Super Rugby
Super Rugby – The Ins & Outs
Full list of transfers for each Super Rugby side ahead of the 2019 season.
With the 2019 Super Rugby not too far away, we’ve pulled together a full list of all the transfer activity for each team.
There certainly has been no lack of activity across all teams although the South African sides seem to have the least amount of transfer activity with the Lions, Sharks & Stormers all only adding 1 new name to their 2019 rosters. Melbourne Rebels recruitment team look to have had a very busy and fruitful transfer period adding several household names to their squad for the forthcoming season.
Check out the list of transfers (to date) below:
BLUES
The main transfer news for the Blues ahead of the 2019 season will be the return of Ma’a Nonu and the departure of Jerome Kaino.
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Levi Aumua (Chiefs)
Jed Brown (Tasman)
Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Auckland)
Ma’a Nonu (Toulon)
Harry Plummer (Auckland)
Marcel Renata (Hurricanes)
Tom Robinson (Northland)
Hoskins Sotutu (Auckland)
Tanielu Tele’a (Auckland)
Karl Tu’inukuafe (Chiefs)
Out
Lyndon Dunshea (Auckland)
Bryn Gatland (Highlanders)
Sione Havili (Tasman)
Terrence Hepetema (Bay of Plenty)
Jordan Hyland (Northland)
Matthew Johnson (Southland)
Jerome Kaino (Toulouse)
Antonio Kiri Kiri (Yorkshire Carnegie)
Daniel Kirkpatrick (Auckland)
Orbyn Leger (Counties Manukau)
Pauliasi Manu (Sunwolves)
Tumua Manu (Chiefs)
Matiaha Martin (Counties Manukau)
George Moala (Clermont)
Ben Nee-Nee (North Harbour)
Glenn Preston (North Harbour)
Kara Pryor (Sunwolves)
Isaac Salmon (Tasman)
Mike Tamoaieta (North Harbour)
Murphy Taramai (North Harbour)
Tamati Tua (Northland)
Ross Wright (Northland)
BRUMBIES
The Brumbies will be boosted by the big name signings of Wallabies Peter Samu and James Slipper but will certainly miss the presence of Ritchie Arnold in the 2nd row.
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Murray Douglas (Hurricanes)
Vunipola Fifita (Canberra Vikings)
Len Ikitau (Canberra Vikings)
Bayley Kuenzle (Southern Districts)
Noah Lolesio (Canberra Vikings)
Toni Pulu (Chiefs)
Tom Ross (Canberra Vikings)
Pete Samu (Crusaders)
Irae Simone (Waratahs)
James Slipper (Reds)
Out
Robbie Abel (Auckland)
Ben Alexander (retired)
Richie Arnold (Yamaha Jubilo)
James Dargaville (North Harbour)
Mees Erasmus (Rebels)
Lolo Fakaosilea (Kintetsu Liners)
Kyle Godwin (Connacht)
Nic Mayhew (North Harbour)
Isi Naisarani (Rebels)
Michael Oakman-Hunt (Canberra Vikings)
Faalelei Sione (Manawatu)
Andrew Smith (Retired)
James Verity-Amm (released)
VODACOM BULLS
Some excellent business has been carried out by the Bulls in the off-season. Some familiar names will make their way back onto South African soil via the Bulls this season including former Springboks captain Duane Vermeulen and Schalk Brits.
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Schalk Brits (Saracens)
Stedman Gans (Sevens)
Cornal Hendricks (free agent)
Dylan Sage (sevens)
Paul Schoeman (Cheetahs)
Rosko Specman (Sevens)
Muller Uys (Western Province)
Duane Vermeulen (Toulon)
Out
Shaun Adendorff (Aurillac)
Francois Brummer (Zebre)
Ruben van Heerden (Sharks)
Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh)
Adriaan Strauss (retired)
Dries Swanepoel (Cheetahs)
Jamba Ulengo (released)
CHIEFS
The Chiefs certainly have more high profile exits than they do entrants this season. They have lost lots of Super Rugby experience in the form of Liam Messam, Tim Nani-Williams & Charlie Ngatai to name a few.
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Jack Debreczeni (Rebels)
Tumua Manu (Blues)
Laghlan McWhannell (Waikato)
Ataata Moeakiola (Tokai)
Reuben O’Neill (Taranaki)
Out
Levi Aumua (Blues)
Dominic Bird (Racing 92)
Johnny Fa’auli (Toshiba Brave Lupus)
Mitchell Graham (Taranaki)
Luteru Laulala (Counties Manukau)
Matt Matich (Northland)
Liam Messam (Toulon)
Tim Nanai-Williams (Clermont)
Charlie Ngatai (Lyon)
Declan O’Donnell (Waikato)
Jesse Parete (Taranaki)
Sam Prattley (Sunwolves)
Toni Pulu (Brumbies)
Jeff Thwaites (Bay of Plenty)
Karl Tu’inukuafe (Blues)
Regan Verney (Northland)
CRUSADERS
Similar to the Chiefs, the Crusaders look like their exits are higher profile than their newbies ahead of the 2019 season. The retirement of stalwart prop Wyatt Crockett will be a huge loss.
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Whetu Douglas (Treviso)
Ere Enari (Canterbury)
Leicester Fainga’anuku (Tasman)
Ngane Punivai (Canterbury)
Out
Sam Anderson-Heather (Otago)
Heiden Bedwell-Curtis (Hurricanes)
Donald Brighouse (Otago)
Wyatt Crockett (retired)
Mike Delany (Bay of Plenty)
Tima Fainga’anuku (Tasman)
Chris King (Canterbury)
Jone Macilai-Tori (Northland)
Pete Samu (Brumbies)
Sebastian Siataga (Bay of Plenty)
Jack Stratton (Waikato)
Seta Tamanivalu (Bordeaux)
HIGHLANDERS
Otago will be disappointed to lose such a high profile player in the prime in the form of Lima Sopoaga but will be delighted to see the fan favourite Marty Banks return to NZ shores.
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Marty Banks (Docomo Red Hurricanes)
Sef Fa’agase (Reds)
Folau Fakatava (Hawke’s Bay)
Bryn Gatland (Blues)
Josh Iosefa-Scott (Waikato)
Ayden Johnstone (Waikato)
Ray Niuia (Tasman)
Jack Whetton (Auckland)
Out
Alex Ainley (Tasman)
Guy Millar (Biarritz)
Greg Pleasants-Tate (Canterbury)
Dan Pryor (Sunwolves)
Josh Renton (Otago)
Fletcher Smith (Hurricanes)
Lima Sopoaga (Wasps)
HURRICANES
There are a few big name departures from the Hurricanes ahead of the 2019 season that
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Heiden Bedwell-Curtis (Crusaders)
Geoff Cridge (Hawke’s Bay)
Du’Plessis Kirifi (Wellington)
James Marshall (London Irish)
Liam Mitchell (Manawatu)
Billy Proctor (Wellington)
Salesi Rayasi (Auckland)
Fletcher Smith (Highlanders)
Out
Jamie Booth (Sunwolves)
Murray Douglas (Brumbies)
Michael Fatialofa (Worcester Warriors)
James O’Reilly (Wellington)
Marcel Renata (Blues)
Julian Savea (Toulon)
Brad Shields (Wasps)
Blade Thomson (Scarlets)
TJ Va’a (Wellington)
Nathan Vella (Canterbury)
Ihaia West (La Rochelle)
JAGUARES
The Argentinians will be sad to lose the services of 2 talented playmakers ahead of the 2019 season with Juan Martín Hernández hanging up the boots and Nicolás Sánchez heading to France.
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Gaspar Baldunciel (Alumni)
Santiago Carreras (Córdoba Athletic)
Santiago Chocobares (Duendes)
Santiago Grondona (Champagnat)
Ignacio Mendy (sevens)
Franco Molina (Jockey)
Domingo Miotti (Tucuman)
Lucas Paulos (Olivios)
Lucio Sordoni (Atlético del Rosario)
Mayco Vivas (Atlético del Rosario)
Out
Santiago Álvarez (Sevens)
Felipe Arregui (Duendes)
Franco Brarda (Tala)
Felipe Ezcurra (Leicester Tigers)
Nicolás Leiva (released)
Benjamín Macome (released)
Juan Martín Hernández (retired)
Nicolás Sánchez (Stade Francais)
LIONS
Former Lions coach Johan Ackermann has raided the Lions ahead of the 2019 season taking 3 of his former players with him to Gloucester. Lions will be particularly disappointed to lose Jaco Kriel and Franco Mostert.
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Danie Mienie (Toulouse)
Out
Ruan Dreyer (Gloucester)
Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Sale Sharks)
Marco Jansen van Vuuren (sevens)
Jaco Kriel (Gloucester)
Franco Mostert (Gloucester)
Jacques van Rooyen (Bath)
REBELS
The Rebels back line on paper is now an exceptionally mouth watering prospect with the addition of Wallabies Quade Cooper & Matt Toomua into an already stacked backline they will be looking to make at least the play-offs in 2019.
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Quade Cooper (Reds)
Mees Erasmus (Brumbies)
Luke Jones (Bordeaux)
Campbell Magnay (Suntory Sungoliath)
Isi Naisarani (Brumbies)
Hugh Roach (Waratahs)
Matt Toomua (Leicester Tigers)
Brad Wilkin (Waratahs)
Out
Jack Debreczeni (Chiefs)
Colby Fainga’a (Connacht)
David Horwitz (Connacht)
Henry Hutchinson (sevens)
Amanaki Mafi (NTT Shining Arcs)
Jack McGregor (Force)
Sefa Naivalu (Reds)
Geoff Parling (Retired)
Lopeti Timani (La Rochelle)
Laurie Weeks (Retired)
REDS
No real house-hold names being added to the Reds roster ahead of the 2019 season but certainly lots of house-hold names leaving. 100’s of Wallabies caps will be missing from the group in 2019 with Quade Cooper, Kane Douglas and George Smith just a few of the names leaving Queensland.
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Jock Campbell (Queensland Country)
Will Eadie (Brisbane City)
Gavin Luka (Bond University)
Efi Ma’afu (Queensland Country)
Matt McGahan (Yamaha Jubilo)
Fraser McReight (Brisbane City)
Sefa Naivalu (Rebels)
Harry Wilson (Queensland Country)
Out
Quade Cooper (Rebels)
Kane Douglas (Bordeaux)
Sef Fa’agase (Highlanders)
Michael Gunn (Brisbane City)
Reece Hewat (Brisbane City)
Jono Lance (Worcester Warriors)
Ben Lucas (Grenoble)
Lachlan Maranta (Brisbane City)
Eto Nabuli (Bordeaux)
Jayden Ngamanu (Brisbane City)
Izaia Perese (released)
Andrew Ready (Southland)
James Slipper (Brumbies)
George Smith (Bristol Bears)
Karmichael Hunt (Waratahs)
Markus Vanzati (Force)
SHARKS
The retirements of Keegan Daniel and Michael Claassens are the main squad movement headlines ahead of the 2019 season.
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Ruben van Heerden (Bulls)
Out
Garth April (NTT Shining Arcs)
Tristan Blewett (Kings)
Michael Claassens (retired)
Keegan Daniel (retired)
Johan Deysel (Colomiers)
Ross Geldenhuys (Bay of Plenty)
Franco Marais (Gloucester)
STORMERS
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Ruhan Nel (sevens)
Out
Nizaam Carr (Wasps)
Dewaldt Duvenage (Treviso)
JC Janse van Rensburg (Grenoble)
Jan de Klerk (Canon Eagles)
Dean Muir (Kintetsu Liners)
Raymond Rhule (Grenoble)
Stephan de Wit (Kings)
George Whitehead (Griquas)
Eduard Zandberg (released)
SUNWOLVES
Some good business for the Sunwolves sees former All Black Rene Ranger link up with the Japanese outfit ahead of the 2019 season.
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Mark Abbott (Coca-Cola Red Sparks)
Jamie Booth (Hurricanes)
Phil Burleigh (Canterbury)
Jamie Henry (Toyota Verblitz)
Pauliasi Manu (Blues)
Sam Prattley (Chiefs)
Dan Pryor (Highlanders)
Kara Pryor (Blues)
Rene Ranger (Northland)
Tom Rowe (Otago)
Hiroshi Yamashita (Kobe Steelers)
Out
Nika Khatiashvili (Angoulême)
WARATAHS
Taqele Naiyaravoro has been in destructive form since his move from the Waratahs to Northampton Saints this season and his presence will no doubt be missed on the wing. Ashley-Cooper will make a return to NSW ahead of the 2019 campaign.
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Adam Ashley-Cooper
Karmichael Hunt (Reds)
John Folau (Sydney Rays)
Rory O’Connor (Sydney Rays)
Le Roux Roets (Pumas)
Out
Andrew Kellaway (Northampton Saints)
Kelly Meafua (Béziers)
Taqele Naiyaravoro (Northampton Saints)
Hugh Roach (Rebels)
Paddy Ryan (NSW Country Eagles)
Matt Sandell (Sydney Rays)
Irae Simone (Brumbies)
Michael Snowden (retired)
Kalivati Tawake (Biarritz)
Brad Wilkin (Rebels)
We can’t wait for the Super Rugby season to kick off. Roll on February.
The Melbourne Rebels are delighted to announce a long-term partnership with sporting apparel brand, Dynasty Sport.
Dynasty will be the club’s new on-field and off-field apparel partner from 2023, supplying the Super Rugby and Super W teams as well as retail apparel available via the new Rebels Store.
Dynasty Sport is known for creating world-class, ethically, and sustainably produced apparel.
Their technologically advanced fabric is made from ethically sourced recycled plastic bottles. Each jersey is made from 38 plastic bottles, giving a second life to single-use plastic.
“At any one time, the 15 Melbourne Rebels players on the field will have 870 recycled plastic bottles in their playing apparel which means more than 1,300 bottles for a 23-man game day squad” Dynasty Co-Founder, Tyler Rakich explained.
The Rebels join a host of Australia’s premier sporting teams in partnering with Dynasty, including several NRL and Super Rugby clubs. Melbourne Rebels players, members, and fans are set to boast a new standard of quality apparel.
As the Rebels welcome a host of new players this off-season and with the emergence of young talent including Glen Vaihu, Carter Gordon, Josh Canham, Daniel Maiava, and Lukas Ripley, this new partnership aligns perfectly with the Club’s exciting future.
“Dynasty is a brand known across the Pacific for its excellence in apparel and we’re absolutely thrilled to be partnering with them,” Melbourne Rebels CEO Baden Stephenson said.
“We want to be known for having an exciting brand and being a progressive Club that is sustainable and environmentally conscious. Dynasty aligns perfectly with those values.”Tyler and Dynasty have been amazing to work with so far, and we can’t wait for our members and fans to see the exciting new range of merchandise very shortly.”
Rakich said the partnership with the Melbourne Rebels was a perfect marriage of organisational values.
“It’s great to work with an organisation that have a focus on sustainability but also appreciate the value of a well-designed and high-quality apparel range for both the players and fans. It’s hugely exciting for everyone at Dynasty Sport. I would like to thank Baden Stephenson and the Rebels board for their trust and work aligning our two brands for an exciting partnership.”
Our 2023 merchandise range is set to be unveiled in December, with an exclusive member pre-sale from melbournerebels.shop via the new Rebels Store.
Content & Images from – Melbourne Rebels Rugby
For the first time in Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) history, the Queensland Reds will play two games in Townsville next year as the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific draw was officially announced today.
As part of the QRU’s long-term investment in North Queensland, the Reds will return to Townsville not once, but twice as Queensland Rugby celebrates its 140-year anniversary in 2023.
The Reds will kick-off their season against Kiwi powerhouse the Hurricanes at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on 25 February, before taking on traditional rivals New South Wales in Round 11 at the same venue on 6 May.
After last year’s Trans-Tasman clash against the Chiefs in Townsville, the two historic fixtures will continue Queensland’s strong connection with regional communities following the successful Reds to Regions tours across the state in what shapes as a not-to-be-missed opportunity for regional Rugby fans.
South-East Queensland supporters won’t feel left out either with five blockbusters at Suncorp Stadium including home games against both of last season’s Grand Finalists – the Crusaders and Blues, another classic cauldron grudge-match against the Brumbies, plus entertaining encounters with the Force and Fijian Drua.
QRU CEO David Hanham said: “North Queensland is a critical market for Rugby and Townsville is key to the QRU’s long-term strategy for the region.
“These two matches will provide the QRU and our regional communities further opportunity to connect following the successful Reds to Regions visits across the state as we once again bring Rugby to North Queensland.
“North Queensland has been an essential part of Rugby’s history and it was important for us to recognise this with Reds games being played across all of Queensland next year as Queensland Rugby celebrates its 140-year anniversary.
“To have Reds matches in both northern and southern Queensland next year is a great result for Rugby fans across the state and I’d like to thank the Palaszczuk Government, Townsville City Council, Townsville Enterprise Limited, Stadiums Queensland and Tourism and Events Queensland for their support to ensure these two matches could take place.
“We were unable to play at Suncorp Stadium in Round 1 due to a double-booking with a concert on at the stadium. We worked collaboratively with SANZAAR and Rugby Australia to look at options around the draw, but it couldn’t be changed, and so we felt it was a good opportunity to take a second game to Townsville.
“We’ve got five quality home matches at Suncorp Stadium including games against the Blues and Crusaders who finished top of the table last season. We’ve got another match against the Brumbies who we’ve created a great rivalry with, plus exciting clashes against the Fijian Drua and Force which all makes for a great draw next year,” said Hanham.
Tourism and Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe welcomed the return of great Rugby to Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
“We built a world-class, state-of-the-art stadium in Townsville to bring more national and international sporting events to North Queensland,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
“There’s pent-up demand for elite Rugby in the North with a growing Reds supporter base and a huge appetite for international and Trans-Tasman games.
“We know when Rugby is live in Townsville, fans from Queensland and interstate will follow and contribute millions of dollars to the region’s visitor economy.
“Our green and gold runway to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games is primed to deliver two golden decades of opportunity for more first-class Rugby content in the North.”
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said: “The Reds return to Townsville for matches against the Wellington Hurricanes and New South Wales Waratahs demonstrates once again Townsville’s reputation as an elite sporting capital.
“To lock in the opening match of the international season, as well as the always highly-anticipated Reds versus Waratahs game, will not only see our city beamed into the homes of tens of thousands of viewers from across Australia and internationally, but at a local level will provide our rugby-loving North Queensland community the chance to engage directly with some of their sporting heroes.”
Townsville Enterprise Director – Visitor Economy & Marketing Lisa Woolfe said: “We acknowledge the work of our local and state governments in securing another world-class event for Townsville and North Queensland.
“This is another coup for our Queensland Country Bank Stadium which time and time again has proven it can be a strong economic driver for our city and showcases our region as the events and sporting capital of Northern Australia.
“Based on hosting previous Queensland Reds and Rugby Union games in Townsville, we estimate the economic impact will be at least $2M to the region and will showcase our destination to millions, putting us top of mind for future visitors.”
In addition to the two matches in Townsville, Queensland will play a historic match in Samoa as Moana Pasifika take their Round 8 home match to Apia while the Reds will also play the Drua in Fiji for the first time in the final round of the competition.
Sunday afternoon Rugby also returns to Suncorp Stadium for the first time in four years as Queensland host the Fijian Drua in their opening match at the cauldron in Round 4.
The match will be one-of-two Sunday afternoon games for the Reds with seven Friday night matches and five Saturday games in 2023.
As previously announced, Super Round is back at AAMI Park in Melbourne where all 12 teams will once again gather for a high-stakes festival of Rugby as Queensland battles the Western Force in Round 2.
The 2023 draw will see all 12 teams play 14 matches during a 15-week regular season including 11 round-robin fixtures plus three additional rivalry matches, as well as a three-week eight-team Finals Series with all 91 matches live and exclusive on Stan Sport.
For the first time Queensland Rugby will offer a unique membership for the two games in Townsville allowing North Queenslanders the chance to get even more involved with the Reds.
Visit reds.rugby for more details on 2023 Reds Memberships at both Suncorp Stadium and Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
Content & Images from – Queensland Reds Rugby
The ACT Brumbies have confirmed the signing of Sevens superstar Corey Toole on a two-year deal.
Toole is coming off one of the best debut seasons in Sevens history, winning the Impact Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and selection in the Team of the Year.
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The Gungahlin outside back has come through the ACT pathways, representing the Brumbies at Schools, Under 19s and Runners level.
“I’m grateful for this opportunity and excited to be joining the club’s Super Rugby squad full-time,” Toole said in a statement.
“These last 12 months or so have been life-changing for me and to have earned this crack at a club that I’ve wanted to represent for a long-time is surreal and my job now is just to repay that faith and to continue to earn it every day at training.
“Obviously representing Australia in Sevens has been a massive honour and my focus now is transitioning back into 15s and having a good preseason.”
Toole joins fellow Sevens star Ben O’Donnell and Jack Debreczeni in signing with the club over the past week, set to pull on the jersey on Saturday against a Waratahs development team.
Coach Stephen Larkham was thrilled to have Toole sign on as a full-time member, excited to unleash his blistering speed.
“Corey is a really exciting addition to our group,” he added.
“He’s made a name for himself in Sevens this year, but those in ACT rugby have been aware of his ability for some time and we believe he has all the tools to play Super Rugby.
“Corey’s one of our own, from our region in Wagga Wagga and I’ve no doubt he’ll be proud to represent the club and the ACT at the top level if and when he earns his chance.”
Content & Images from – Brumbies Rugby
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