the same as a formal arrangement. I would imagine the players going to NZ will be age grade, to play in the ITM Cup/Mitre 10 whatever they call it, or even the Heartland Cup.

[Puja]

I’m not sure Archie White is good enough to be any more than an OK club player. Dino Lamb has more potential IMO. He’s quick, aggressive and a decent lineout option and would definitely benefit from some SH training.

How’s Josh Ibuanokpe doing?

Given our previous conversations about NZ commentators struggling with the names Itoje and Isiekwe, I suspect that would be a little bit cruel.

Puja

[Gloskarlos]

Is Sean Fitzpatrick still on the Quins board? He's a non exec director isn't he?

[Scrumhead]

I’m not sure Archie White is good enough to be any more than an OK club player. Dino Lamb has more potential IMO. He’s quick, aggressive and a decent lineout option and would definitely benefit from some SH training.

How’s Josh Ibuanokpe doing?

He'd be a potential traveler. Also, Charlie Piper, Lewis Boyce perhaps, Stan South, Lamb, Calum Waters, Smith and Lang both, and Ibitoye, too.

On Smith, it would be a great deal if we swapped 10s for a season. Smith got to go play in NZ and Barrett or Mo'unga or someone else in return.

I’d be surprised if it was anyone who is a regular in the first team squad. Piper, South and Waters are all good shouts though.

Also, NZ have to benefit from it. They want Damian McKenzie to develop as a 10 so swapping him and Smith would be a win-win. I imagine they’d be looking for situations like that.

Their main motivation is the player drain to the NH for players who aren’t first choice All Blacks i.e. Cruden, TKB, Vito, Luatua, Sopoaga etc. so I’d assume we’d be getting the squad guys rather than the likes of Barrett or Read.

[Mellsblue]

Is Sean Fitzpatrick still on the Quins board? He's a non exec director isn't he?

Yep.

[Mellsblue]

How’s Josh Ibuanokpe doing?

He'd be a potential traveler. Also, Charlie Piper, Lewis Boyce perhaps, Stan South, Lamb, Calum Waters, Smith and Lang both, and Ibitoye, too.

On Smith, it would be a great deal if we swapped 10s for a season. Smith got to go play in NZ and Barrett or Mo'unga or someone else in return.

I’d be surprised if it was anyone who is a regular in the first team squad. Piper, South and Waters are all good shouts though.

Also, NZ have to benefit from it. They want Damian McKenzie to develop as a 10 so swapping him and Smith would be a win-win. I imagine they’d be looking for situations like that.

Their main motivation is the player drain to the NH for players who aren’t first choice All Blacks i.e. Cruden, TKB, Vito, Luatua, Sopoaga etc. so I’d assume we’d be getting the squad guys rather than the likes of Barrett or Read.

From what I’ve read, primarily the NZ players will be those on sabbatical.

[Peej]

Yeah, but some of those will be fringe All Blacks that can come back with a suitcase of cash after a year in the Prem, so still contribute to the cause.

Whereas the Quins players that go to NZ will mostly be the youngsters/AWC guys and will play NPC. And probably come back the better for it.

[Tigersman]

Wonder if it means for Quins A team.

Till think only 1/2 academy players will go to NZ. With NZ looking to add a few more teams I can’t see them going crazy.

Interested to see who the teams are becuase if say Clermont or someone of that calibre do agree terms with NZ then it will be hard to see the top NZ players going elsewhere.