NRL star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck makes decision on future following cross-code switch speculation
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will be at the Warriors next season, with his manager ending speculation linking the brilliant fullback to rugby union in 2021.
And the 27-year-old NRL superstar and his partner Ash Walker have already made the decision to move their young family to Australia next year, if the Warriors are forced to camp across the ditch again.
While captain Tuivasa-Sheck’s commitment to the Warriors was never in question, Covid-19 has thrown up a lot of issues for sportspeople around the world, and particularly for a team like the Warriors who play in another nation’s competition.
Tuivasa-Sheck, one of the country’s most admired sports stars, has been inspirational as the Warriors dealt with all manner of mainly Covid-19 related problems in Australia this year.
The team, which plays its final match against the Sea Eagles on Sunday, has been camped in Australia for nearly five months, with the squad moving there at short notice before family members were able to join them later.
After the rugby speculation re-emerged over the weekend, Warriors CEO Cameron George and Tuivasa-Sheck’s agent Bruce Sharrock met this morning.
Sharrock – who has about 10 other Warriors on his books – told NZME that Tuivasa-Sheck was one of many professional sportspeople around the world dealing with uncertain times because of the pandemic restrictions.
Captain and fullback Tuvasa-Sheck is contracted until the end of the 2022 season, although the final year of that deal has an option in his favour.
“Like many players Roger was concerned about what next year will look like,” said Sharrock.
“Roger asked ‘what happens next year? But everyone has time to plan what they can do this time.”
Injury-plagued #Wallabies youngster Jordan Petaia is reportedly in doubt for the opening match of the #BledisloeCup in Wellington next month.https://t.co/WpHyFGg8uM
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 21, 2020
The spotlight has fallen on Tuivasa-Sheck’s 2021 season because he is so important to the club, and it was widely reported how tough he was finding life away from Ash, and their young kids Amara, aged 3, and Nico, who is about to turn 1.
They had remained in Manukau because the kids were so young, and Ash had a lot of family support here. But with more time to plan, they will head to Australia next year if necessary. Tuivasa-Sheck’s parents live in Sydney.
The rugby union suggestions didn’t come completely out of nowhere.
For starters, New Zealand Rugby Players Association manager Kevin Senio approached the Tuivasa-Sheck camp, enquiring if he would be available for a proposed match between the All Blacks and a Pasifika team.
Senio was told that Tuivasa-Sheck was under contract, and that playing for a Pasifika rugby team was “highly unlikely”. The game never went ahead.
But as Tuivasa-Sheck tried to work out what to do next year in such tumultuous times, Sharrock approached New Zealand Rugby to see if it would consider a player like him. Sharrock informed the Warriors about that.
Tuivasa-Sheck’s plans for 2021 are now set in concrete.
Sharrock said the key for players and family was to treat any shift as an adventure, and a chance to experience a different culture.
Warriors boss George said the club had to be innovative and flexible to deal with whatever lay ahead in such uncertain times.
“I have the welfare and wellbeing of every player to consider,” he said.
“These are difficult situations but I never felt that Roger was going to be leaving.
“He’s our leader, the face of the club, an amazing human.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“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?
11 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.
11 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.
24 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.
17 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 comments