Sonny Bill waits for All Blacks clearance

I think you may find that Piri was given an offer after Hammet and co new that Gear and Cruden were leaving.

nice!

Sonny Bill cleared by the Panasonic Knights to play the first two Bledisloe cup matches late Sunday Night.

Yes that was the most interesting thing afterall Katzilla, Hammett and the Canes wanted Piri to stay hence the offer and by the sounds of things it was on par to what Auckland offered him. Like you have reiterated Piri left due to his personal relationship breakdown not because of Hammett showing him the door like that which happened to Nonu and Hore

Others have been moderated for much less than what this guy is writing, come on mods show some spine

You do realise that the "Pacific Islanders" that you say can New Zealand do with out are mostly born and Bred in New Zealand. Mealamu Tokoroa the same town Quade Cooper is from, SBW Auckland who by the way is half palagi (white). Ma'a Nonu born In Wellington should I go on? P.S lets look at the Samoan team Kahn Fotuali'i and Kane Thompson to name a couple born and bred in New Zealand

Would you say that the SOO is boring because NSW haven't won it for so long?

Why Chuckles he is still a Kiwi and still playing union and is eligible why should the NZRU turn their back on him?

Biltong the 14 teams in the Currie Cup do not pay the same level as Super or Top 14 teams and are in two divisions: they are not top level teams in the same sense. Players need the top tier to move forward. Number of teams is more important than scheduling: it is criticial. The more teams, the more TV money. It's quite the opposite of being at a financial limited: the more teams, the more money from a bigger TV deal because there is more exposure to more markets. Look at the NRL and AFL. Each of them has no more than 10 million but they produce 15 teams. South Africa could easily produce many. The schedule can be adjusted any way to make it work: there can be fewer matches internationally or within each conference or not every team playing every other one or whatever: it isn't the main issue.

Exactly Kuruki, when Sonny's pedigree was absolutely enhanced by the Australian league culture. As a NZer I acknowlege that if he stayed in NZ he'd be knowhere near who he is. As for rugby union. Samoa hasn't done anything for Sonny. Aus made him a better league player and NZ made him a better union player and Samoa did nothing, but roll in and claim they had something to do with it. Lord give me strength.

No, New Zealand made him. Straight out fact. Do you think if he stayed in France for 4 years, or went to Australia he would be the same player, not likely champ. Tell me of one Samoan playing only in Samoa who's a world beater. Answer=zero! And by the way SBW's is a new Zealander first, born and bred in Auckland, nowhere near Samoa. It is the same as saying Kobe Bryant's an African, when he's American. get over it, without NZ Samoa would not be the force they are. We made you.

bakkies wasnt one of the toughest, jus the dirtiest. agree tho that the AB's need some bakkies in the squad. AB's are jsut too nice imho. bring back richardLoe and troyFlavell

KPM, we have 14 teams, the Currie Cup has 14 professional teams, the money issue will always be a problem as the economies of the 14 ciies that hold these teams aren't equally strong. Owever you also need to remember that France and England may have 14 and 12 professional teams respectively, only 6 teams of each country qualifies for the Heineken Cup. The situation there though is a total mixed bag with the scheduling as a player can play 3 different competitions in a month. The way I see it is if you expand it to 6 teams at Super rugby level then you are near the limit for each country financial wise. 8 teams can work definitely to encompass Australia into a proper professional league, but then the calendar becomes the problem. Perhaps then the derby matches would need to be reduced to a single round robin.

biltong the sacrifices I was referring to were extending the season basically. However as I said I think the format is too small for South Africa as well as Australia and New Zealand: if France and England have 14 and 12 professional teams I think it's ridiculous that any of the southern hemisphere countries, including South Africa, has only five. 8 teams as opposed to 5 would give so many more opportunities and develop the game so much more and maximise the talent available. That applies more than all to South Africa which has by far the biggest playing numbers. However in South Africa the system whereby three of five franchises are allowed to keep all the talent prevents expansion and would have to be adapted.

Yes KPM, the survival of the sport is important, and yet the sacrafices you are talking about sounds a tad one sided from my perspective. Anyhow, I wrote a piece earlier today that outlines a format I believe will suit all three countries. I don't want to expand on it now, but it will most likely come out tomorrow.

Johnno and Biltong sacrifices need to be made for the survival of the game in Australia and New Zealand: Biltong you may have noticed the hopeless performance of Australia at the Olympics, the decline of the cricket and rugby teams: this is the NRL and AFL taking all the talent. In any case the schedule can be juggled to allow the extra teams and slightly lengthened: not every team needs to play every other, the survival of the sport is more important.

biltongbek i like your schedule but i am subty against febuary starts but for the last week. Why crowds and tv ratings, and preseason. A player needs 3 months off. And needs a preseason in that. I favour march-november season. And super rugby is fine now as it is id only add 1 more match max or 2 matches max. but allow matches in jeu test window the first week anyway. but rest for the next 2 weeks. 1 week with super rugby squads being depleted wont be too bad most likely or i am prepared to trial that. coz 3 weeks is really hurting super rugby i think. 2 weeks is fine but 3 weeks has been bad for super rugby in june, have 2 week guys . I have no issues with rugby going into mid december. i'd prefer that too later start as the euro calendar is going on in december anyway they are right in there season. So i would keep super rugby as it is schedule wise but put in 2 extra matches max. and if have the extra match have it in june. Plus the extra weekend between grand finals-have a 2 week gap. So no issues finsih mid-december, the boy will be home for christmas easy and the test boys will gets 4-6 weeks off to freshen up. and can always miss the opening 1-2 weeks of the super rugby season anyway especially if squads extend.

Guys, I understand that, but you also need to understand that the Super XV, can't just grow uncontrolled either. I know the June test series is important from a financial perspective, but it limits the time avaiable for a Super Rugby comp. You also need to think about the fact that a 30 weeks season will be overkill. If the IRB can make the test windows in a 4 month window, eg. Ausgust, September, October and November it will also assit with scheduling. This way you have from the Beginning of Feb to July which will provide aomthing like 26 weeks for a Super rugby tournament. Even Australia should be happy with that as their domestic season will run for six months and then it is 4 months of test rugby.

I agree KPM it may be too late. And this new tv deal that league is working on maybe almost or ver $1billion dollars, will further add funds for under-20 rugby league. So rugby better act soon, and the ARU make an effort to find some investors in the sport in OZ. Coz time maybe running out KPM.

Johnno the AFL and NRL are racing ahead and it could be that it's too late for rugby already. They have taken the talent from rugby, cricket and Olympic sports and with 16+ teams they could finish off other Australian sport. I may right a rare article on this subject so watch out! Rugby can try and hold on by its teeth but only with drastic expansion to protect its ravaged heartlands and take unchallenged (by the NRL) markets such as Adelaide. But given the speed at which things move, it could all be over long before that. New Zealand should worry too: it's obvious where a cashed up and expanding NRL and AFL will aim next.