Liam Messam and Sonny Bill Williams are set to leave the Chiefs after the franchise bowed out of the playoffs on Saturday in a 24-14 qualifier loss to the Highlanders.
Their destination – Rio, or at least that is the hope. Chiefs head coach Dave Rennie has confirmed that Messam, the Chiefs captain, will leave the team to focus entirely on making the New Zealand sevens team for next year’s Olympics.
While not yet confirmed, it’s the prevailing opinion that Williams will follow suit.
The departures add to what looks likely to be a busy off-season for the Chiefs with a large number of players leaving the franchise.
Outside backs Tom Marshall and Bryce Heem are both leaving for England, Horsea Gear to France and Tim Nanai-Williams to Japan.
Up forward Matt Symons and Mike FitzGerald are both leaving for English contracts, and dynamic tighthead prop Ben Tameifuna for France.
Rennie admitted that Messam’s departure would be a serious blow to the Chiefs.
“Not just his playing ability but his leadership – he’s very charismatic, incredibly passionate – he’ll be very difficult to replace.”
“But it’s exciting for him. He obviously won a gold medal at Commonwealth Games and to try and win an Olympic gold would be pretty special so we’ll fully support it and who knows, he may be back in ’17.”
Acknowledging the large number of departures, he did remain optimistic for the Chiefs’ 2016 season.
“There are still a lot of spots open and wider training group spots of course, but there’ll obviously be a fair few new faces coming in which is exciting,” Rennie said.
“There might be 10 or 11 changes with guys getting other opportunities and so on, but that’s pretty standard. We normally lose a quarter to a third of our side each year.”
The Chiefs were knocked out of the playoffs on Saturday night in a 24-14 loss to the Highlanders in Dunedin.
They struggled to the end of the year, losing five of their last seven matches before their season ended on Saturday.
Messam and Williams were both named in the All Blacks’ 41-man squad on Sunday, as were some of their fellow Chiefs, Hika Elliot, Brodie Retallick, Sam Cane and Tawera Kerr-Barlow.
The All Blacks are the reigning Rugby World Cup champions and New Zealand the reigning Commonwealth Rugby Sevens Silver Medallists.
The Rio 2016 Summer Olympics begin on August 5, 2016.
John
Guest
Agreed.
Not Bothered
Guest
People dont like it and they try to say it isnt true but imo the truth is that NONE of NZs best potentially greatest 7s players actually play 7s. Yes thats right, imo NZ has all of its best talent in 15s. A few names that would improve our 7s team. A.Savea J.Savea A.Ioane L.Messam N.Milne-Skudder SBW D.McKenzie B.Barrett A.Smith G.Moala R.Ranger M.Nonu Naturally it would take time for these players to adapt but imo if NZ had its entire pool of rugby players dedicated to training for 7s, none of the NZ 7s players we now have would be in the squad.
Not Bothered
Guest
Did SBW play poorly? He must have played in some other games outside of Super Rugby because he was pretty good in the games I watched.
Old Bugger
Guest
OJ In hindsight and on their own, not much of a loss at all until you number up who else the franchise, will lose. But in all probability, this was going to be a final year for both of them anyway. SBW only had a 2yr deal - this year in RWC and next year in Rio was always his plan and we all knew about that. A Rio winner's medal will be a welcome addition to his list of successes. Messam probably made up his mind to go 7s as early as after the EOYT last year and just sat on the fence until NZRU confirmed current contract payments, for SR & AB selection, would continue thru' to the 7s. RWC was in his mind, going to be his swan-song and unless he gets a dreaded phone call from Shag, then his position would've been secured. This is his chance to get an RWC winner's medal since he missed out in 2011 and a Rio winner's medal will go well with his Commw'lth Games winners medal. As the saying goes - "you gotta be in it to win it...." Both these blokes are just indicating their intentions and Shag's loyalty IMO, has just helped them confirm, their pathways.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Given the way they played this season is it much of a loss?
Jamieson Murphy
Roar Guru
Pretty sure SBW playing 7s is all but confirmed.
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
Do you know something we don't know?
Vhavnal
Roar Rookie
Shaun Johnson from the Warriors also wanting to play for the NZ 7's team..
Lindsay Amner
Roar Guru
Next year is likely to be a big struggle for the Chiefs. They will have a very new young backline, which will be great for them in years to come but they may get a bit thrashed next year. With Cruden and Weber they will still have something to build around, but I don't expect them to make the finals next year. A mid table finish at best. That said, a number of other NZ franchises are also hard hit, the Crusaders and Hurricanes in particular. Hurricanes lose their rocks in midfield Smith and Nonu, while the Crusaders lose all their flyhalves and the talismanic McCaw, among others. The NZ teams could all slip back to the pack next year as they rebuild.