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)
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)
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.
Marika Koroibete is officially leaving Australian rugby and the Melbourne Rebels, with the star winger confirming his move to Japan on Friday.
Amid much ado in Japan, Robbie Deans’ 2021 championship-winning Panasonic Wild Knights welcomed Koroibete for the country’s first fully professional season next year.
The 2019 John Eales Medallist as Australia’s player of the year will link up with the Wild Knights for the Japan Rugby League One kicking off on January 7.
While widely forecast, Koroibete’s departure is nevertheless a huge blow for the Rebels and Wallabies, with Test coach Dave Rennie reluctant to use overseas-based players for national duty.
“I am very excited to be joining Saitama from 2022 season. I have been a big fan of the growing game in Japan and enjoyed my time in the country for the 2019 Rugby World Cup,” Koroibete said.
“I am looking forward to joining a very successful organisation that strives for greatness and working hard to ensure Panasonic continue to win titles.
“I have heard great things about Robbie Deans coaching and have had pleasant experiences in our brief chats so far. I cannot wait to join Robbie’s coaching staff and the rest of the team, train hard and get the fans off their seats.
“My family and I are excited to arrive in Japan and experience more of the country’s great culture whilst playing some great rugby with an exciting team, great coaching staff, successful organisation and thriving rugby competition.”
The Wild Knights won the last Top League title this year, beating Suntory Sungoliath, who have Eddie Jones as a consultant in the final.
Koroibete will join fellow Australians Dylan Riley and loose forwards Jack Cornelsen and Ben Gunter on the club’s roster.
Australia centre Tevita Kuridrani said on Wednesday he will end his Test career as he joins French Top 14 club Biarritz next season.
Kuridrani, 30, who made the last of his 61 Wallabies appearances at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, has signed a two-year deal with the newly promoted outfit from the Basque Country.
He has spent almost a decade with two Australian franchises.
“Thank you @brumbiesrugby @wallabies and the @westernforce for 10
incredible years in Super Rugby and 6 in the green & gold,” he posted
on Twitter.
“Time for a new chapter,” he added.
Kuridrani made his debut for the Brumbies in 2012, going on to play 135 games for the club.
He would become a stalwart of the club as he nailed down a starting spot in his second season, helping the club to the Super Rugby Final and a historic win over the British and Irish Lions.
The 31-year-old moved to the Western Force in 2021, playing an integral role in their maiden finals appearance in Super Rugby AU.
Fijian-born Kuridrani, who would still be eligible for his country having won more than 60 caps, will link up with fellow Australia back Henry Speight at the Parc des Sports d’Aguilera as well as ex-New Zealand centre Francis Saili and former England No. 8 Steffon Armitage.
Biarritz, five-time French champions, have also signed Argentina scrum-half and Force teammate Tomas Cubelli and Ireland prop James Cronin as they return to the top flight for the first time in seven years.
The NSW Waratahs have confirmed Darren Coleman as head coach for 2022 and beyond.
Coleman has signed a three-year deal following an extensive 25-year coaching career, arriving from MLR club LA Giltinis in the USA.
The 48-year-old made his name in the Shute Shield, winning competitions with Warringah (2017) and Gordon (2020), along with serving as head coach and director of rugby of the NSW Country Eagles in the NRC.
“I’m passionate about the opportunity to coach the Waratahs. I’m coming home to what I regard as my dream job, one I’ve been preparing for over many years,” he said in a statement.
“I also know that this role comes with an enormous responsibility to establish a winning team that will proudly represent the people of NSW as a collective of the professional and community game.
“We have a great deal of work to do to regain our place as the best provincial rugby team in the country. That means a team that Waratahs’ members and fans are proud of and the team that every rugby-loving kid in NSW wants to play for as they are growing up.
“I want our players to get back their love of the game, to rebuild their confidence in themselves and in the team. I want them to bring back that winning culture at the Waratahs.
“Finally, I genuinely want to express my gratitude to the LA Giltinis’ ownership and management for allowing me to take this opportunity and thank the Los Angeles Rugby Community for their support in 2021.”
Waratahs CEO Paul Doorn is confident Coleman is the right man to turn around their fortunes given his vast experience across all levels of NSW Rugby.
“Darren has all the experience that comes from learning the art of coaching over many years and in many different competitions,” Doorn added.
“He’s had success with the Shute Shield clubs in Sydney and he knows the bush and he knows the players and he can draw on the experience gained at overseas clubs, to bring success to the Waratahs.
“The Waratahs represent all of NSW, the players who come through our pathways know they can graduate from Shute Shield to professional rugby and now we have a coach who not only understands that system, but who comes from that system too.
“He’s passionate about bringing that all together and uniting everyone behind the Waratahs and I’m confident we have someone who can lead us to becoming the best provincial team in the country.”
LA Giltinis General Manager and Waratahs legend Adam Freier said the decision to return home has their blessing, with the club currently sitting at the top of the Major League Rugby ladder.
“We are an aspirational club that always wants our players, coaches and staff to achieve their dreams. For that reason, Darren goes with our absolute support,” Freier said.
“We are proud of what Darren has helped build and that the achievements of the Giltinis continue to gain recognition worldwide.
“This is a significant moment in time for the club and MLR that such an iconic franchise as the Waratahs has this faith in our rugby program, culture and its people.
“Already, we are seeing several of our players selected for the USA Eagles and Canada and come into contention for national honors which will remain our focus and underpin the foundations of the club.
“Darren has always done things differently. He is a team-builder and a winner and those traits will continue to strongly guide the Giltinis through the final month of this season and the years ahead.
“He is a good ‘Rugby man’ and dear friend to all of us here at the club. We wish his wife Pauline and kids Jake and Ella the very best in their next chapter. They will always be welcome here at the Giltinis and be part of the LA Rugby Family.”
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