No more excuses, Sevu Reece belongs at the next level
Waikato assistant coach Roger Randle has made an impassioned plea for Super Rugby sides to take a second look at explosive winger Sevu Reece.
The 21-year-old Fijian has hit a rich vein of form in the 2018 Mitre Cup, and leads the competition with five tries.
Reece has played a key role in turning the season around for the embattled province, helping them win three consecutive matches over an impressive eight-day span to send the side to the top of the Championship standings. The winger scored a hat-trick against Wellington on Wednesday, set a try up against Taranaki on Sunday and was responsible for two more against Hawke’s Bay on Thursday.
Following Waikato’s triumphant Ranfurly Shield defence against Hawke’s Bay on Thursday night, Randle reignited calls for Reece’s inclusion at the next level.
“Guys like Sevu Reece have been outstanding and I think everybody should be looking at him in Super [Rugby],” Randle said. “I don’t care what excuse people have got at Super-land.”
Randle certainly has the pedigree to make such claims. The former All Black scored 50 tries in 59 games for the province and is the second highest try-scorer in Chiefs history with 38.
The only issue with Randle’s assessment of Reece is that the young winger’s immediate rugby future has already been decided.
Reece is currently playing what could be his final season for Waikato, as he is committed to Irish PRO14 club Connacht for the 2018/19 season.
However, we have seen a contractual backflip before. Look at the likes of Reece’s compatriot Waisake Naholo, or former Waikato teammate Whetu Douglas.
Naholo impressed during the 2015 Super Rugby season with the Highlanders and found himself in the All Black frame before eventually chosing to forgo a two-year deal with French club Clermont to stay in Dunedin.
While Reece’s situation is a little different to Naholo’s as the latter had established himself in Super Rugby, he has still showcased game-breaking potential and performed against high-level opposition. Randle believes the next level is where the young flyer belongs.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to play on the wing and he’s [Reece] Super Rugby level. I think Super Rugby coaches need to reflect that with their selections for him and find room for him because he should be on a Super Rugby team,” Randle said.
If a New Zealand-based Super Rugby franchise doesn’t sway Reece – a former New Zealand Schools representative – he could follow a similar path to future Connacht teammate Bundee Aki.
Auckland-born Aki left New Zealand for Ireland in 2014 and after three years became eligible for the national side following three years of residency. The 28-year-old was named PRO12 Player of the Year for the 2015/16 season and is now a linchpin of the Irish midfield and owner of nine Test caps.
Reece, still classed as an international player by Super Rugby standards – of which New Zealand Super Rugby sides can only have two of – would become eligible for Ireland well ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, where he could find himself coming up against the likes of New Zealand and Fiji.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
23 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets 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?
13 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.
10 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.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 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.
25 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
6 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.
10 Go to comments