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Young Crusaders star Will Jordan to move to Super Rugby rivals?

By Online Editors
Will Jordan looks set to push Damian McKenzie and Beauden Barrett for the 15 jersey. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

The Crusaders could lose young star Will Jordan to one of their fiercest rivals come the end of the season, according to a report from the Otago Daily Times.

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The 21-year-old outside back has been in spectacular form for the reigning back-to-back champions in his debut Super Rugby season.

Although he is currently out of action due to a foot injury, the 2017 World Junior Player of the Year nominee has scored eight tries in eight appearances this year after missing the entire 2018 Super Rugby campaign due to injury.

He is one of many young, exciting outside backs within the Crusaders’ ranks, teaming up with the likes of George Bridge, David Havili, Braydon Ennor, Sevu Reece, Manasa Mataele, Leicester Fainga’anuku and Ngani Punivai to help catapult the Crusaders to the top of the Super Rugby standings as they eye a third successive title.

His sharp form, however, has reportedly made him a target for South Island rivals the Highlanders, who are preparing to undergo a mammoth exodus at the end of this year.

At least 11 key players have confirmed their exits from the franchise, with All Blacks Ben Smith, Luke Whitelock (both Pau), Waisake Naholo (London Irish), Liam Squire (NTT Red DoCoMo Hurricanes), Jackson Hemopo (Mitsubishi DynaBoars), Tyrel Lomax (Hurricanes) and Elliot Dixon (Ricoh Black Rams) headlining the departures.

A further four players – Richard Buckman, Tom Franklin (both Kobe Steelers), Marty Banks (NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes) and Matt Faddes (Ulster) – will also be leaving, meaning some aggressive recruiting will be required by the Highlanders if they are to remain play-off contenders in 2020.

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According to the ODT, Jordan is believed to be “in the sights of the Highlanders” in an acquisition that would help offset the departures of outside backs Smith, Naholo, Faddes and Buckman.

Given the extensive depth of quality in the Crusaders’ outside back stocks, game time could be hard to come by, even for someone as talented as Jordan, and with plenty of spaces opening up in the Highlanders’ starting XV, a shift south to guarantee playing time could be appealing for the former Christchurch Boys’ High School fullback.

If Jordan does move from Christchurch to Dunedin, he would link up with former schoolboy and New Zealand U20 teammate Josh McKay, the electric outside back who has been with the Highlanders since 2018 and has signed a contract extension that will keep him at Forsyth Barr Stadium until the end of next year.

Jordan could also be joined by current Crusaders teammate Mitch Hunt, who has been rumoured to make the shift south next year.

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The 23-year-old first-five has been competing for a bench role at the Crusaders alongside one-test All Black Brett Cameron, with star playmaker Richie Mo’unga dominating game time in the starting lineup.

While current Highlanders pivot Josh Ioane has impressed in his first season as a starting first-five, there is a much higher chance of Hunt starting more regularly at the Highlanders than there is at the Crusaders while Mo’unga is there.

Banks’ imminent return to Japan at the end of this year frees up a space at fly-half for Hunt, who would compete with Ioane and injured North Harbour playmaker Bryn Gatland for the No. 10 jersey.

News of Jordan’s potential signing with the Highlanders caps off a busy week of transfer talk for the club.

The announcement of Lomax’s departure to the Hurricanes on Friday came just a day after the capture of current Sunwolves head coach, Japan assistant coach and former Highlanders first-five, assistant and head coach Tony Brown, who has returned to the franchise in a yet-to-be-determined assistant coaching role on a three-year deal.

In the wake of both announcements, Highlanders CEO Roger Clark said that player signings for next year would be made in the coming weeks.

“The Highlanders will announce a number of exciting newcomers in the coming weeks and will be in a position to largely finalise our squad over the next few months,” Clark said.

Many of the anticipated signings are expected to come from the New Zealand U20 side, with young All Blacks Sevens duo Jona Nareki and Scott Gregory among those rumoured to be joining the franchise.

In other news:

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Trevor 18 minutes ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 4 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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