Benetton announce 8 players are leaving, including Kiwi Dean Budd and Irishman Ian McKinley
Kieran Crowley has announced the departure of eight players from his Benetton Treviso roster ahead of the targeted late August resumption of the Guinness PRO14, a list that includes Italian Test centurion Alessandro Zanni and fellow Azzurri internationals Dean Budd and Ian McKinley.
Zanni, the 36-year-old back row who earned 119 caps between 2005 and last February, is retiring from playing but will now join the club’s strength and conditioning staff. However, while he will stay on at Treviso in a different role, it’s the end of the Benetton journey for seven other players, some of whom also have a huge amount of experience.
Budd, whose exit from Benetton coincides with his retirement from Test rugby, made 115 appearances for the club, four less than Marco Fuser, another second row. Hooker Engjel Makelara, back row Nasi Manu, out-halves McKinley and Antonio Rizzi, and scrum-half Tito Tebaldi are the other players on the exit list.
Benetton rugby director Antonio Pavanello said: “I thank all the players who are preparing to leave the club for the years spent in Treviso and for the contribution they have made to the club in order to achieve the seasonal objectives.
“A special mention for Alessandro, Dean and Marco who have played over 100 appearances. In particular, a new chapter will open for Zanni within our family.
#BenettonRugby intende salutare ed augurare il meglio agli 8 atleti che si apprestano a lasciare il club in vista della prossima stagione sportiva#Graziehttps://t.co/Sa8NWnK0mV
— Benetton Rugby ? (@BenettonRugby) June 16, 2020
“We will accompany him along his course of study, inserting him within the staff of the physical trainers of the first team and the youth teams, giving him the opportunity to learn a lot and be aware of the important experience that he can make available to the group.”
Budd, the New Zealander who won 29 Test caps between June 2017 and February 2020, said: “I want to thank all Italian rugby for these eight years spent together. When I arrived from Japan in 2012, I would never have dreamed of being able to live the fantastic adventure that Italy put me on my way to.
“I’m proud to have represented this country internationally, to have had the privilege of being captain of the national team in a World Cup match, of having played with Benetton in a historic qualification for the Guinness PRO14 quarter-finals.
'The reason I’m happy to talk about this is because nothing will change if it’s not out there.'
Having battled back from cancer @nasi_manu is now out of contract in a locked-down Italy. But @JLyall93 finds out he has other things are on his mind ??https://t.co/BwJdHY1OmO
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 2, 2020
“The last few months have changed the lives of all of us. It’s the right time to look forward to what life has in store for me and my family.”
Budd told RugbyPass last year about the grief he overcame to play for the Azzurri in their opening match of the 2019 Guinness Six Nations. “Pete is my step-dad, he was there as my second dad since I was 15. He was there when I came away and played for New Zealand under-19s in South Africa, and every trip he could be on he was there to support me.
“That was one of the reasons why I came back. On his deathbed, his words were: ‘Get your f***ing arse on the plane because I want to see you out there playing against Scotland.’ He was having none of it [feeling sorry]. He wanted me out there playing rugby. It was the hardest promise I had to keep for him.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments