Chiefs bid sayonara to two Hawke's Bay talents
The Chiefs will bid farewell to the 2.00m tall lock Michael Allardice and utility back Tiaan Falcon as they head offshore to Japan to play for Toyota Verblitz.
The twenty-eight-year-old second rower has been a significant contributor to the Chiefs and has grown to become a reliable performer and leader since his 2015 debut against the Highlanders. Allardice has even stood in to captain the Chiefs when needed.
Allardice is grateful for the opportunity to have donned the Chiefs jersey.
“It has been an absolute privilege for my family and I to be a part of the Chiefs organisation for the past six years. Having had the honour to pull on the jersey and share the field with some of the greats and play in front of such passionate Chiefs fans are memories I will cherish for years to come.”
“While my family and I are excited to experience the Japanese culture at Toyota Verblitz, we will be forever grateful for the opportunities and lifelong friendships made during our time with the Chiefs,” finished Allardice.
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Allardice will be joined by 22-year-old Falcon at Toyota Verblitz. The electrifying utility back debuted for the Chiefs in 2018 against the Blues.
Unfortunately, Falcon went through the injury mill in 2019, rupturing his achilles tendon in pre-season training, which ruled him out of the 2019 Super Rugby season. Falcon returned to rugby later that year to have a standout season with his Hawke’s Bay Mitre 10 Cup side before returning to the Chiefs this year.
Falcon was thankful for the time spent with the Gallagher Chiefs.
“Although I didn’t get the chance to run out with the team as much as I would have liked, I’ve really enjoyed the culture at the Chiefs and the friendships I have made in Hamilton over the last three years.”
“The opportunity to play in Japan really excites me. It will be great to continue to develop my game while seeing another part of the world,” said Falcon.
Chiefs Rugby Club Chief Executive Officer Michael Collins wished Allardice and Falcon all the best for their future endeavours abroad.
“We wish both Michael and Tiaan all the very best in Japan. Michael is a great leader and has demonstrated his leadership having captained the Chiefs on several occasions. Tiaan has been a great team man, despite having been side-lined with injuries he has been a great contributor off the field.”
Allardice has 46 appearances to his name in the Chiefs jersey and Falcon has notched up 4 Chiefs appearances to date.
– Chiefs Rugby
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar 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.
9 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.
35 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.
2 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
35 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
35 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.
35 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.
35 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.
35 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 commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments