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Six internationals and Brock James - Bordeaux's ridiculous summer spending spree
A cursory glance at Bordeaux Begles top signings ahead of the 2018/19 suggests a strong argument can be made that it’s the most impressive spending spree of any Top14 club in 2018.
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While the signing of Semi Radradra made the headlines earlier in the year, Bordeaux have not skimped elsewhere. The French side have signed 16 players in total, and their recruitment drive has a thoroughly Polynesian feel.
Eight of the 16 hail from the islands, while a further two hail from Pacific Nations Cup guests Georgia.
Continue reading below…
Brock James
5’10
82kg
Storied veteran Brock James hardly needs an introduction, having slugged it out for Clermont over the course of 289 appearances. More recently he clocked up another 32 for La Rochelle before signing for Bordeaux.
Now 36-years-old, the Australian born 10 has played 63 European games and scored 495 points according to the ECPR.
Never actually capped for Australia at XVs at senior level, he represented his country at age-grade level before moving to Europe in 2006.
Seta Tamanivalu
6’2.5
104kg
Now a back-to-back Super Rugby winner with the Crusaders, Tamanivalu has turned to Europe, having presumably decided he was too far down the All Blacks wing pecking order to add to his 5 caps.
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In the form of his life, the 26-year-old centre cum wing joins Bordeaux-Bègles on a three year deal.
His average gain per carry was 12.4 metres in 2018 and he beat 39 defenders over the season. An imposing physical presence at 6’2.5 and 104kg.
Semi Radradra
6’3
100kg
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As if Tamanivalu wasn’t enough to worry about, the prospect of Semi Radradra will scare the life out of side. The 26-year-old Fijian was a wrecking ball for Toulon in his debut season in the Top14, but surprised many when he switched to rivals Bordeaux.
“When I decided to switch to rugby union and to come to Europe, I wanted to come to Toulon, because it’s the greatest European club and one of the best in the world. I wanted to be part of this world. The club has a great history, won many titles and Jonny Wilkinson played there.”
While the Toulon dream has ended, the former NRL star appears to be here to stay in Union and is targetting the 2019 World Cup with Fiji. He made his senior international debut for his native country in the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup this year and was also part of their Sevens squad this summer.
Kane Douglas
6’8
123kg
Test lock Kane Douglas joined the Queensland Reds in 2015 on a three-year contract after returning home to Australia following a season with Irish club Leinster. Standing at 202cm and weighing 123kg, Douglas made his Super Rugby debut for the Waratahs in 2010 and played his first Test for the Wallabies in 2012. In 2014 he made the decision to experience rugby overseas and moved to Leinster to play in the European PRO12 competition.
Douglas was a key member of the Wallabies 2015 Rugby World Cup squad, but suffered a serious knee injury in the Final against the All Blacks and is expected to miss much of the 2016 Super Rugby season.
Eto Nabuli
6’6
108kg
Eto Nabuli grew up playing the 15-man code in Sigatoka, Fiji, but his first stint as professional sportsman saw him play National Rugby League in Australia for three years.
An imposing figure standing at 197cm and weighing in at 108kg, Nabuli has experienced a rapid rise in his professional career. In 2013 he was named in the NSW Cup Team of the Year after scoring 29 tries in his first season. In 2014 he made his international rugby league debut for Fiji and starred for the Panthers in their 2014 NSW Cup Grand Final win over Newcastle.
He then signed a one-year contract with the Dragons to play in the NRL in 2015 – scoring seven tries in his 13 games. He joined the Reds on a two-year contract ahead of the 2016 Super Rugby season.
Beka Gorgadze
6’2
103kg
Georgian international Beka Gorgadze joins from Stade Montois. While relatively inexperienced at club rugby, the 22-year-old has already amassed 11 Georgian caps, scoring 5 tries.
Viliamu Afatia
5’11
124kg
Powerhouse Samoan prop Viliamu Afatia (28) joins from Racing 92, having previously enjoyed a stint at Agen.
According to the ECPR he has made 17 European matches in four seasons, including nine Challenge Cup appearances. He has played 21 Tests for Samoa and was part of their 2015 World Cup squad.
Comments on RugbyPass
Super 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?
7 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.
7 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
14 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
14 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 commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
7 Go to comments