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How a French giant may have saved John Hardie's career
Scottish international John Hardie says he’s grateful to French giants Clermont who took him in over the summer after being effectively exiled from Scotland.
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While Hardie did not win a contract at the Top14 outfit, he says he is thankful to the side that effectively saved his career.
In October of last year Scottish Rugby and Edinburgh suspended Hardie from selection for both club or country, but gave no details on why the 29-year-old was not being considered. As a result he missed the 2017 November Tests against Samoa, New Zealand and Australia.
It was widely reported that the suspension came following a club social which got out of hand, with several players enjoying themselves a little too much. While he returned to play for Edinburgh following the suspension, he was released at the end of last season.
Prior to his release Clermont had in fact contacted the 16 times capped Scot. The club and the player struck a dealt that saw him undergo back surgery, followed by rehabilitation at the French giant’s base in the south of France.
If he could prove his fitness they would sign him, with the club telling RugbyRama at the time: “Our relationship is clear: if he is fit, he will sign.”
Ultimately they didn’t sign him, but they got him back on track physically. Now impressing with the Newcastle Falcons, Hardie was glowing in his praise of the French side.
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“Spending the summer with Clermont was a really good experience,” said Hardie. “They’ve got a top-class facility over there, they had a big medical team which helped me with my rehab and even though things didn’t go to plan in terms of getting a contract there I thank them for all the help they gave me and everything I learnt.
“The fact that I was in good shape as a result of being over in Clermont meant that when the Newcastle opportunity came around I was ready to take it, and I’ve really enjoyed my time here so far.”
Hardie is now enjoying a new lease of life with Newcastle Falcons.
“The boys are great here, they’re very down to earth and I really enjoy that. I’ve been made to feel very welcome, I’m enjoying my rugby and it’s been a great move. It’s a superb surface here at Kingston Park, the crowd get right behind us and like all the boys I love playing here.”
The Falcons face a visit from Gloucester to Kingston Park Stadium on Sunday.
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“We didn’t achieve the two results we wanted against Edinburgh but there are definitely bits we can take from both games, especially in the first halves because we were leading at half-time on both occasions.
“Our accuracy let us down and we left a lot of points on the field, but there are certainly positive elements we can take from it going into the Gloucester game on Sunday.
“We created a lot of opportunities – last weekend alone we had five clean line-breaks – but we only converted one of them. Edinburgh were more clinical in scoring two tries from their three line-breaks, and it’s just those little things that we’ve been working really hard on to get it right.”
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“We know we’re going to be up against a really physical Gloucester team who have a lot of skill and pace out wide, they’re a really well-drilled and well-coached outfit and it’ll be an intense game.
“They’ve got threats in the back three and the midfield but we’ve got just as many, so as much as we’ll have our work cut out on the day, so will Gloucester.
“If your defence is really good when Gloucester are counter-attacking you can turn that into an opportunity for your own team, because turnover ball in that scenario is really dangerous.”
“As a seven you know you’re going to be absolutely stuffed at the end of every game, and you have to be putting your body on the line for the team,” said the former Highlanders and Edinburgh man.
“You’re involved in a lot of contacts as an open-side and a lot of phases of play, but that’s what I enjoy and I’m looking forward to that challenge this weekend.”
Comments on RugbyPass
He never stops whinging. No wonder he is always chasing the next big dream.
1 Go to commentsI always enjoy a good scrum based article. Thanks, Nick. The Hurricanes are looking more and more the team to beat down here in Australasia. They are a very well balanced team. And though there are far fewer scrums in the game these days, destructive power in that area is a serious weapon, especially an attacking scrum within in the red zone. Aumua looked very good as a young first year player, but then seemed to fade. He sure is back now right in the picture for the AB’s. And I would judge that Taukei’aho is in a bit of a slump currently. Watching him at Suncorp a few weeks ago, I thought he was not as dominant in the game as I would have expected. I am going to raise an issue in that scrum at around the 13 min mark. I see a high level of danger there for the TH lifted off the ground. He is trapped between the opposition LH and his own powerful SR. His neck is being put under potentially dangerous pressure. The LH has, in law , no right to use his superior scrummaging skill….getting his head right in on the breastbone of the TH…..to force him up and off the ground. Had the TH popped out of the scrum, head up and free, there is no danger, that is a clear penalty to the dominant scrum. The law is quite clear on this issue: Law 37 Dangerous play and restricted practices in a scrum. C:Intentionally lifting an opponent off their feet or forcing them upwards out of the scrum. Sanction: Penalty. Few ,if any, referees seem to be aware of this law, and/or the dangers of the situation. Matthew Carly, refereeing Clermont v Munster in 2021, penalised the Munster scrum, when LH Wycherly was lifted very high, and in my view very dangerously, by TH Slimani. Lifting was coached in the late ‘60’s/70’s. Both Lions props, Ray McLouglin, and “Mighty Mouse” McLauchlan, were expert and highly successful at this technique. I have seen a photo, which I can’t find online atm, of MM with a NZ TH(not an AB) on his head, MM standing upright as the scrum disintegrates.
3 Go to commentsHey. Stay home and play for Mooloo.
1 Go to commentsTighthead was always going to be our weakness this year with Ryan going home to Ireland and the Cashed Up Blues taking a third All Black prop from us - nobody else in SR does that. Numia is the exciting one. He used to be a lightweight but he's really improved. Do you have stats on the All Black hookers’ lineouts for the game? I seem to remember a few misses.
3 Go to commentsFergus Burke isn't tier 1 player quality…but guess what, he'll be playing amongst them for Saracens…. all going well and Steve Borthwick is still the head coach, England...Scott Robertson’s hint of amending NZRU’s offshore AB eligibility clause, would mean that players like Josh Moorby who show potential might get a call…
4 Go to commentsThe movement of quality players back to SA is remarkable.
2 Go to commentsInteresting article, Nic. Am enjoying seeing the Rebels doing well, partly just to spite those who are working to wipe them off the face of the Australian rugby planet. But it is also good to see a team with somany good players beginning fire. LSL has benefitted so much from his move up to Northampton for the one year. I wonder why he did not stay on for another year. Does he now looks north and see his teammates of last year now doing so well, and have some regrets.
46 Go to comments“Over 80% of the World Cup squad are over 30” No it isn’t lol
2 Go to commentsTyrel Lomax the best AB prop since Carl Hayman. Absolutely destroyed the Boks in RWC Final and is monstering allcomers in Super this season. Should be a monster battle vs touring Poms, always deliver a power pack.
3 Go to commentsEye gouging seems like such a strong term for what can only be described as a poke in the eye. When I think of eye gouging I think of someone trying to intentionally pop someone’s eyeball out. it’s like calling a high-tackle attempted decapitation.
3 Go to commentsGreat article. No insights to add, just wanted to say that. :)
1 Go to commentsLeinster are going to win the world cup.
13 Go to commentsSuper Rugby desperately needs to lose at least 2, but up to 4 teams. Rebels quietly going bankrupt would have made that a bit easier. Teams like the Rebels and Force serve only to weaken Australian Rugby and Super Rugby more widely. In 13 years in the comp the Rebels are yet to win more games than they lose in a season, have never finished in the top half of the competition, and have come dead last a number of times. The Western Force, barring a brief stint of mediocrity under John Mitchell from 2007-2009 have been even worse. Sadly it’s hard to see a future for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. Likewise I think the writing is on the wall for the Highlanders, it’s hard to see how NZ rugby can continue to support 5 SR teams, and population distribution suggests one team in the south island would make the most sense.
46 Go to commentsNice that Connor Evans is happy to stay on here, that JD Schikerling is returning and Steven Kitshoff. Dobbo is careful to bring back just anybody but having a new financial lease of life, it has made the Stormers a more attractive club. On top of being good quality, having the financial backing helps a lot
1 Go to commentsEngland-qualified too, I believe.
1 Go to commentsThis might turn out to be emblematic of a real issue in Irish rugby. Ireland have one of the best -if not the best - senior sides in the world, and one of the best under 20s sides as well, but don’t seem to be giving graduating under20s players many opportunities to break through into URC starting lineups. There is a risk that a lot of the junior talent they are developing will either be wasted, or lost to other nations.
1 Go to commentsYou ask good questions, Nick. The group who have put together the proposal to play out of Tarneit and participate in the growing of the ground’s capacity are not a bunch of white knights who have been dragged in post-crisis; they were around whilst the Rebels accummulated $23m in debt. Why do we come up with ideas that might make the franchise affordable after it’s broke and not when it might have prevented the trainwreck this offseason was? As for Gordon/Kellaway v Lolesio/Wright, they are both good options. I think the former are better rugby players but the goal kicking of Noah may be decisive when Schmiddy makes his choices. I know Harry Jones has the hots for Edmed but I think it’s one of his few poor choices and he and Jorgensen aren’t close to the other pairs. By coincidence, the wife and I went into town over the weekend to watch Brian Cox and Patricia Clarkson in Long Day’s Journey into Night. Beautifully acted but it was 3.5 hours in the chair and very hard work. Like the Rebels, there were only small bursts of joy to go with a lot of bad news and a depressing story line. In the end, I was hoping it would end and I could give my sore butt a break. Again, familiar.
46 Go to commentsGood decision, very good player but not international quality. But so was Jamison Gibson Park …..
4 Go to commentsLoose forwards always look good going forward and winning. It’s the same loose forwards for the Crusaders and the Canes this year as last year. Too much of the shiny new things getting noticed here while older consistent ones getting bagged. It’s early days. Calm the farm.
8 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
46 Go to comments