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Former England wing Denny Solomona signs with New Zealand NPC team
Former England wing and cross-code international Denny Solomona has signed with New Zealand NPC side North Harbour for the upcoming provincial campaign.
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Solomona returned to New Zealand, his nation of birth, earlier this year after eight years of professional rugby union and rugby league in England.
During his time in the United Kingdom, the 28-year-old played three seasons in the Super League with the London Broncos and Castleford Tigers before switching codes to join the Sale Sharks in 2016.
One year later, Solomona made his test debut for England, called up by head coach Eddie Jones for his side’s mid-year tour of Argentina while the country’s frontline players were on tour with the British & Irish Lions in New Zealand.
Solomona, who also played rugby league for Samoa in 2016, went on to play five tests England, playing in both tests during their tour of Argentina before featuring in three matches against the Springboks in South Africa in 2018.
Now, though, the former Melbourne Storm youth prospect is back in New Zealand and has signed with North Harbour as he begins his quest for a Super Rugby contract.
In an interview with the New Zealand Herald earlier this year, Solomona outlined his intention to play in Super Rugby Pacific, where would play with and against numerous players he grew up with.
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A former pupil at both Otahuhu College and St Peter’s College in Auckland, Solomona was educated alongside the likes of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Patrick Tuipulotu and Bryn Hall, and also played touch rugby with Rieko and Akira Ioane.
Solomona told the Herald in January of his desire to share the field with those players – and to bring his young family closer to his mother and grandparents – as key factors in his decision to return to New Zealand.
“I’ve reached a point in my career where there’s something missing,” he said two months ago. “There’s an itch on my back I haven’t scratched before and that is coming back home.
“The competition is fierce. Everyone who knows rugby knows Super Rugby. It would be awesome to go back and touch base with where I came from and play against the boys I grew up with.
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“I’ve achieved a lot in England but it’s time to come home and see where I’m at.”
Solomona is now one step closer to realising his Super Rugby goal after it was announced on Monday that North Harbour have signed him for the 2022 NPC season.
“North Harbour are excited to announce the signing of dual international Denny Solomona for our 2022 NPC campaign,” the provincial union said in a statement.
“Denny has recently returned to New Zealand after a successful five-year stint with Sale Sharks in the Premiership, and before that the Castleford Tigers in the Super League.
“Denny achieved higher honours in both sports, representing England in rugby union and Samoa in league.
“Denny is big, fast and strong and will provide some quality experience to an exciting North Harbour NPC group.
“We look forward to Denny joining the NPC team and more importantly, the Harbour community.”
Playing in Super Rugby Pacific isn’t the only goal Solomona hopes to achieve during his time in New Zealand.
World Rugby’s new eligibility laws means Solomona is now eligible to play for the All Blacks or Samoa given it has been more than three years since he last played internationally for England.
Solomona told the Herald in January that he harbours hopes to feature at a World Cup for Samoa, and given next year’s tournament is just 18 months away, a Super Rugby deal with Moana Pasifika may help pave the way for that to come to fruition.
“The aspiration is there to play in a World Cup. The eligibility rules have changed but I have to earn my spot. Just because I say I’m keen doesn’t mean you’re going to get in straight away,” he said.
“I want to deliver some good performances and start loving my rugby more and being surrounded by family.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments