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Read and Crotty expected to land at two Japanese Top League clubs - reports


All Black captain Kieran Read (L) offloads to Ryan Crotty (R). (Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images for NZR)
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Two Japanese Top League clubs are expected to announce the recruitment of All Blacks captain Kieran Read and All Black centre Ryan Crotty in the coming days, according to French publication RugbyRama.

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The Japan Top League continues to attract the biggest names in New Zealand Rugby over cashed-up European clubs with a ‘two for one’ in the offering in the post-World Cup year.

With the Rugby World Cup being hosted in Japan this year, the Top League will run two modified shorter seasons in 2020, offering a double payday to players in the one calendar year. The double-season is offering twice what can be made in France and England in the same 12 months, luring those that would have looked to Europe.

Crusader and All Black midfielder Ryan Crotty was reportedly deep in negotiations with French club Racing before the opportunity to sign Kieran Read presented. Crotty’s negotiations stalled while they went after Read, which opened the door for other potential suitors to come calling for Crotty.

Premiership club Northampton Saints expressed interest in Crotty publicly through Kiwi coach Chris Boyd, however it is now expected Crotty will head to Japan and join the Kubota Spears.

Racing has also come to terms with missing out on Kieran Read, who is expected to join Toyota Verbitz and play under Jake White, joining Crotty in the Top League.

Another two high-profile All Blacks, halfback Aaron Smith and hooker Dane Coles, are rumoured to also be weighing up Top League moves, while Coles is being chased by three French clubs in Lyon, Paris and Montpellier.

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Rugby World Cup city guide – Oita:

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Phantom 46 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

Fact: the gap between the North and the South has narrowed considerably - that I get. However, determining that only selecting only Home grown players or playing in the home country is is the optimal strategy is a bit of a toss up and highly reliant on the economies of the home union. I do understand that England and to a lesser degree Ireland selects home based only. The top 14 is a massive threat to their domestic product. France would probably not be affected (the money is at home). Fiji, Argentina, Samoa, Italy and you could even argue Scotland have only benefitted from this. Their players either go overseas to learn at higher levels (Fiji, Samoa, Argentina) or players coming into their leagues to strengthen the home product and their National teams (Scotland, Italy, Japan).

South Africa used to limit its selection to the home based players, but the reality of a weak currency vs what players could earn oversees meant that you lost access to your best players at some stage of their careers, with very few exceptions. Kolbe left SA as he was considered too small for International Rugby (yes coaches/selectors view), but ironically in France he forced selectors to notice his endeavors and select him. He is only reaching 50 caps now despite being north of 30 - granted rotation and the odd injury also played a role, but for the most part it is having debuted or becoming a regular so late.



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