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Exodus to Pro D2: 3 Lions among second flight combined XV
By Ian Cameron
The French second division is set to witness an signifcant influx of rugby talent in the upcoming season, as a number of prominent players have chosen to don the jerseys of Pro D2 clubs.
This year's migration includes a decent array of international stars and experienced campaigners, including the like of British & Irish Lions Tomas Francis, Rhys Webb and Jonathan Joseph.
Among the notable transfers is also former Leicester Tigers loosehead Nephi Leatigaga, who will join Dax from the Waratahs.
Gifted but disgraced France tighthead Mohamed Haouas will bring his scrummaging prowess to Biarritz after leaving Montpellier, with a touted move to Clermont torn up after video footage emerged of him beating his wife.
Veteran South African lock Anton Bresler will bolster Vannes' engine room after his tenure with Racing 92.
The Pro D2 will also welcome Will Whitty from Perpignan to Rouen, the former Exeter Chiefs' second row apparently throwing in with the up-and-coming side from Normandy.
Sharks Thembelani Bholi to Valence Romans from the Sharks, and Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco moves to Brive from the Western Force. Sione Kalamafoni, the veteran Tongan back-row forward, joins Vannes from Scarlets, while experienced scrum-half Rhys Webb brings his talents to Biarritz from Ospreys.
The list continues with signings such as former Wales flyhalf Sam Davies joining Grenoble from the Dragons, one-time Wasps flyer Zach Kirbirige making the move to Aix from the Western Force, and the legendary Jimmy Gopperth departing Leicester Tigers for Aix-en-Provence.
Jonathan Joseph will offer his attacking prowess to Biarritz from Bath, while Asaeli Tuivuaka strengthens Brive's backline after his time at Racing 92.
Ten Test internationals make up our combined XV of new entrants into the ProD2.
PRO D2 NEW SIGNINGS XV:
1. Nephi Leatigaga - Dax from Waratahs
2. Motu Matu'u - Soyaux-Angouleme from Brive
3. Mohamed Haouas - Biarritz from Montpellier
4. Anton Bresler - Vannes from Racing 92
5. Will Whitty - Rouen from Perpignan
6. Thembelani Bholi - Valence Romans from Sharks
7. Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco - Brive from Western Force
8. Sione Kalamafoni - Vannes from Scarlets
9. Rhys Webb - Biarritz from Ospreys
10. Sam Davies - Grenoble from Dragons
11. Zach Kirbirige - Aix from Western Force
12. Jimmy Gopperth - Aix from Leicester Tigers
13. Jonathan Joseph - Biarritz from Bath
14. Asaeli Tuivuaka - Brive from Racing 92
15. Sione Tui - Aix from Stade Francais
REPLACEMENTS:
16. Brendan Lebrun - Biarritz from Castres
17. Vakh Abdaladze - Brive from Leinster
18. Tomas Francis - Aix from Ospreys
19. Charlie Matthews - Biarritz from Harlequins
20. Rob Harley - Colomiers from Carcasonne
21. Julian Blanc - Brive from Castres
22. Jackson Garden-Bachop - Brive from Kinetsu Liners
23. Dan Goggin - Montauban from Munster
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All of these media pundits always miss the obvious whenever they analyse what is ailing or assisting the game. Rugby always has contentious points for debate when picking apart individual games and finding fault with itself. All this focus and scrutiny on “speeding up the game”, “high ball in play” etc is all contextual to the fan. As a tv viewer, if you’re absorbed into a game, regardless if your team is playing or not, more ball in play time and action are all byproducts of the contest. A good contest subliminally affects your memory in selectively remembering all the good aspects. A poor contest and your brain has switched off because its a blowout and the result is never in doubt or it’s a real chore to watch and remain engaged throughout. The URC, Top 14 and English premiership are all competitions that feel like there’s real jeopardy each week. The dominance of Super rugby by NZ teams was unhealthy from a sustainable interest perspective. You can’t fault those teams or the players, but the lack of competitions won by SA and Australian teams long term was always going to test the faith and patience of die-hard and casual fans from those regions. SANZAR took their eye off the fans and fans voted with their feet and subscriptions. They were so concerned about expanding their product they forgot the golden rule about broadcasting live sport. Viewers tune in more when there’s an atmosphere and a true contest. You need to fill stadiums to create one, host unions need to do more to service ticket buyers, and this year proves the other, there’s more interest in Super rugby this year only because more games are competitive with less foregone conclusions. All these micro statistics bandied about, only interest the bean counters and trainspotters.
Go to commentsIt’s a good, timely wake up call for NZ Rugby (seem to be a few of them lately!) - sort out the bureaucratic nonsense at board level. We can’t expect to stay the number one option without keeping fans/players engaged. We’ve obviously been bleeding players to league for years but can’t let the floodgates open (although I think this headline is hyperbolic as it’s a result of a recent Warriors pathways system where they are tracking things more closely) Understand the need to focus boys on rugby if they’re at a proud rugby school too, don’t think it’s harsh at all re Barakat in Hamilton. Reward the committed players with squad positions. An elite 1st XV system in NZ has done more for league than they even realise, think it’s good to protect our game further.
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