Bye Bye Jerry Y

[RugbyReg]

THE Fiji Rugby Union has secured the services of ACT Brumbies prop Jerry Yanuyanutawa for the World Cup in New Zealand next year.

Yanuyanutawa, 25, plays loose head prop and is highly rated for his scrummaging, strength and mobility.

He signed a three-year deal with the Brumbies this season and has played four matches.

The former Fiji Under 21 flanker played for Australia A in 2008.

Earlier he helped his club ù Sydney University ù win the prized Shute Shield.

Yanuyanutawa's mentors include former world renowned props like Australia's Bill Young and Englishman Trevor Woodman.

FRU chairman Bill Gavoka is optimistic that the Flying Fijians' scrum will improve in time for next year's World Cup.

Referring to Yanuyanutawa, he said, "This is the kind of material we have".

"We're in regular contact with him. He has indicated his willingness to play for Fiji.

"It's just that he couldn't go on the Europe tour because he had something else happening in Australia."

Gavoka said there was a lot of work to be done in the front row prior to the World Cup.

"We hope young and inexperienced players like Campese Ma'afu would have learnt a lot from the tour," he said.

"We also have players like Deacon Manu, Graham Dewes, Vesi Rarawa, Viliame Veikoso and Setefano Samoca. We have to work on these players, put them in the grinder to get the best out of them."

Gavoka said Italy was lucky to escape with a narrow win over the Flying Fijians in the match yesterday morning.

"Compared to the amount of possession we had, that match was ours if not for the dropped passes," he said.

"From the crumbs we had, Italy was fortunate to win.

"We could have scored many tries but our finishing wasn't good and this is indicative of the potential we have which, if properly managed, points towards a promising World Cup for Fiji."

Fiji lost to Italy 24-16.

I wonder what the implications are this are? I know he was in the Aussie A squad a couple of years ago. But he didn't play I am pretty sure. If he did he'd be tied to Australia.

Anyway, what impact does this have on the Brumbies contract? Obviously he could be their foreign import, but I would expect the ARU and Brumbies signed him on a 3 year contract as a development player.

I reckon if this is correct, they would be within their rights to terminate his contract.

In the end, I want Jerry to play for Fiji. But I don't think he should remain on contract here for that long. Don't know whether the Brumbies would want to spend all that physio money on him either.

 

[daz]

Don't know whether the Brumbies would want to spend all that physio money on him either.

This could be a case where the Brumbies are willing to keep him so he can contribute to the Brumbies S15 success, not with any higher honours in mind. The ARU may jump up and down that JY is potentially blocking the development pathway for a locally produced kid, but I imagine the Brumbies would be within their rights to invite the ARU to fuck off.

On the other hand, if JY did this against the wishes of the Brumbies, then I imagine his career with them will be short.

I just posted two obvious options without actually answering the question. Yay me.

 

[Jnor]

I wonder how much this has to do with Greg Mumm coaching Fiji at the RWC? I'm guessing that it certainly would've had something to do with it.

Any Uni insiders got the good word; Bruce, topo?

 

[Groucho]

I wonder how much this has to do with Greg Mumm coaching Fiji at the RWC? I'm guessing that it certainly would've had something to do with it.

Any Uni insiders got the good word; Bruce, topo?

Great news for Jerry and Fiji, methinks. The Islander nations' star is on the rise. They'll take some scalps at the RWC.

 

[Bruce Ross]

I wonder how much this has to do with Greg Mumm coaching Fiji at the RWC? I'm guessing that it certainly would've had something to do with it.

Any Uni insiders got the good word; Bruce, topo?

I haven't heard anything, Jnor. What I do know is that he's a very proud Fijian who intends to go back there and teach when he retires.

As I've posted on a number of occasions he is immensely strong and in the right hands could be anything. My view is that Bill Young was the worst possible scrum coach for him. He didn't need lessons in scrum skullduggery; what they should have focussed on was further improving his strength and speed.

 

[TOCC]

This could be a case where the Brumbies are willing to keep him so he can contribute to the Brumbies S15 success, not with any higher honours in mind. The ARU may jump up and down that JY is potentially blocking the development pathway for a locally produced kid, but I imagine the Brumbies would be within their rights to invite the ARU to fuck off.

On the other hand, if JY did this against the wishes of the Brumbies, then I imagine his career with them will be short.

I just posted two obvious options without actually answering the question. Yay me.

Ah wrong actually, the ARU are well within there right to cancels JY's contract if he is making himself inelegible to Australia.. All Super Rugby contracts ultimately have to be approved by the ARU.

Like already mentioned, the only exception would be if they gain approval to have Jerry Y play as the foreign marquee player.

 

[daz]

Ah. It appears I stand corrected. Moving on....

 

[Lee Grant]

They could grant him a dispensation since he has been an Oz resident for some time - just as they did for one of the Raulini brothers when the IRB changed the goalposts yonks ago.

 

[Slim 293]

Well, as a Brumbies fan I would probably prefer to have Jono Owen in the senior squad... however, that really just leaves us with a squad of tightheads...

Otherwise I'm happy to see him represent Fiji...

 

[Lindommer]

What about a bit of Christian charity here? We (Australia and New Zealand) should help the PIs develop their rugby without their players buggering off to Europe where the clubs put enormous pressure on them not to turn out for their countries. If there was a motion for every Australian and New Zealand Super side to have two PI-eligible players on their roster I'd strongly support it.

Brumbies, keep Jerry, tell the ARU to get lost.

 

[Langthorne]

Agree totally Lindo, and I would go further and say fuck the marquee player concept (let's face it, they are generally B grade anyway) and have a 'simple'.... '1 foreigner allowed (from anywhere) in each Aussie Super squad, plus the option of one more (who is not from the 6N, New Zealand or SA)'. The smaller nations becoming more competitive is good for world rugby, and by extension for Australian Rugby.

 

[Ruggo]

One question. If this bloke is such a good prop, why did the Brumbies go with the option of Alexander at loose head to the detriment of his international performance? Was he injured? If Australia is not going to use the bloke, good luck to him for Fiji. By all accounts, he has given good service to Sydney rugby so the ARU should cut him some slack. Consider rugby the winner.

 

[BrumbiesPolynesian]

I find it hard to believe that JErry Y would make himself avaliable to Fiji, considering he has stated he wants to try for Wallabies, he is still young so why throw all your eggs in one basket with Fiji at this stage. I think its a bit of spin from Fiji Rugby to be honest, same spin that was used with players such as Isa Nacewa and to an extent a few years back, Deacon Manu....remember Manu only made himself avalible for Fiji when Wales said they would never pick him.
I for one would love for this to be true but I dont think it would be.

 

[MrMouse]

What about a bit of Christian charity here? We (Australia and New Zealand) should help the PIs develop their rugby without their players buggering off to Europe where the clubs put enormous pressure on them not to turn out for their countries. If there was a motion for every Australian and New Zealand Super side to have two PI-eligible players on their roster I'd strongly support it.

Brumbies, keep Jerry, tell the ARU to get lost.

I'm an atheist but I agree with everything else you said.

 

[Slim 293]

I find it hard to believe that JErry Y would make himself avaliable to Fiji, considering he has stated he wants to try for Wallabies, he is still young so why throw all your eggs in one basket with Fiji at this stage. I think its a bit of spin from Fiji Rugby to be honest, same spin that was used with players such as Isa Nacewa and to an extent a few years back, Deacon Manu....remember Manu only made himself avalible for Fiji when Wales said they would never pick him.
I for one would love for this to be true but I dont think it would be.

Jerry is not going to play for Australia, let alone the Brumbies unless Alexander gets injured...

 

[Groucho]

One question. If this bloke is such a good prop, why did the Brumbies go with the option of Alexander at loose head to the detriment of his international performance? Was he injured? If Australia is not going to use the bloke, good luck to him for Fiji. By all accounts, he has given good service to Sydney rugby so the ARU should cut him some slack. Consider rugby the winner.

Jerry's a developing prop, and one with excellent potential. He was perhaps some way off displacing a Wallaby but he has all the attributes.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

A number of interesting points raised in this thread.

Firstly, I think if Jerry genuinely has a chance to play test footy with Fiji then he should take it. He would be mad not to. I do wonder about him playing as well as he did before, given how badly he busted his ankle not long ago.

Secondly, as far as eligibility goes with PI nations and their guys playing in Aussie S15 sides, I've got no problem with it at all. So long as the opportunities will still exist for local blokes to get a game (and they will), I don't see an issue. It will help PI rugby and probably ours too.

Lastly, this whole issue of marquee players et al would be solved by a proper open market between the SANZAR countries, accompanied by maintaining eligibility for your home country, so long as you play Super rugby. I think we'd support it in OZ, but I have a feeling that our partners wouldn't. I can understand their lack of enthusiasm for it, but I think it would assist in keeping good SH players (from the SANZAR and PI teams) playing in the SH, which provides a better product for all of us punters.

 

[Scotty]

Ah wrong actually, the ARU are well within there right to cancels JY's contract if he is making himself inelegible to Australia.. All Super Rugby contracts ultimately have to be approved by the ARU.

Like already mentioned, the only exception would be if they gain approval to have Jerry Y play as the foreign marquee player.

Two points:

1. He obviously can't qualify as a marquee player
2. If he doesn't, I think that means they are required to cancel his contract. ARU can't make rules and then not enforce them.

 

[Jets]

I haven't heard anything, Jnor. What I do know is that he's a very proud Fijian who intends to go back there and teach when he retires.

As I've posted on a number of occasions he is immensely strong and in the right hands could be anything. My view is that Bill Young was the worst possible scrum coach for him. He didn't need lessons in scrum skullduggery; what they should have focussed on was further improving his strength and speed.

And for anyone else.

 

[TOCC]

Lets clear something up, the Brumbies cant tell the ARU to "fuck off", the ARU is the approving authority for Super Rugby contracts and therefore has the final say in all contracts.

Two points:

1. He obviously can't qualify as a marquee player
2. If he doesn't, I think that means they are required to cancel his contract. ARU can't make rules and then not enforce them.

The Brumbies could indeed have him as there marquee player if they wished...