Veteran Wallabies halfback Will Genia and former five-eighth Quade Cooper will join Japanese club Kintetsu Liners after this year’s World Cup.
Veteran Wallabies playmaking duo Will Genia and Quade Cooper will join Japan’s Kintetsu Liners following this year’s Rugby World Cup.
The Melbourne Rebels duo, who also played Super Rugby together in Queensland for the Reds, are the latest top players to head to Japan to play club rugby after the country hosts the World Cup.
The Liners, who play in Japan’s second-tier Top Challenge League, said halfback Genia will link up with the club after the World Cup, but five-eighth Cooper, who was not named in the
Wallabies’ Rugby Championship squad, could move to Japan as soon as September.
Japan’s domestic league season will begin in January 2020, which is later than usual due to the World Cup, which starts on September 20.
“My aim is to do my best and, through my play, I would like to make this the number one team in Japan,” Genia said in a statement on the club’s website.
The Liners, who are based near Osaka, have never won Japan’s Top League competition since it started in 2004 but did win the amateur All-Japan Championship three times between 1966-1974.
“I will work hard to take the team back to Top League,” added Cooper.
“When we reach the Top League, then I want to contribute more again at that stage.
“I want to challenge rugby in Japan, and I can still contribute on the pitch.”
Fellow Wallaby David Pocock will also return to Japan in 2020 and it was not just Australian players who have been enticed to Japanese rugby next season.
All Blacks Kieran Read, Brodie Retallick and Ryan Crotty will also be heading to Japan, along with South African loose forward Duane Vermeulen.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
And did he strike that deal after being knocked back for an extended contract by RA ?
Jacko
Guest
Tman i think you need to organise a LOT of Auckland women to infiltrate the other franchises and get their "Men" to shift back to Auckland....We dont see too many established stars move franchises but we see a lot of youngsters chasing contracts and willing to move anywhere in NZ....Great news for the blues.....
Paul
Roar Rookie
Pretty confident he has not played 10 for the Rebels. He should definitely be playing 10 for the Rising when he suits up for them next.
Harry Selassie
Roar Rookie
Some club should try and repatriate Jack Debreczeni back from NZ.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Love it T/man, as I too, hope can meet the Blue's standards.lol. Great gain though mate. Cheers.
Jacko
Guest
RO Cooper could have been a mentor of the 10s in Melbourne but they chose to play him into the ground and not bother to try any new guys at 10....Tahs basically played foley all year and Brumbies played CCL there all year.....I didnt see any Sr side in Aus attempt to develop any 10 options....Now they are going to pay for it....To me Mason will go well given time for the Tahs and the Reds have hegarty, Stewart and Lucas but I have no idea who the Rebels and Brumbies back up 10s have been this year...
taylorman
Roar Guru
Was going to send him film of the Blues winning titles but the VHS tape is a bit scratchy. :-)
Jacko
Guest
Maddocks has been tipped as a 10 for 2 years now and I dont think he has actually played SR at 10 has he? I dont understand why Aus coaches have ignored the development of 10s and with 3 franchises losing their top 10s the u20s cant fill all the positions.....I wonder if Debrizini is coming back to Aus rugby? I think he would be better off with the Chiefs but where do these 10s come from? Qld look to be sorted with hegerty, Stewart and Lucas, NSW has Mason but who else is out there?
Lara
Guest
Maybe the key to Auckland.
DaveR
Guest
I cant help wondering at what point in the Super Rugby season Genia struck the deal with Kintetsu, and whether that corresponded to his dramatic fall off in form over the last 5-6 games.
Fraser
Guest
Foley is gone after WC.
Bluesfan
And just as we are discussing - see Foley has now confirmed off to Japan. Leaves Beale I guess...
Bluesfan
To be honest - you have to question Strategy of RA - compare the 10's that NZ Sides will be able to play next year: Blues: Barrett Chiefs: McKenzie Hurricanes:? Crusaders: Mounga Highlanders: Ioane - under that Hayden Parker might be signing up from the Sunwolves as well. Hurriances are the only NZ side that will have question marks over the 10 that they have directing there play vs. Oz. Hopefully they retain one of Beale or Foley - otherwise no chance for Oz sides next year - which is pretty poor when it's still only 2019. Agree on Maddocks - looks a talent but appears wasted at the back etc.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Agreed Bluesfan but how much control does RA have ? Cooper could have had two seasons with the Reds mentoring young Stewart. Mack Mason could have been getting solid game time with the 'Tahs before stepping up to replace Foley. However none of that happened and it's difficult to see how RA could have changed that.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Good point, any organisation that pays Hooper that much must be pretty flash
Hoy
Roar Guru
Odd, given how much we have been losing...
Paul
Roar Rookie
Agreed Bluesfan. I actually believe Jack Maddocks should be groomed to move up the ground. As soon as this RWC is over in fact. The Rebels, or whoever he plays for, should release him so he can go play ITM cup for a season like Stirzaker did. While I'm at it, someone should bring Nic Stirzaker back too.
Paul
Roar Rookie
Four year deal Taylorman. They should get him a place in Takapuna on Hurstmere Road and not let him go!
Paul
Roar Rookie
KCOL, I think you hit the nail on the head here- it's not the best team, it's the safest one. We've had a four year cycle to blood new players and test combinations. We've been so risk averse and scared of losing.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
There is a lot of BS around certain ideas Massive.