Super Rugby imports: 7 northern hemisphere players heading south
For the longest time, Super Rugby has been a league that exports talent as opposed to importing it, but a slew of recent transfers suggests that more Northern Hemisphere players are looking are the league as a potential destination.
Although it’s traditionally not been as lucrative a market for professional rugby players, it’s still very much seen as the most skilful league in the world where imported players can both prove their worth and upskill simultaneously.
There have been pioneers of course down through the years; the likes of Danny Cipriani, James Haskell, Joe Marchant, Geoff Parling, Gareth Delve and more recently Freddy Burns have all bucked the trend by heading south.
Now a new cohort of northern hemisphere rugby talent is swimming upstream to Down Under.
Indeed, Super Rugby Pacific squads have made a total of six international Test players signings. These include headliners like Wales internationals Leigh Halfpenny (Crusaders) and Rhys Patchell, as well as southern hemisphere import Martin Bogado. The Argentina fullback is heading into his second season at the Highlanders.
Former Exeter Chiefs and England nine Jack Maunder is Australia-bound, having signed for the Melbourne Rebels. Maunder earned a cap back in 2017 under Eddie Jones and is presumably looking to re-ignite his career in a different environment.
He isn’t the only English man involved, with former Saracens prop Hayden Thompson Stringer signing for the neighbouring Waratahs.
The imports list also includes the likes of ex-Gloucester stalwart, Tom Savage. The 34-year-old second row has been signed to Moana Pasifika from Suntory in Japan.
Meanwhile, the Queensland Reds have also signed rookie Irish lock Cormac Daly. A former Clontarf player based in Australia, Daly takes up a one-year contract with the Reds after impressing with Randwick in the Shute Shield.
While he grew up in Australia and came through its rugby pathway, English-born winger Harry Potter is returning to Aussie soil from Leicester Tigers, where he impressed across three seasons, scoring 20 tries in 67 appearances as he cast a spell over defenders in the Gallagher Premiership.
While the overall direction of travel is still very much pointed north and will doubtless continue thus, it’s certainly refreshing to see more players moving in the opposite.
Comments on RugbyPass
Tamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
1 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to comments