Kieran Read heading to Japan and taking Hansen with him? - report
All Black captain Kieran Read’s ultimate landing destination has been narrowed down in recent weeks to a Japanese Top League club, with French publication RugbyRama reporting in early January naming Jake White’s Toyota Verblitz as the leading contender to sign Read after talks with Racing 92 broke down.
It was initially suggested by L’Equipe that Read would link with ex-Crusaders teammate Dan Carter at Kobelco Steelers, where the former All Blacks flyhalf led the side to a Top League title last season.
RugbyPass understands that a deal with Toyota Verblitz has been done for Kieran Read while as reported on Friday, All Blacks midfielder Ryan Crotty has signed with Kubota Spears.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt49XW3AUNL/
The pair join Liam Squire as the latest All Blacks to line up Top League stints after the World Cup, while their remains a host of other All Blacks uncontracted past 2019, including halfback Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett, Sam Whitelock, and Sonny Bill Williams.
All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen announced earlier this year that would step down from his role following the conclusion of the Rugby World Cup, after over 16-years with the team. He said he has no immediate plans other than to spend more time with his family, however, there are suggestions that Hansen could join Read at Toyota Verblitz.
With another World Cup-winning coach currently in charge of the side, Jake White, it is unclear in what capacity Hansen would be involved if he decided to join Toyota. With Hansen expressing a desire to step away from rugby, it seems unlikely that he would take on a role so soon, but if he does, could mirror former All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith.
Smith linked with the Kobelco Steelers in a consulting/director of rugby-type role, and a similar advisory role could suit Hansen if he desires to take on a fresh challenge in Japan with lesser hands-on coaching commitments.
Beauden Barrett is expected to re-sign with NZR with a sabbatical clause to play offshore in 2020, while Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick are also re-signing priorities for NZR and more sabbatical clause will likely be used to retain them.
With the lesser demands of the Top League seen as a desirable destination from an NZR point of view, these stars may also be pushed in that direction for their sabbaticals, while a double-payday also is an attractive proposition in the back-to-back Top League seasons.
The Japan Top League could be one of the more interesting professional rugby competitions in 2020, as a number of top All Blacks land at Top League clubs.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
As long as New Zealand youth are involved in sport they are passionate for, and are well supported, it’s all good. I love league as well as rugby. NRL clubs have long since scouted the First 15 competitions, the NH and Japan scout super rugby and NPC. It’s a miracle there’s any players left for the all blacks to pick from.
4 Go to commentsI'm a Bok fan, so I don't say this lightly, but he is one of my all time favourite players. I am really going to miss watching him play. Thanks for many great memories. You are a true legend of the game.
3 Go to commentsBest way to deal with all of this is to play another game.
122 Go to commentsIt’s 12-15 games Luke. Ringrose has barely played in 2024 and Henshaw and Keenan have also been out for spells in the same time period. There are always injuries and for younger players to play with the likes of Barrett will be great for them. It’s just looking for negatives where there are none.
5 Go to commentsAndy Goode pushing his own agenda with very dubious considerations on refereeing performances. Luke Pearce speaking a bit of French doesn’t make him a good and adequate referee for the Champions Cup final; his latest refereeing performance in particular was not so great.
4 Go to commentsJordie knows that he has to earn the right to put on the jersey, whatever that jersey might be.
5 Go to commentsThe best outside centre in the world at one point. He will be greatly missed.
3 Go to commentsYip his great for the big moments when needed as a safa really enjoy watching him
4 Go to commentsOne that will start to come up from now on is penalties for back pushes during kick chase scrambles. Very difficult to detect. In Croke Park if you replay the Hendy NH try, you will see Furbank push Porter in the back, who collides with Larmour knocking the ball across into Hendy’s path to dot down. A more significant example was in the RWC QTR final where Arendse pushes Fickou into two other French players for the ball to spill into Arendse’s path for him to gather and run in to score SAs first try. Not cheating if you are not caught and very difficult to spot but with kicking becoming so critical I feel its an area that will referreeed/TMO-ed more.
4 Go to commentsWhat a pathetic little twit Andy Goode is, as if we care what he thinks…..😂
122 Go to commentsFoxy has been a wonderful player for the Scarlets and Wales.
3 Go to commentsNika the Georgian is the best referee in the world at the moment. Luckily we will be spared the shite SH refs and Barnes will hopefully remain retired given how shite and embarrassing he was at the RWC.
4 Go to commentsThis is the most exciting game of the summer imo, as we really won’t know in advance how both teams are going to play. - Will Robertson just reproduce his Crusaders tactics from last year, or will there be a conscious effort to borrow from the Hurricanes and Blues, and from the aspects of the ABs world cup strategy that worked well? - England under Borthwick have put in some good performances playing attacking rugby, and some good performances playing kick-oriented defensive rugby. Will Borthwick try to merge them together into a single all-court game, or will he continue switching between different approaches depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition?
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
9 Go to commentsFinals are always tense affairs for the players so I do not expect this to be a spectacle of running rugby unfortunately.
4 Go to commentsBulls***': Ex-England international calls out Eben Etzebeth… Not to his face but from very far away… after he’d left. Checked to make sure he wasn’t in the building.
122 Go to commentsHopefully this will mean a new Auckland league team to support in the west. Big Warriors fan but it’s very, very stale on that front and I’d like the option of another team if it was to watch league again. League needs to step up BIG time if its to get anywhere, another AK team and something from the capitol or south is a must for the game.
4 Go to commentsGood, deep interview, nice job Frankie!
1 Go to commentsNRL players don’t have anywhere near the number of Tests. Some people would be happy having Rest Homes full if 40 yo ex-players walking, or hobbling more like it, into walls. It’s just a game!
4 Go to comments