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Former All Black Rene Ranger set for the United States as Major League Rugby's newest marquee signing

By Alex McLeod
Rene Ranger in action for the Sunwolves. (Photo by Lionel Ng/Getty Images)

Former All Blacks utility back Rene Ranger is heading to the United States to prolong his rugby career after signing with Major League Rugby side, the Colorado Raptors.

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The 33-year-old played six tests for New Zealand between 2010 and 2013, and made a name for himself as an explosive ball runner during his two stints with the Blues and Northland.

Ranger has also spent time with North Harbour, Montpellier and La Rochelle, and was signed on with the Sunwolves for the 2019 Super Rugby campaign, but an ACL injury ruled him out of action for the majority of the season.

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His wealth of experience in New Zealand, France and Japan is bound to make him a valuable member of the Raptors, formerly known as the Glendale Raptors, who have also signed former Wallabies speedster Digby Ioane and ex-Manu Samoa prop Zak Taulafo for next year.

Ranger becomes the third All Black to move to MLR ahead of the 2020 season, with one-test wing Frank Halai joining the Austin Herd from French club Pau, while 103-test double World Cup-winner Ma’a Nonu has moved to the San Diego Legion from the Blues.

The Utah Warriors announced earlier this year that 29-test All Blacks loose forward Adam Thomson had signed with the club on a two-year deal, but visa issues kept him from playing at all in his first season.

Instead, the 37-year-old turned out for Otago in the Mitre 10 Cup, but it is unknown whether he will take to the field in the United States in 2020 after missing out on a Super Rugby contract.

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New Zealand isn’t the only nation whose ex-international stars are being targeted by the new North American club competition, which inaugurated in 2018.

The Legion have recruited three-test Wales lock Dominic Day from Saracens to accompany Nonu’s arrival in San Diego, while perhaps the biggest signing of the off-season came from Rugby United New York, who signed ex-France captain Mathieu Bastareaud.

The 31-year-old midfielder, who won 54 caps for Les Bleus between 2009 and 2019, will join 34-test former England fullback Ben Foden, who has already spent a season at MCU Park in Brooklyn.

Ranger’s addition to the league adds to the growing international flavour of the competition, and it’s something the Raptors’ New Zealand-born coach Peter Borlase is excited about.

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“We’re all really excited to have Rene join our environment for the coming season,” he said.

“With Rene playing at the highest level both internationally as well as in southern and northern hemisphere competitions his knowledge and leadership will be well received in our squad, especially developing some of the young blood in our back line.

“Rene is known for his direct physical style of play, but also his distribution skills and will add to our players play. He is a top man with humility, a hard work ethic and team-first attitude.”

Ranger will link up with the Raptors next month in preparation for the new season, which begins in February and will feature three new teams, the New England Free Jacks, Old Glory DC and Rugby ATL.

The MLR final is scheduled to be held in June.

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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