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Young Crusaders star Will Jordan to move to Super Rugby rivals?
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:
Comments on RugbyPass
Oh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
2 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
2 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
26 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to comments