Skelton Jr signs for the Chiefs

[TRF Mr Fish]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...ll-Skeltons-younger-brother-signs-with-Chiefs

Very interesting signing, with Kane Thompson and Ross Filipo both gone next year it will be good to bring in another lock. I think Retallick, Fitzgerald and Symons are all very good, but certainly having another young up and comer won't hurt.

 

[Darwin]

A really interesting signing. There is no doubt he has the size (he's even bigger than his brother Will!) and the pedigree to be successful. However he was average (at best) in the recent Junior World Champs for Samoa. He didn't really seem to know what he was doing, and got himself penalised 2-3 times in a row in one match for playing the opposition halfback without the ball. Clearly the Chiefs see a lot of potential in him, but he looks like he look a few years away from being ready for Super Rugby in my opinion...

 

[Gena_ZA]

Holy crap - 145kg and 205cm
Imagine they face off against each other

 

[nickdnz]

Haha, I'm imagining him pushing in the scrum behind Tameifuna - that's a LOT of weight.

Very interesting signing, I think he's the biggest rugby player I've heard of in terms of combined height and weight. That said I agree with Darwin that he wasn't amazing in the U20s, and didn't seem to be their preferred starting lock. That said, you can't be that size and not have potential, so will be interesting. If there is one coach who can get a hell of a lot out of a young guy it seems to be Dave Renee.

 

[Jaguares]

He was a member of the Waratahs' under-20s squad! He's a f**king traitor! At the best time of Tahs in years, he prefers to choose the enemy. Although Waratahs has greatly helped his brother and his family, he doesn't deserve respect.

 

[Draggs]

He was a member of the Waratahs' under-20s squad! He's a f**king traitor! At the best time of Tahs in years, he prefers to choose the enemy. Although Waratahs has greatly helped his brother and his family, he doesn't deserve respect.

You do realise it is a professional game? Players aren't bound for life to the first team that picks them.

 

[Jaguares]

You do realise it is a professional game? Players aren't bound for life to the first team that picks them.

Yeah, I know but there are still some romantics in rugby as Conrad Smith or Richie McCaw, top players who could be in Europe making a lot more money but they still feel love for wearing the black jersey

 

[Thingimubob]

Yeah, I know but there are still some romantics in rugby as Conrad Smith or Richie McCaw, top players who could be in Europe making a lot more money but they still feel love for wearing the black jersey

Not quite the same as a young player switching club before his career has properly got going? He's been offered a good deal from what I've read, so hardly a huge betrayal!

 

[Jaguares]

Not quite the same as a young player switching club before his career has properly got going? He's been offered a good deal from what I've read, so hardly a huge betrayal!

Henry Speight could wear the black jersey the last year, (He played in Waikato and Dave Rennie wanted to have him) but he preferred to wait a year be faithful to Australia and he will wear the gold jersey in September. There are still romantics in rugby

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Henry Speight could wear the black jersey the last year, (He played in Waikato and Dave Rennie wanted to have him) but he preferred to wait a year be faithful to Australia and he will wear the gold jersey the next September. There are still romantics in rugby

>Born in Fiji
>Raised in NZ
>'faithful' to Australia

What?

 

[Jaguares]

>Born in Fiji
>Raised in NZ
>'faithful' to Australia

What?

He's faithful to the country that gave him the opportunity to play in the Super Rugby, the country that trusted him:

http://www.3news.co.nz/Chiefs-tried...ikato/tabid/415/articleID/353423/Default.aspx

He could play in ABs last year!

 

[Sam Owen]

Not surprising to see a Skelton play for a NZ based franchise. Skeltons like other Samoans from all over NZ moving to Aus and then you could probably from a NZRFUs perspective say that they're the ones that got away..

 

[InsaneAsylum]

I'm over the "poaching" discussion. truth is Aus and NZ are both so similar and we are both multicultural countries. both countries have plenty of european and pacific island migrants. any player should be able to make their own choice and once they have represented a country then they are locked in for good, like the current rules allow.

 

[RoosTah]

It's a shame we've lost him, but fair enough if he's got a good contract. Still... if he was going to go I'd have preferred another Aussie Franchise snapped him up.

 

[donmcdazzle]

Usually it is the Aus teams grabbing our guys, happy to see one come the other way for a bit of paybacks haha. Although they were born and grew up here so they could probably go either way.

 

[donmcdazzle]

He's faithful to the country that gave him the opportunity to play in the Super Rugby, the country that trusted him:

http://www.3news.co.nz/Chiefs-tried...ikato/tabid/415/articleID/353423/Default.aspx

He could play in ABs last year!

And what was the country that gave him the exposure to get a super contract? Yip, NZ. So he isn't all that loyal is he? Your perspective depends on which way you look at it from.

 

[Draggs]

And what was the country that gave him the exposure to get a super contract? Yip, NZ. So he isn't all that loyal is he? Your perspective depends on which way you look at it from.

I am already have my pitchfork out, who am I supposed to be angry with???
Poaching Kiwis/Aussies/Waratahs/Chiefs/Gwentists

 

[RoosTah]

Yeah... I don't buy into that stuff. Pro athletes have a short time to carve out a lucrative career, so I don't begrudge them for wanting to do what's best for them. As I said, I just wish a team like the Rebels or Force had made the play for him.

 

[welshglory]

If the Tahs were smart they would have offered him a long-term 4~5 year contract as soon as he came onto their radar with a transfer fee clause. Regardless of the fact if he merits it, there would have been plenty of interested parties willing to pay for it probably and they would get something.

That is unless they did offer one and he wasnt interested in it.

 

[RoosTah]

If the Tahs were smart they would have offered him a long-term 4~5 year contract as soon as he came onto their radar with a transfer fee clause. Regardless of the fact if he merits it, there would have been plenty of interested parties willing to pay for it probably and they would get something.

That is unless they did offer one and he wasnt interested in it.

He's 19, and from what I understand they were trying to sign him, but the Chiefs offered him a reasonably sizable contract out of nowhere