Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

The 20 players confirmed to be leaving the PRO14... so far

By Online Editors
Jonny Gray

The Guinness PRO14 have released a list of the 20 players whose futures appear to lie elsewhere beyond the current season, with many transferring, retiring or released by their respective clubs. The league is currently in virus hiatus, but rumblings this evening suggests the league is targeting August for a resumption of games.

ADVERTISEMENT

The current Guinness PRO14 season was been suspended on March 12th, eight weeks ago. If the league does resume, these players are unlikely to be involved with their current sides at least.  The PRO14 will be updating the list, which you can read here, as the season goes on.

The list includes maybe the physically strongest player in the league, Moldovan prop Gheorghe Gajion, who bench presses 230kg, who is known as ‘The Beast from the East’ by fans. More well-known players departing include Jonny Gray, Matt Scott, James Hook, Fergus McFadden, Simon Hickey, Nick Frisby, DTH van der Merwe and ex-Scotland skipper John Barclay.  To date, departees include:

Video Spacer

The biggest hits from this season’s The Season…

Video Spacer

The biggest hits from this season’s The Season…

OSPREYS
James Hook – retiring
Gheorghe Gajion – to Aurillac

TOYOTA CHEETAHS
Joseph Dweba – to Bordeaux-Bègles

LEINSTER
Fergus McFadden – retired

GLASGOW WARRIORS
Jonny Gray – to Exeter Chiefs
Cameron Henderson – to Leicester Tigers
Nick Frisby – released
Siua Halanukonuka – released
DTH van der Merwe – released

EDINBURGH
Pietro Ceccarelli– to Brive
John Barclay – released
Jason Baggott – released
Cameron Fenton – released
Dougie Fife – released
Simon Hickey – released
Matt Scott – to Leicester Tigers
Sam Thomson – released

CONNACHT
Colby Fainga’a – to Lyon
Tom McCartney – retiring

SCARLETS
Corey Baldwin – to Exeter Chiefs

Earlier this week SRU chief operating officer Dominic McKay, who is a PRO14 board member, stressed any resumption would be dependent on getting approval from governments, not an insignificant obstacle given the tournament takes place in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Italy and South Africa.

ADVERTISEMENT

McKay said: “We are still looking at scenarios that might see some way of potentially finishing the PRO14 season if restrictions allow later in the back end of the summer/beginning of autumn. And that will definitely be a curtailed end to the PRO14 season.

“We are still looking at scenarios, the PRO14 executive are going to come back to us with an update on what might be possible. But that is entirely dependent on the various restrictions in the different territories.”

The rugby calendar is up in the air with summer tours almost certain to be cancelled and doubts over the November Test series, while the Guinness Six Nations and European club competitions are also unfinished. McKay said: “On the Six Nations, of course we are looking to find ways to reschedules those games.

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Chasing The Sun | Series 1 Episode 1

Fresh Starts | Episode 1 | Will Skelton

ABBIE WARD: A BUMP IN THE ROAD

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 9

James Cook | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

New Zealand victorious in TENSE final | Cathay/HSBC Sevens Day Three Men's Highlights

New Zealand crowned BACK-TO-BACK champions | Cathay/HSBC Sevens Day Three Women's Highlights

Japan Rugby League One | Bravelupus v Steelers | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

N
Nickers 5 hours ago
All Blacks sabbaticals ‘damage Super Rugby Pacific when it is fighting for survival’

Sabbaticals have helped keep NZ’s very best talent in the country on long term deals - this fact has been left out of this article. Much like the articles calling to allow overseas players to be selected, yet can only name one player currently not signed to NZR who would be selected for the ABs. And in the entire history of NZ players leaving to play overseas, literally only 4 or 5 have left in their prime as current ABs. (Piatau, Evans, Hayman, Mo’unga,?) Yes Carter got an injury while playing in France 16 years ago, but he also got a tournament ending injury at the 2011 World Cup while taking mid-week practice kicks at goal. Maybe Jordie gets a season-ending injury while playing in Ireland, maybe he gets one next week against the Brumbies. NZR have many shortcomings, but keeping the very best players in the country and/or available for ABs selection is not one of them. Likewise for workload management - players missing 2 games out of 14 is hardly a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Again let’s use some facts - did it stop the Crusaders winning SR so many times consecutively when during any given week they would be missing 2 of their best players? The whole idea of the sabbatical is to reward your best players who are willing to sign very long term deals with some time to do whatever they want. They are not handed out willy-nilly, and at nowhere near the levels that would somehow devalue Super Rugby. In this particular example JB is locked in with NZR for what will probably (hopefully) be the best years of his career, hard to imagine him not sticking around for a couple more after for a Lions tour and one more world cup. He has the potential to become the most capped AB of all time. A much better outcome than him leaving NZ for a minimum of 3 years at the age of 27, unlikely to ever play for the ABs again, which would be the likely alternative.

3 Go to comments
FEATURE
FEATURE How agents have helped emerging nations talent triumph How agents have helped emerging nations talent triumph
Search