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Transfers 2014/15

Bundee Aki --> Connacht
I don't have the link handy but it's on thescore.ie. Is this guy any good?
 
Groundhog said:
Bundee Aki --> Connacht
I don't have the link handy but it's on thescore.ie. Is this guy any good?
Click to expand...


Very good signing been out for 5 months but played 14 of the chiefs games last season.
Really surprised he is leaving but excellent signing Connacht could have a strong backline next season with Leader coming through and O'Dea (if he stays fit) being link to them.
 
Bundee Aki at 12 with Robbie Henshaw at 13. Connacht should have a very good centre partnership next season, arguably better than that which Leinster or Munster can put together.
 
Aki is a very exciting player, if not for injury I reckon he would have been starting for the chiefs all year.
 
If he's been targetted as a "project player" for Ireland (he's not tied) as I've seen suggested then this is ****ing stupid.
 
ratsapprentice said:
If he's been targetted as a "project player" for Ireland (he's not tied) as I've seen suggested then this is ****ing stupid.
Click to expand...

By stupid, you mean stupid of the rules to allow this?

Have to say, I can't really argue with that, but as an Ulster fan, I am truly grateful for the rules as it makes our squad stronger.

Not sure how long the IRB can keep them as the are though, what with Ireland, Scotland and Australia all nakedly targeting untied foreigners. I've seen Welsh coaches talk about untied signings as potential Welsh players too. I'd probably go with five years to qualify...
 
It's stupid because it is contrary the purpose of national teams - they aren't clubs.

Capping players who were born in another country is fine - targeting players with the intent to cap them is ****ing ludicrous - particularly when said country is hardly struggling for "their own" players.
 
I'm somewhat surprised to see Aki leaving the Chiefs. He had a very good debut Super Rugby season last year, and there a few suggestions he should be considered for All Blacks selection. Personally I don't think he is quite that good yet, but he is still very young (24) and is still developing as a rugby player. He is certainly a very good pickup for Connacht (and a loss for the Chiefs). He isn't huge for a midfield back (just over 90kgs), but is solidly built and hits the line hard. He has a fantastic sidestep and a lot of pace too, so is capable of breaking the line himself. His work on defense was also good last season. His distribution game still needs a lot of work, and he doesn't have a kicking game of note, but these are areas I'm sure he can improve.

What is the story with these "project players"? Do they have something in their contract stating they aren't allowed to play internationally for any other side? I mention this as Aki is eligible for Samoa (as well as New Zealand), so I'm wondering what is stopping him going over there then declaring his allegiance to Samoa.....
 
ratsapprentice said:
It's stupid because it is contrary the purpose of national teams - they aren't clubs.

Capping players who were born in another country is fine - targeting players with the intent to cap them is ****ing ludicrous - particularly when said country is hardly struggling for "their own" players.
Click to expand...

Its a tough one, theres no rules against doing so but its more a "spirit of the game" thing as you mention. It was prevalent in cricket a few years ago (hence the lame joke about the England team features more South Africans than South Africa's team). Its a bit of a kick in the teeth for academy players who see an overseas player come in because the national union think he can be naturalised.
 
I haven't actually seen anything from Connacht or Irish media (not that I've done an exhaustive search) that suggests Aki is a project player. Connacht will have lost two centres next year in Tonetti and Griffen, McSharry is really injury prone and they need Henshaw at 15. So basically they need centres. It's annoying they couldn't get someone like Chris Farrell (who probably wouldn't have wanted to go) or gone out on a limb with someone like Jordan Coughlan but someone like Aki was their safest bet. Someone who's a proven Super Rugby performer and probably won't be on a huge pay packet. With Craig Clarke in the squad and Pat Lam's connections it's no surprise it was someone from New Zealand and that they could convince him to come.

Due to how the IRFU are about extending capped NIQ players contracts someone with the potential to become IQ is also a more long term option. Teams have to work around the protocol. The IRFU mandating a project player at 12 would also be fairly stupid as we've some good talent coming through there, there's other positions where we would need it more. Realistically the only project player /former project players with any chance of actually playing for Ireland say in the next WC are Strauss and Payne. Strauss will probably bench and unfortunately Payne is someone who's too good to ignore and will be a starter.
 
Peat said:
By stupid, you mean stupid of the rules to allow this?

Have to say, I can't really argue with that, but as an Ulster fan, I am truly grateful for the rules as it makes our squad stronger.

Not sure how long the IRB can keep them as the are though, what with Ireland, Scotland and Australia all nakedly targeting untied foreigners. I've seen Welsh coaches talk about untied signings as potential Welsh players too. I'd probably go with five years to qualify...
Click to expand...

I agree Peat, it seems as though the IRB will have to move on the long disscussed increase to five years in residency as it's becoming clear now that certain teams are now using the residency rule much more so than it was intended. I wouldn't be too shocked if the grandparent rule was simply changed to parent at some point either, this is what it is in Association football and it seems to be the right call.

The most ludicrous eligibilty I've ever seen in sport was the organizers of the World Baseball Classic allowing any Jewish player regardless of country of origin to play for Israel(though they got knocked out in the qualifying stages regardless).
 
In fairness, as pointed out, he's not a designated project player, so this isn't necessarily the IRFU thinking they'd like him down the line. But it might be and we all know they've done it. And while it may be ludicrous, it might be argued that it would also be ludicrous for countries to overlook a rules legal way of strengthening their team. Here's hoping they change the rules at some point (maybe after Wiehan Herbst qualifies so we can keep him long term...) as its the only way to change that.

Darwin - Such a contract would be illegal and therefore can't exist. No idea what would happen as it hasn't come up. Closest its come is Strauss getting a Boks call up prior to being capped for Ireland, but he turned it down.
 
I little problem with the provinces signing foreign guys (although it's less than ideal) but I really find the idea of project players repugnant. What's the point of a national team if it doesn't represent what you've produced as a nation? Particularly as we're churning good players out at a rate we've never done before.

Anyway, I wish him luck. I just hopr he's never in the Ireland setup.
 
I agree with Feic, foreign players are essential in a club side but the project player deal is ****! Five years residency should be the rule.

@Littleguy I don't agree that the granny rule should be changed, it's very understandable that someone would want to play for their grandparents nation. For example I have about ten cousins, all of whom support Ireland, who wouldn't be able to play rugby for Ireland without the granny rule. Obviously for every one of those cases you have someone who couldn't care less and wanted to be an international but I don't think the IRB can restrict players from playing for their grandparents country.

Anyway Aki shoud do well for Connacht, hopefully he'll help them qualify for Europe which they're capable of.
 
What cmac said - well, not the bit about Irish cousins - but there are clear cases of people with national identity with only a grandparent. Is it open to abuse? Yes, but so is every system. Tom Heathcote may be born in Scotland, but he's about as Scottish as Julius Caesar. Just a matter of where you set the line - for me, I prefer a liberal interpretation... but only three years is clearly, clearly too little.

Rats - May be true, may be the NZ media conflating things. Suspect he's probably targeting an Ireland call-up though... from his point of view, an Ireland international career would be pretty sweet, both in terms of prestige and lucre after all.
 

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