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Cory Jane pranks Hurricanes fans on Twitter over return of ex-All Blacks star

By Online Editors
Cory Jane. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

There may have been two shock Super Rugby signings over the past 48 hours with the return of Aaron Cruden to the Chiefs and England midfielder Joe Merchant signing with the Blues, but the Hurricanes haven’t joined in on the act.

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Tomorrow marks the announcement of the five Kiwi Super Rugby squads for the 2020 season, and former Hurricanes and All Blacks wing Cory Jane took the opportunity to spark a frenzy on social media by tweeting that his former club and international teammate Julian Savea would be returning to Wellington next year.

“Gotta let the cat out of the bag but can’t wait to see you (@juliansavea7) back with the Canes this season,” he posted.

Continue reading below…

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The 29-year-old has been plying his trade with Toulon in the Top 14 since leaving New Zealand last year, which brought an end to his 116-match career as a Hurricane, and 54-cap stint with the All Blacks.

Hurricanes chief executive Avan Lee confirmed to Stuff that Savea wouldn’t be returning to New Zealand’s capital as he serves the second of his two-year deal with Toulon, and labelled Jane, who acts as an assistant coach to the Wellington Mitre 10 Cup squad, as a “comedian”.

That didn’t stop Twitter users from falling for Jane’s satirical post.

“Wahoo.. The Big Bus is back,” one user replied.

“Wow, really, how good is that, fantastic news,” another wrote.

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Even Savea poked fun Jane’s tweet, replying: “I’ll come back when you play again…. oh wait…. ??”

The Hurricanes have publicly announced five new signings for next season, with the most significant capture being that of one-test All Blacks prop Tyrel Lomax, who is moving north from the Highlanders after a two-year stay in Dunedin.

Other new men in John Plumtree’s side includes ex-Blues duo Scott Scrafton and Murphy Taramai and former Chiefs halfback Jonathan Taumateine, who will compete with Manawatu star Jamie Booth for playing time as the 25-year-old returns to the franchise after spending last season in Japan with the Sunwolves.

The 2020 campaign will also be the first season since 2010 that the Hurricanes will be without two-time world player of the year Beauden Barrett, who has joined the Blues on a four-year deal.

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He is one of 10 players who have already confirmed that they won’t be coming back to the Hurricanes next year, but those gaps in the roster will be filled by younger players who have impressed at provincial level.

The full squads for all five New Zealand franchises are expected to be named at around 8:30pm (NZT) on Tuesday evening.

Confirmed Hurricanes 2019-20 Transfers

In: Jamie Booth (Sunwolves), Tyrel Lomax (Highlanders), Scott Scrafton (Blues), Murphy Taramai (Glendale Raptors), Jonathan Taumateine (Chiefs)

Out: Beauden Barrett (Blues), Heiden Bedwell-Curtis (Mitsubishi DynaBoars), Finlay Christie (Blues), Chris Eves (San Diego Legion), Sam Henwood (NEC Green Rockets), Richard Judd (Suntory Sungoliath), Sam Lousi (Scarlets), Nehe Milner-Skudder (Toulon), Matt Proctor (Northampton Saints), Jeff Toomaga-Allen (Wasps)

In other news:

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Adrian 1 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

11 Go to comments
T
Trevor 4 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 8 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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