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InternationalCardiff RugbyUSA

Blues star granted compassionate release

Samu Manoa during his stint with Cardiff Blues. Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images

Cardiff Blues have confirmed that back rower Samu Manoa has left the region with immediate effect on compassionate grounds.

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The USA international joined Wales’ Capital Region in the summer and made seven appearances, scoring a try on his PRO14 debut against Cheetahs.

However, while Manoa made the move to Cardiff, his wife and five children remained in California, making his transition all the more difficult.

Cardiff Blues head coach John Mulvihill informed the squad of the decision earlier this week and Manoa will now remain in the United States.

“Naturally we are very disappointed to lose a player of Samu’s quality but we understand his situation and it’s the right decision to release him from his contract on compassionate grounds,” Mulvihill said in a statement.

“It is always challenging to adapt to a new environment, particularly when your family are on the other side of the world.

“We appreciate all the effort Samu has put in during the short time here, he is a good man and gave his all. We wish him all the very best for the future.”

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Manoa, who last featured in the 26-14 defeat to Saracens in the Champions Cup, has emphasised his gratitude to Cardiff Blues for both the opportunity and understanding.

“My sincere thanks goes to Cardiff Blues and John Mulvihill for the opportunity, everything they have done for me and their understanding in recent times,” Manoa said in a statement.

“To represent Cardiff Blues was a great honour and experience for me. I welcomed by my teammates and the great supporters from day one and I really appreciate that.

“The Blues have a great group of players and coaches and I wish them all the very best for the remainder of the season.”

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The Blues currently sit fifth in their PRO14 conference with an even record of six wins and six losses.

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Comments on RugbyPass

S
SB 21 minutes ago
‘It's a pressurised job. International rugby has higher scrutiny but club coaching is relentless’

You can understand why he was annoyed. He didn’t need to push or use the language but I feel he was more in the right than the presenters.

2 Go to comments
H
Hammer Head 53 minutes ago
The All Blacks need Rennie, but they also need the public

Yes certainly I agree with you mostly. The direction the ABs headed was very un-All Black. And a return to the values and traditions of the past is definitely needed.

One of the reasons why the ABs have lost more, also, is that the quality of opposition has improved materially as the game has grown in its sophistication. Which is a very good thing.



...

23 Go to comments
j
johnz 1 hour ago
The All Blacks need Rennie, but they also need the public

I wouldn’t call it tough love; it’s frustration that the game was overtaken by commercial priorities and cronyism.

Besides, what’s unrealistic anyway? Many who have dared to be better have been told they were unrealistic, only to prove otherwise. I still say it would be a sad day if we dropped our standards.



...

23 Go to comments
G
Gavin 1 hour ago
Malelili Satala: The Scottish-Fijian starlet who slept outside a train station to make it

How is it possible to have a Scottish Fijian starlet. What a farce!

2 Go to comments
A
Ayre123 None 3 hours ago
Glasgow sign van der Merwe as Smith lifts lid on long-term pursuit

Franco Smith, the one that got away,,,

Comparing the Glasgow budget to that of Saracens makes one appreciate that coach!



...

2 Go to comments
N
NB 4 hours ago
Barrett's Irish adventure is propelling the Hurricanes to new heights

That is some man to be playing scond fiddle to G, you should be proud of your Uncle. That 1937 tour of NZ still strikes a nerve now. So many of the Boks who toured with Philip Nel seemed to have enlightened attitudes ahead of their time…

155 Go to comments
A
Ayre123 None 4 hours ago
Report reveals Saracens are PREM Rugby's 'homegrown heroes'

Any statistics can be “adjusted” to match certain agenda, that’s why the percents of Non whites 29.5 or the England qualified of 94% are frown upon.

15 Go to comments
u
unknown 4 hours ago
The All Blacks need Rennie, but they also need the public

Part of the problem has been all the off field drama over the last number of years. Also what hasn't helped is the NZ media covering these storys which has turned into an All Blacks, Super rugby, NZR bashing machine by focusing more on negatives then positives. I like Gregor Paul but he has been one of the worst. I get that we need Truth to Power etc but it becomes counter productive for the game in the long run.

23 Go to comments
G
GrahamVF 4 hours ago
Barrett's Irish adventure is propelling the Hurricanes to new heights

I learned a lot from my uncle. He played in the Possibles vs Probables for the 1938 Lions tour final trials losing out to Gerry Brand who Doc believed was by far the best fullback in the world at the time.

My uncle played in the provincial game against the Lions in “38 which EP lost by one point 6-5 making the conversion to the only EP try from far out. Newspaper reports said he had an outstanding game. Unfortunately the war intervened otherwise he might well have toured with the Boks.



...

155 Go to comments
N
NB 5 hours ago
Barrett's Irish adventure is propelling the Hurricanes to new heights

What an invaluable rugby upbringing G. From what you say so many of his ideas seem to have passed the test of time.

155 Go to comments
H
Hammer Head 5 hours ago
The All Blacks need Rennie, but they also need the public

Tough love. I get it.

But there is an element of over the top to it. And the standards being unrealistic.



...

23 Go to comments
P
PMcD 5 hours ago
Report reveals Saracens are PREM Rugby's 'homegrown heroes'

It’s interesting to see how much the RFU are putting into the pathways and spending even more than the clubs.

I do wonder if they should consider an ENG U23 side and enter them in the PREM (as one of the expanded teams), which means the youngsters between the U20 to U23 will continue to get games at this critical stage of their career/development.



...

15 Go to comments
P
PMcD 6 hours ago
‘It's a pressurised job. International rugby has higher scrutiny but club coaching is relentless’

It’s a shame all the focus is about this, rather than the solid job Geoff Parling has done since he arrived.

He lost 4 key players in Montoya, Cole, Youngs & Pollard, didn’t get a pre-season with the team, added a few wider squad players and then went (up until the weekend) quietly about his business turning them into a good team again and looking very similar to last year’s runners up.



...

2 Go to comments
G
GrahamVF 6 hours ago
Barrett's Irish adventure is propelling the Hurricanes to new heights

He was very good friends with my uncle who played full back for Eastern Province when Doc captained Easterns shortly before the war. He had met me on one or two occasions when I was still at school, and when I arrived at Stellenbosch he invited me to supper at which I met and his son Dan with whom I became friends. And he lectured me in Phys Ed for two years, so I did know him quite well 😉

155 Go to comments
N
NB 6 hours ago
Barrett's Irish adventure is propelling the Hurricanes to new heights

Sometimes it just seems you knew him so well…😉

155 Go to comments
A
Alex 6 hours ago
Malelili Satala: The Scottish-Fijian starlet who slept outside a train station to make it

What an awesome dude! Exactly what a rugby team needs.

2 Go to comments
J
John Breslin 6 hours ago
The All Blacks need Rennie, but they also need the public

It's always complicated comparing different codes

And least they play at home pretty often



...

23 Go to comments
T
TC 6 hours ago
Mick Cleary: 'Only a fool would write Saracens off in the long-term. They merit more respect than that.'

Didn’t they lose Ben Spencer when they got relegated?

1 Go to comments
G
GrahamVF 7 hours ago
Barrett's Irish adventure is propelling the Hurricanes to new heights

That’s so true especially when the old leather balls got wet - but by the time I left Stellenbosch we were using the very much lighter four panel balls and spin passes were the norm. Damn it Nick I was coached by Doc I didn’t play with him. 😆

155 Go to comments
L
LE 7 hours ago
Report reveals Saracens are PREM Rugby's 'homegrown heroes'

Agreed you just need to look at the academy cup finalists to see who is producing the best academy players

2021-22 - Bristol Bears v Northampton Saints



...

15 Go to comments
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