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Australian Super Rugby club the latest to be linked to Ben Te'o
When Eddie Jones announced his first pre-World Cup England training camp squad last week, it was no surprise to see Ben Te’o listed among the participating players.
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Unlike some other veteran players who seem to have been cut adrift by the Australian, the likes of Chris Robshaw and Danny Care, Te’o continues to be heavily involved as Jones is an admirer of how well the centre is able to get England over the gain line.
Te’o future in the club game, however, is anything but certain. The 32-year-old is coming to the end of his contract with Worcester Warriors this summer and is unlikely to stay in the Gallagher Premiership.
He has been linked with multiple clubs in France and Japan. However, according to a report in Australian newspaper The Courier Mail, Te’o could be heading to the Super Rugby Reds. Brad Thorn is continuing to build his squad in the hope of making the Queensland-based side more competitive with the tournament’s top franchises.
The Reds are set to lose Samu Kerevi to Japan at the end of the season and it seems Thorn views Te’o as the perfect replacement for the departing centre.
29 players have been called up for next week's England training camp 🌹
See who's in ➡ https://t.co/S6BByCkCzW pic.twitter.com/oKDtATDKop
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) June 20, 2019
Kerevi is following in the footsteps of Campbell Magnay, as the Reds have struggled to retain talented midfielders in the face of the money and lifestyle opportunities available in the Japanese Top League.
Te’o has 18 caps for England and featured for the British and Irish Lions in their Test series versus New Zealand in 2017. But with the Auckland native set to turn 33 before the 2020 Six Nations, it’s largely expected that the Rugby World Cup in Japan later this year will be his last showing in an England jersey.
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He would bring some much-needed experience alongside the Reds’ talented young back line options, such as recent World Rugby Under-20 Championship finalist Isaac Lucas and wing Jack Hardy, as well as gifted half-backs Tate McDermott and Hamish Stewart.
The Reds finished fourth in the Australian conference this season, with six wins and 10 losses from their 16 games. That ensured they missed out on the play-offs for the sixth-straight season.
There have been green shoots at Suncorp Stadium this season, however. Their six wins was their joint-best total over the last six seasons and they were able to take the scalps of the Blues, Stormers and Sharks, as well as running the Highlanders and Crusaders close.
If they now could lure Te’o to Brisbane next season, it would be quite the coup for Thorn’s developing side.
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WATCH: Part one of the two-part RugbyPass documentary on what fans can expect in Japan at this year’s World Cup
Comments on RugbyPass
100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
1 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
1 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
7 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
7 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
8 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
7 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
7 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
8 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
8 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
7 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
8 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
7 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
7 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to comments