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Former All Blacks sevens and Blues speedster becomes the latest player to return to NZ for provincial season

By Online Editors
Lolagi Visinia. (Photo by Martin Hunter/Getty Images)

Lolagi Visinia was a man many expected to get the call-up to the New Zealand national squad at some point in his career. While the 27-year-old never achieved that dream before he left NZ’s shores at the end of 2016, a return home to his country of birth could set tongues wagging again.

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Visinia, who played in a number of All Blacks Sevens campaigns before focussing on the expanded game, has signed with Hawke’s Bay for the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup season. He is the third former Super Rugby player to announce his return to NZ in the last week, with Sona Taumalolo (Hawke’s Bay) and Baden Kerr (Counties Manuka) also returning for the provincial season.

The talented outside back was earmarked for higher honours after bursting onto the scene for Auckland as a teenager and played almost 40 matches for the provincial powerhouse before heading to FC Grenoble in France. Following his stint in France, Visinia spent some time playing for the NEC Green Rockets in Japan.

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Ross Karl is joined by Super Rugby players from across Aotearoa/New Zealand as they discuss the current comp and all the goings-on around it.

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Ross Karl is joined by Super Rugby players from across Aotearoa/New Zealand as they discuss the current comp and all the goings-on around it.

Curiously, Visinia once scored over 100 points in a junior grade rugby match, courtesy of 15 tries and a trove of points off the tee. While Visinia seemed to have a spot nailed in the Blues in the mid 2010’s, the quick-stepper fell out of favour and eventually made the decision to leave New Zealand.

“I probably didn’t quite live up to the hype, that would be fair to say I suppose,” Visinia told Stuff early last year. “But I’m not the first and I won’t be the last you could say that about in Auckland, unfortunately.

“Growing up everyone wants to be an All Black, and some of us are even told that we’re going to be. But it can’t happen for everyone.

“[Playing and living in France] has honestly taught me a lot about myself and I think I’m a better player for it as well. I would encourage more players to branch out and give it a crack if they find themselves struggling, in Auckland in particular.”

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“Eventually it would be a dream to come home and finish my career with Auckland. It’s a team and a city that is obviously very close to my heart.”

While Visinia has made a return to New Zealand, it’s with the Magpies, not Auckland, that he will try re-ignite his career.

“I’m looking forward to getting into club rugby with Clive and playing for the Magpies,” Visinia said.

“This a massive opportunity for me to be a part of the Magpies team as I have been following their success of over the last few years and I’m keen to be a part of the legacy.”

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Hawke’s Bay coach Mark Ozich will be thankful to add another powerful outside back option to his team.

“It is fantastic to have secured Lolagi into our Magpies squad. He adds a different dimension to our team at 1.94m and 105kg and having the ability to play a number of positions in the backline.”

Hawke’s Bay finished second in last year’s Mitre 10 Cup Championship, narrowly losing out to Bay of Plenty in the final. This year’s competition kicks off in early September.

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Trevor 2 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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Bull Shark 6 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.

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