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Leicester Tigers sign New Zealander Taufua
Long-serving Crusaders loose forward, Jordan Taufua, has announced he will depart New Zealand at the conclusion of the 2019 season. The 27-year-old is set to join Premiership side Leicester Tigers, after what will be his seventh season with the Crusaders.
Taufua said he felt it was important to make the announcement ahead of the start of the Investec Super Rugby competition, so that he could focus solely on making the most of his final season.
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“The New Zealand rugby environment isn’t easy to leave, and the support I’ve had from team mates, management and fans over the years made this a difficult decision.
“I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to wear both the Crusaders and Mako jerseys over a long period of time, but for me this is the next step in my rugby career. It’s an opportunity to experience the game over the other side of the world, and tackle a new challenge which is exciting for both myself and my family.”
“I am very excited to be joining the Leicester Tigers after the Rugby World Cup this year. I have taken time to learn about the history of the club and it will be an honour to be a part of such a storied rugby programme.
“I see a lot of similarities between the Tigers and the Crusaders, and I am fully bought-in to the vision that Geordan Murphy and his staff have for the team. I am looking forward to playing in front of the club’s amazing fans at Welford Road later this year.”
Tigers head coach Geordan Murphy added: “Jordan is a very physical and powerful player schooled in the best traditions of back-row play in New Zealand. He has extensive experience in Super Rugby with the Crusaders and we look forward to welcoming him to Welford Road in the new season.”
Last year, Taufua was rewarded for his loyalty and consistency with selection in the All Blacks squad for the Steinlager Series. However, injuries meant he never got the chance to play for the national side in 2018.
“It was a dream come true to be named in the All Blacks for the first time and, while it was disappointing not to take the field, I still have aspirations to pull on the black jersey this year. Between that goal, and the opportunity to win another Super Rugby title with the Crusaders, I’m looking forward to throwing all of my energy into 2019,” Taufua said.
Taufua represented New Zealand Under 17s, Samoa in the 2011 Junior World Championship, and then New Zealand Under 20 the following year. He made his provincial debut for Tasman in 2012, and returned to the Mako in 2017 after time with both Canterbury and Counties Manukau.
The powerful loose forward currently has 81 Super Rugby caps to his name, and 83 Crusaders games, since making his debut against the Stormers in 2013. The former Lincoln University representative earned his 50th Super Rugby cap during the 2016 season, and missed just one game during the side’s successful 2017 campaign. He earned 14 Super Rugby caps during 2018, before missing the Final in Christchurch through injury.
BNZ Crusaders CEO Colin Mansbridge said: “Jordan represents what it means to be a Crusader – he is hard-working, dedicated, and his loyalty is endearing to fans throughout our region.
“Jordan has been an integral part of many a Super Rugby campaign for us and while we wish him and his family all the best, we look forward to one final Crusade with him in 2019,” Mansbridge said.
Head Coach Scott Robertson said: “Jordan brings energy to our Crusaders group like no other – he’s a beast on the field and a great man off it.
“We know he’s a special rugby player, but it’s his community work and unique connection to our fans that makes him a special person as well. While we’ll certainly miss having him around in 2020 we respect his decision, and our job as a team is to put a champion Crusader on the podium one last time,” Robertson said.
New Zealand Rugby Head of Professional Rugby Chris Lendrum said: “We want to wish Jordan all the very best on his next move and we look forward to seeing him play in New Zealand this year.
“We know that players like Jordan and others will make the decision to head overseas, and we respect that, but we feel we are in a pretty good spot heading into 2020 with a number of key players re-signed and negotiations continuing with others, which is positive.”
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Tasman Mako CEO Tony Lewis said: “Jordan espouses all the characteristics of a “Mako Man” – team man first; humility, trailblazer, unassailable grit and who dares wins attitude. He is a genuine leader on and off the pitch, a good person first, and his loyalty has made him popular amongTasman Mako staff and fans.
“Jordan has been a key part of Mako rugby, winning two Mako Man awards (player of the season) and we wish him all the best, but look forward to his swansong in 2019,” Lewis said.
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“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
4 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.
9 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 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)
4 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?
5 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.
6 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 comments