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Kiwis in Europe: The New Zealand trio suffering a tough start to the new PRO14 season

(Photo by Ross MacDonald/SNS Group via Getty Images)

Glasgow’s Kiwi contingent of TJ Ioane, Aki Seiuli and Fotu Lokotui have endured a tough start to the PRO14 with the Warriors.

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The trio were involved in the Warriors’ 27-13 defeat to Munster on a wet old night at Scotstoun. That gives Glasgow just one win from its first six games of the season.

No 8 Ioane himself was in the thick of the action in what was a niggly contest.

Lokotui, who entered the fray as a sub, was due to come back for the Mitre 10 Cup season with Counties Manukau, but was unable to enter New Zealand due to border control regulations governing non-Kiwi nationals. He carries a Tongan passport and has played for the Ikale Tahi.

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Ioane and loosehead prop Seiuli would have been disappointed to see their old Otago province go down to Northland in last Friday’s Mitre 10 Cup Championship semifinal.

Munster’ reserve hooker Rhys Marshall, formerly of the Chiefs and Taranaki, was a second stanza sub for the victors.

Elsewhere in the PRO14, which has just 12 teams, Ma’afu Fia’s Ospreys edged Treviso 24-22. Hame Faiva and the back three of Jayden Hayward, Monty Ioane and Iliesa Ratuva Tavuyara all turned out for the Italians.

Dominic Robertson-McCoy’s Connacht team flogged Zebre 47-12. Junior Laloifi and Josh Renton played for the latter.

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Michael Bent’s Leinster was also too strong for Cardiff, 40-5.

Sam Lousi was a late scratching due to Covid-19 protocols for Scarlets in their 24-26 defeat to Ulster. The Irish team fielded Matt Faddes, who was yellow carded, and Alby Mathewson, while flanker Sean Reidy scored an important try.

In the opening round of the 2020-21 Gallagher Premiership, Denny Solomona’s Sale beat Northampton 32-23. The Saints fielded five players with Kiwi connections: former Blues five-eighths Piers Francis scored a try, while Teimana Harrison, Matt Proctor, Ahsee Tuala and Owen Franks all featured.

Former Manu Samoa and Hawke’s Bay prop Logovi’i Mulipola enjoyed newly promoted Newcastle Falcons’ 19-12 win at Bath.

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Former Hurricanes right wing Kobus van Wyk made a solid start to his new career at Leicester, scoring a try in the Tigers’ 38-15 over Jason Woodward’s Gloucester.

Melani Nanai and Worcester edged, 11-10, a London Irish outfit that included forwards Motu Matu’u, Sekope Kepu and Blair Cowan.

At 37, Jimmy Gopperth is still doing the business for Wasps, slotting five key goals as his team beat Bristol 23-20. Lima Sopoaga was at fullback, while Jacob Umaga, who helped Auckland to the 2018 Premiership, was at 10. Jeff Toomaga-Allen and Brad Shields were in the Wasps’ pack.

Bristol fielded the evergreen John Afoa, now 37, Chris Vui, Jake Heenan, Alapati Leiua and Siale Piutau, who scored a try.

In the French Top 14, it was time for catch-up games after Covid-19 had played havoc with the schedule.

Joe Ravouvou and Mat Luamanu enjoyed Bayonne’s 35-39 win over Toulon, who fielded some old heads.

Ma’a Nonu, at 38, copped a yellow card, while former All Black Isaia Toeava, pushing 35, wore the No 10 jersey for the red and blacks, as he did for Auckland back in 2005. Also featuring were Tane Takalua and Brian Alainu’uese.

Ihaia West kicked all three goals in La Rochelle’s tryless 9-6 encounter with Racing-Metro, for whom Dominic Bird was at lock. Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Uini Atonio also played for les Rochelais.

Telusa Veainu’s Stade Francais beat Bordeaux-Begles 26-16, despite the best efforts of Ben Botica (four goals) and Ben Lam (a try to go with a yellow card). Ben Tameifuna anchored the Bordeaux scrum.

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Tom 1 hour ago
Has 'narrow-mindedness' cost Ribbans and others their Lions chance?

I didn't say anything regarding whether I feel the eligibility rule is right or wrong, you've jumped to conclusions there…


The fact is the eligibility rule does exist and any English qualified player is aware when they sign a foreign contract that they're making themselves ineligible and less likely to be picked for the Lions. If Jack Willis and Dave Ribbans priority was playing for England and the Lions they wouldn't be playing in France. Whether they should be allowed to play for England or not isn't my point. Under the current rules they have chosen to make themselves ineligible so they can't have their cake and eat it while other players have taken lesser salaries to commit themselves to their dream of playing for England and the Lions. They have made their choices.


Besides, while it works for South Africa doesn't prove it will work for any other country. South Africa have an extraordinary talent pool of incredible rugby athletes which no other country can compete with. They sadly don't have the resources to keep hold of them so they've been forced into this system. If they had the wealth to keep all their players at home and were still playing in Super Rugby they might be even better… they could be worse. We can't know for sure but cherry picking the best country in the world with a sample size of 1 and extrapolating it to other nations with very different circumstances doesn't hold water. Again, not saying the eligibility rule is correct just that you can't assume scrapping it would benefit us simply because South Africa are world champions.

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I
IkeaBoy 2 hours ago
How Leinster bullied the Bulls at Croke Park

Expert coaches exist across the land and the IRFU already funds plenty. Ulster own their academy and who owns Ulster?


If you go to school in the North and rugby/tag rugby isn’t even on the PE curriculum until 12/13 as opposed to 7 or 8 in Leinster, how is that the IRFU’s fault? Even then, it’s only certain schools in the North that will offer it. On what basis would they go up to the North (strictly speaking, another country in the eyes of some) and dictate their schools programme?


The ABs used to be light years ahead of the pack because their eventual test superstars had been playing structured, competitive rugby from an average age of 5/6! On top of kicking it around the yard from the age they could walk with their rugby mad parents and older siblings.


Have you somehow gotten the impression that the Leinster system is not working for Irish rugby? What is that based on? The SARU should just stop competing because despite their back to back RWC’s, all 4 of their URC teams aren’t contesting semi-finals every year?


A couple of mining towns basically provided a Welsh team in the 70’s that were unplayable. Queensland in the old Super 10 provided the spine of an Oz team that were the first to win multiple world cups and in the same decade. The ABs population density is well documented with 35% of the population living around one city.


Is England’s match day 23 equally represented by mid-counties players, tough as nails northerners, a couple from Cornwall, a pack of manc’s and a lone Geordie? Ever?

It’s cute they won’t relegate the Falcons but has a Geordie test player ever hit 50 caps?


It’s ok not to understand geography. It’s also ok not to understand sport. Not understanding the geography of sport is something different entirely.

266 Go to comments
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