George Smith to spend Wild Knights in Japan

[TRF_Cymro]

Former Wallaby, Brumbies and now Toulon flanker George Smith is reported to be heading for Japan after coming to an agreement to join Japanese club Sanyo Wild Knights.

George Smith's career has not taken off as expected in Toulon after he arrived in the summer earlier this year and is now expected to leave for Japan.

La Provence newpaper has reported that the Australian flanker will leave Toulon at the end of the Top 14 season and join Sanyo Wild Knights.

The Sanyo Wild Knights were champions of Japan in 2008 and he is said to have agreed on a three-year contract with an annual salary of Euros 800 000.

http://www.rugbyweek.com/news/article.asp?id=28227​

 

[Gavin]

Still think he is good enough to start for Australia and was very disappoint when he left. Also I would have put money on him getting the record for most International Caps, he is only 30 yet has won 110 caps

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Do Australia adopt a policy of not playing in Oz = no play for the national side?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

€800k a year....not too shabby

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Well when in Toloun ....

 

[nickdnz]

Do Australia adopt a policy of not playing in Oz = no play for the national side?

Yes. Which is why Brock James hasn't had a look in at 1st 5/8th for Australia.

All of the Tri Nations countries used to only pick home grown talent, but SA decided to change the policy which won them a Lions series and a RWC, in order to accomidate a few average players.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Yes. Which is why Brock James hasn't had a look in at 1st 5/8th for Australia.

All of the Tri Nations countries used to only pick home grown talent, but SA decided to change the policy which won them a Lions series and a RWC, in order to accomidate a few average players.

Fair, but surely now they should look abroad? I'm not with Australian rugby but are there guys coming through or are they going to play League?

 

[nickdnz]

Fair, but surely now they should look abroad? I'm not with Australian rugby but are there guys coming through or are they going to play League?

Fair point. They do have some talent coming through, but they seriously are relying on filling their player rosters with more and more New Zealanders or former League players.

What they need to do is get themselves a domestic competition, and give it a chance to grow.

 

[Charles]

Haha good luck in Japan. The rugby sucks...Easy money...

 

[Hulk Hogan]

Fair point. They do have some talent coming through, but they seriously are relying on filling their player rosters with more and more New Zealanders or former League players.

What they need to do is get themselves a domestic competition, and give it a chance to grow.

Cause New Zealand have never imported from Samoa, Tonga or Fiji

 

[nickdnz]

Cause New Zealand have never imported from Samoa, Tonga or Fiji

Not really. We've always home grown our players. Unfortunitly most people look at a guy with brown skin, and then make assumptions about where they've lived most of their lives. It's pretty sad.

 

[Seaton]

All of the Tri Nations countries used to only pick home grown talent, but SA decided to change the policy which won them a Lions series and a RWC, in order to accomidate a few average players.

Well the 'no-picky-overseas-players' policy still was around for the RWC and Lions series, so well, to put it bluntly your wrong.

Unless of course you are hoping some NZRU administrator comes onto the site and says "Oh ****, the Boks actually won stuff due to overseas players, quick, lets change our policy!"
Which of course would explain your post

 

[nickdnz]

Well the 'no-picky-overseas-players' policy still was around for the RWC and Lions series, so well, to put it bluntly your wrong.

Unless of course you are hoping some NZRU administrator comes onto the site and says "Oh ****, the Boks actually won stuff due to overseas players, quick, lets change our policy!"
Which of course would explain your post

And maybe you should learn to read.

I said that the "No-picky-overseas-players" policy, won them a RWC and Lions Series, and they changed it to accomidate a few players who moved over seas. I'm well and truely against selecting overseas players.

 

[Feicarsinn]

AGHHHH Off Topic!!!!!

 

[Seaton]

And maybe you should learn to ******* read.

I said that the "No-picky-overseas-players" policy, won them a RWC and Lions Series, and they changed it to accomidate a few players who moved over seas. I'm well and truely against selecting overseas players.

Twat.

Oi, chill out

The original post you posted could be read 2 different ways
All of the Tri Nations countries used to only pick home grown talent, but SA decided to change the policy (which won them a Lions series and a RWC), in order to accomidate a few average players.
The bracketts clarifies it a wee bit, but without them it could read as "SA decided to change the policy which (in turn) won them a Lions series and a RWC

So its just a misunderstanding, like the Samoan training facilities thread

I apologise for calling you wrong then

And to go back on topic, another boost for Japanese rugby, with more players sure to follow
I wonder how long until Japanese matches are available on the telly in SA

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Is Stephen Larkham and Luke MacDonald still out there?

 

[Intercept King JDV]

Is Stephen Larkham and Luke MacDonald still out there?

You probably mean Leon MacDonald?According to Wikipedia he is now an assistant coach at the Tasman Makos and also that Larkham joined the Brumbies in November this year as an attack coach.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

You probably mean Leon MacDonald?According to Wikipedia he is now an assistant coach at the Tasman Makos and also that Larkham joined the Brumbies in November this year as an attack coach.

Ah my bad

 

[Charles]

And to go back on topic, another boost for Japanese rugby, with more players sure to follow
I wonder how long until Japanese matches are available on the telly in SA

A long time, because they suck. Really. The rugby is bad and the armosphere is non existant.

 

[Seaton]

A long time, because they suck. Really. The rugby is bad and the armosphere is non existant.

Ah crap, new it wasn't long until the Japanese caught up with Scots rugby