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Ex-All Black Rudi Wulf drops down three divisions to extend his career in France
Ex-All Blacks winger Rudi Wulf will prolong his career in France with a left-field move that sees him drop three divisions, moving from Toulon in Top 14 to play for Hyeres-Carqueiranne-La Crau in the Federal 1. The 37-year-old has spent nine consecutive seasons in France, but his career hit a bump earlier this year when he was released by Lyon during his fifth season with them.
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Wulf quickly re-emerged at Toulon, the club he initially joined on moving to France from the Super Rugby Blues, and he even played against Lyon in a March Top 14 game. Having also played at Castres, the New Zealander was set to retire from playing at the end of this season.
However, Hyeres-Carqueiranne will become Wulf’s fourth club in France and it will be a convenient move for him as his new fourth-tier club is located just 20kms from Toulon, who complete their regular-season top-flight campaign with a trip to Castres this weekend, a match that the New Zealander is not involved in.
Capped by the All Blacks on four occasions in 2008, facing England, South Africa (twice) and Samoa, Wulf first went to France to play for Toulon in the 2010/11 season.
He returned home for two campaigns with North Harbour and another for the Blues before he returned to Europe for the 2012/13 season which culminated in a first Heineken Champions Cup title win for Toulon.
Rudi Wulf reste dans le Sud Est et près de Toulon en rejoignant le club de Hyères Carqueiranne la Crau ! pic.twitter.com/lMJq8AmlDa
— Parce Que Toulon !!! (@parcequetoulon) June 5, 2021
Federal used to be considered the highest level of amateur rugby in France but that sector has since been professionalised with a 14-team National division feeding into Pro D2. Federal 1 is the next level down and Hyeres-Carqueiranne boss Gregory Le Corvec can’t wait to see their new signing in action from September.
“Rudi has had a great professional career, an All-Black international, champion of France and Europe with Toulon,” said Le Corvec. “He is an exemplary leader for his daily work and his ability to advance the players around him. For our three-quarter line, he is going to pull everyone up.”
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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
50 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.
50 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
50 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 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
50 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.
50 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.
50 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.
50 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
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