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‘I’d love it back’: Lima Sopoaga’s plea as kicking tee saga rages on
By Finn Morton
Samoa playmaker Lima Sopoaga has issued another heartfelt plea as the former All Black continues to go without his beloved kicking tee that’s “been around the world."
This is a story that many can relate to. Whether you cherish a teddy bear, a blanket or even a goal-kicking tee, some people continue to treasure childhood items well into their adult life.
Sopoaga, now 32, has owned the rugby accessory for about 18 years. From Wellington College to the All Blacks, and even at stints with clubs in Europe, the tee has joined Sopoaga for the ride.
Playing in Bordeaux last weekend, Sopoaga brought the tee to the stadium ahead of his Rugby World Cup debut. Samoa went on to win 43-10 over Chile but the flyhalf was left feeling hurt.
“Could whoever took my goal-kicking tee from the field please give it back to me,” Sopoaga wrote on September 16th. “I’ll even pay you for it. I’ve had it since I was 14 years old.”
With 984 reposts, 4,874 likes and more than 973,500 views on X at the time of writing, rugby fans from around the world emphasised with Sopoaga, who even offered to pay for the tee.
Fans have gotten behind Sopoaga in an incredible way, but unfortunately, their efforts have been in vain so far. The Samoan flyhalf is still yet to be reunited with his prized possession.
Sopoaga didn’t play against Argentina in a decisive World Cup clash in Saint-Etienne on Friday due to a calf injury, but the experienced flyhalf still stopped for a moment to talk.
Standing about a metre away from the Sopoaga, it was impossible not to sympathise with the former New Zealand international as he provided an update on the goal-kicking tee saga.
“F*** me whoever’s got it just give the **** back,” Sopoaga told RugbyPass on Friday. “Nah, I haven’t (got it back). I’d love it back aye, honestly, I’d love it back.
“I’ve had a few nice people reach out and offer their kicking tees which are kind of the same. I’ve got a friend in the UK, Alex, he sent me his one which is used which is the same.
“I’ve had it since I was 14. As a little 14-year-old kid just had to find what was out there and at the time it was that and it’s just stuck with me ever since,” Sopoaga added.
“That’s why it’s got the black tape around it, it’s been through the wars. It’s been around the world with me, mate, it’s like a baby’s little doudou.
“I’d rather forget my rugby boots than my goal-kicking tee, but maybe it is what it is and we’ve just got to get on with it you know.”
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Warren, if you think you should stay on coaching Wales, you are beyond deluded. If you love Wales & Welsh rugby as much as you say you do (& I'm sure you probably do) you should resign immediately so this once proud & passionate rugby nation can rebuild without you. How many of your players will make the British & Irish Lions squad.?
It's time to walk the plank.!
Go to commentsYeah nar I pretty much agree with that sentiment, wasn't just about the lineout though.
Yeah, I think it's the future of SR, even TRC. Graham above just now posting about how good a night it was with a dbl header of ENGvSA and NZvFrance, and now I don't want to kick SA or Argentina out of TRC but it would be great if in this next of the woods 2 more top teams could come in to create more of these sort of nights (for rugby's appeal). Often Arg and SA and both travel here and you get those games but more often doesn't work out right.
Obviously a long way off but USA and Japan are the obvious two. First thing we need to do is get Eddie Jones kicked out of Japan so they can start improving again and then get a couple of US teams in SRP (even if one its just a US based and augmented Jaguares).
It will start off the whole conferences are crap debate again (which I will continue to argue vehemently against), but imagine a 6 team Pacific conference, Tokyo Sunwolves (drafted from Tokyo JRLO teams), Tokyo All Stars (made up of best remaining foreign players and overseas drafts), ALL Nihon (best of local non Tokyo based talent, inc China/Korea etc, with mainland Japan), a could of West Coast american franchises and perhaps a second self PI driven Hawai'i based team, or Jagaures. So I see a short NFL like 3 or 4 month comp as fitting best, maybe not even a full round, NZvAUSvPAC, all games taking place within a 6hr window. Model for NZ will definitely still require a competitive and funded NPC!
On the Crusaders, I liked last years ending with Grace on the bench (ovbiously form dependent but thats how it ended) and Lio-Willie at 8. I could have Blackadder trying to be a 7 but think balance will be used with him at 6 and Kellow as 7. Scott Barrett is an international 6 sized player. It is just NZ style/model that pushes him into the tight, I reckon he'd be a great loose player, and saders have Strange and Cahill as bigger players (plus that change could draw someone like Darry back). Same with Haig now, hes not grown yet but Barrett hight and been playing 6, now that the Highlanders have only chosen two locks he'll be playing lock, and that is going to change his growth trajectory massively, rather than seeing him grow like an International 6.
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