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All Blacks lock set to become one of world's highest paid players as cashed-up Premiership club goes all-in
The All Blacks‘ imminent post-World Cup exodus is one step closer to coming to fruition, with 106-test prop Owen Franks and 75-test lock Brodie Retallick set to ink a post-World Cup deals in England, according to reports out of Europe.
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The Rugby Paper is reporting that Retallick has been offered a £1m-per-season deal to join Premiership side Sale for after the World Cup in a deal which would make the 2014 World Rugby Player of the Year among the highest-paid players on the planet.
It is believed that the 27-year-old is in ‘advanced discussion’ to join the Sharks, where he would join Bristol outside back and former New Zealand teammate Charles Piutau as the biggest earners in the game.
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The report suggested that the possibility of Retallick appearing at the 2023 World Cup is not out of the question, as the deal would be considered a sabbatical-type agreement whereby he would be able to return to New Zealand in time for the tournament.
Meanwhile, Midi Olympique is reporting that 31-year-old Franks has been weighing up offers from Northampton and French glamour club Toulon – who have recently acquired the services of Nehe Milner-Skudder – and is believed to have signed a two-year deal with the Saints, with an option to sign on for a third season.
Franks would link up with brother Ben, who played 47 tests for the All Blacks between 2010 and 2015, former Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd, who took over the coaching duties of the Saints at the conclusion of last year’s Super Rugby campaign, and one-test All Black Matt Proctor, who signed for the club last month.
Retallick and Franks will join a growing contingent of past and present All Blacks plying their trade in England’s top division, with the likes of Lima Sopoaga, Malakai Fekitoa, Steven Luatua, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Piutau and Proctor all moving to the Premiership in recent seasons.
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Franks also joins a list of current All Blacks who have rejected offers to play in the Top 14 after the World Cup, with Ardie Savea, Beauden Barrett, Kieran Read and Ryan Crotty among those to have turned down big-money contracts.
He told Fairfax last November that was yet to make a decision as to whether he would stay in New Zealand or go abroad after the World Cup in Japan.
“I will keep both options alive, I am in no rush – just see how the season plays out next year,” the two-time World Cup winner said at the time.
Midi Olympique is also reporting that All Blacks flyer Waisake Naholo is close to sealing an overseas move after the World Cup, with English clubs London Irish and Wasps the leading candidates for the 27-year-old’s signature.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Always reluctant to blame a coach when losses rack up, but Penney must go. The backline is dysfunctional and the coach must carry the can. No cohesion, no idea and in many cases, minimal skill. The trains out of Roma St depart faster than the ball from Crusaders’ set pieces. Wouldn’t be surprised if the forwards went on strike.
1 Go to commentsAdding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
4 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
4 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
4 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
7 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
4 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
7 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to comments