Former All Blacks sevens and Blues speedster becomes the latest player to return to NZ for provincial season
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.
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.
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.”
“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.”
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.
Comments on RugbyPass
Brayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
4 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf 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.
26 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to comments