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Aussie Player Exodus

Derpus

Nathan Sharpe (72)
There are also limited overseas contracts. Its not like 100% of Australia's players can immediately pick up a lucrative offer overseas.
 

Strewthcobber

Simon Poidevin (60)
Japan already has a limit on how many OS players can be on the pitch.

Presumably the French clubs will also continue with their policy of not paying players on international duty, and we will continue to see players like Skelton not putting themselves up for selection as a result
 

Derpus

Nathan Sharpe (72)
Japan already has a limit on how many OS players can be on the pitch.

Presumably the French clubs will also continue with their policy of not paying players on international duty, and we will continue to see players like Skelton not putting themselves up for selection as a result
Skelton seemed willing when it was logistically feasible. The windows are the real issue. It seems that WR (World Rugby) actively devalue their primary product in their kowtowing to the French league.
 

Dctarget

Tim Horan (67)
Christie at the Roar confirms Tom Hooper is gone.
yeah fuck this. Chiefs as well. Sio is there toiling away in an absolute garbage side who can't keep any of their own players but can still poach ours. Shows how weak our market is. Brumbies would smoke the Chiefs in a match too. Open the gates!
 

Derpus

Nathan Sharpe (72)
yeah fuck this. Chiefs as well. Sio is there toiling away in an absolute garbage side who can't keep any of their own players but can still poach ours. Shows how weak our market is. Brumbies would smoke the Chiefs in a match too. Open the gates!
Maybe part of the reason they are fucking garbage is that they are spoofing big money on a pretty ok 5/6 hybrid foreigner?
 

Mick The Munch

Bill McLean (32)
I think we’re seeing why JS hasn’t announced his decision - he seeing who’s left after the Lions.

Christy implies more might be off
 

Tomikin

David Codey (61)
I think we’re seeing why JS hasn’t announced his decision - he seeing who’s left after the Lions.

Christy implies more might be off
Maybe we are seeing free market.. what was your last positive post... If you hate rugby so much ... Maybe do something else.. Melbourne apologies... 20 million of fucked disease
 

LevitatingSocks

Watty Friend (18)
"We need a third tier development series for up and coming Australian talent to play in"

*monkey paw curls*

Super Rugby becomes that third tier development series after the Giteau law is scrapped and every class Wallaby heads to Europe or Japan.
 

Hogie

Herbert Moran (7)
At the England v Australia match last year at Twickenham a number of the Australia A players were in attendance watching the match. Reimer, Fines-Leleiwasa, Muirhead were talking to a number of Wallaby fans and all of them raved about the crowd and atmosphere for their previous Australia A match against Bristol Bears. This seemed to be a massive eye opener for the players that playing in front of full stadiums was the norm for European club rugby. Off the back of this exposure I am sure that more players on the Australia A tour, who are on the fringes of the Wallabies, will be taking a serious look at this option. And honestly as much as I want a strong National side and domestic competition, I cannot blame them for considering this.
 

Derpus

Nathan Sharpe (72)
At the England v Australia match last year at Twickenham a number of the Australia A players were in attendance watching the match. Reimer, Fines-Leleiwasa, Muirhead were talking to a number of Wallaby fans and all of them raved about the crowd and atmosphere for their previous Australia A match against Bristol Bears. This seemed to be a massive eye opener for the players that playing in front of full stadiums was the norm for European club rugby. Off the back of this exposure I am sure that more players on the Australia A tour, who are on the fringes of the Wallabies, will be taking a serious look at this option. And honestly as much as I want a strong National side and domestic competition, I cannot blame them for considering this.
Lol no. Exeter Chiefs average around 11k in a 15k seater.

'Employee want more money' - That's it. That's the whole thing.
 

Adam84

Rod McCall (65)
Yeah… can’t see how it’s sustainable.

It was even rumoured Swansea were originally in the running for Hooper, the situation in Wales is dire, especially for Swansea who are moving out of the current 21k Swansea Stadium because they don’t even come close to filling it, and instead are moving to this as their new ground later in 2025 with a capacity of 8k

IMG_5679.jpeg
 

Strewthcobber

Simon Poidevin (60)
Yeah, Bristol were pretty disappointed that the Australia XV only drew 15k to their stadium - pretty much half full. South Africa in 2022 drew 10k+ more than that.

Edit - Ticket sales were also the reason isn't wasn't broadcast
 
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The Ghost of Raelene

David Codey (61)
Well when the 8th ranked side in the world bring their 2nd team I can understand the needle not moving too much compared to the World Champs 2nd team.

That ground is marvellous. Bit of Kids Cricket at the same time. Nice short square boundaries there.

Can't even fathom how miserable that joint must be on a windy winter night.
 

The Ghost of Raelene

David Codey (61)
The more I think about Hooper leaving the more it doens't overly hit the panic stations like it could with others.

He's a good enough player but right now Rugby isn't taking a body shot with it like Ikitau would be. Do we want to lose anyone? No, but we always have and always will as it's a career for the player.

Players in that category of international wider squad but not starting XV are prime targets for OS recruitment because its a great pickup in pro clubland and the national bodies are unlikely to break the bank to stop them leaving. At 23 he has plenty of Rugby in front of him and I hope we see him back here as hopefully a 27 year old Lock in his prime years.

The way Frost toured and Williams emergence as a genuine Test starter really put Hooper behind a few players with Valetini a lock and Wright an injured Captain. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Uru was also playing well and we all see the potential in guys like Canham. The Wallabies are not weakened by this departure. Depth is which can flow up, but this is the type of unfortunate departure that is an environmental norm.
 

stillmissit

Peter Johnson (47)
The more I think about Hooper leaving the more it doens't overly hit the panic stations like it could with others.

He's a good enough player but right now Rugby isn't taking a body shot with it like Ikitau would be. Do we want to lose anyone? No, but we always have and always will as it's a career for the player.

Players in that category of international wider squad but not starting XV are prime targets for OS recruitment because its a great pickup in pro clubland and the national bodies are unlikely to break the bank to stop them leaving. At 23 he has plenty of Rugby in front of him and I hope we see him back here as hopefully a 27 year old Lock in his prime years.

The way Frost toured and Williams emergence as a genuine Test starter really put Hooper behind a few players with Valetini a lock and Wright an injured Captain. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Uru was also playing well and we all see the potential in guys like Canham. The Wallabies are not weakened by this departure. Depth is which can flow up, but this is the type of unfortunate departure that is an environmental norm.
True and we have gotten used to it, each one gets weighed up against who is left and what impact it would have. I would have been more upset had it been Cale or Leota (Williams as a 6 as well). As it is, the pain is bearable as long as the madness of Achilles tendon injuries is behind us.
 

Rugby Head

Ted Thorn (20)
The more I think about Hooper leaving the more it doens't overly hit the panic stations like it could with others.

He's a good enough player but right now Rugby isn't taking a body shot with it like Ikitau would be. Do we want to lose anyone? No, but we always have and always will as it's a career for the player.

Players in that category of international wider squad but not starting XV are prime targets for OS recruitment because its a great pickup in pro clubland and the national bodies are unlikely to break the bank to stop them leaving. At 23 he has plenty of Rugby in front of him and I hope we see him back here as hopefully a 27 year old Lock in his prime years.

The way Frost toured and Williams emergence as a genuine Test starter really put Hooper behind a few players with Valetini a lock and Wright an injured Captain. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Uru was also playing well and we all see the potential in guys like Canham. The Wallabies are not weakened by this departure. Depth is which can flow up, but this is the type of unfortunate departure that is an environmental norm.
“I’m going to leave the Brumbies and try my best to become a better player, with a view to coming back to Australia and becoming an older, more experienced player later down the track, whenever that may be.”
 
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