Players on the Market for 2011 Super 15

[Canes4life]

With Israel Dagg signing with the Crusaders for the 2011 Super 15 and free agent players eligable to play anywhere in NZ next year, no matter what province they're from means that it will be interesting to see who goes where next year.

Highlanders will be the biggest team affected with Adam Thompson likely to sign with the Crusaders and Michael Hobbs, being a wellington based player likely to sign with the hurricanes. Jamie Mackintosh and other highlanders could follow suit with a couple implying last year that they would leave the southern based franchise if they could keep their aliance with their provincial teams. this will mean that mackintosh will head to the canes and other players such as robbie robinson doing the same. However Graham Henry has stated that if Colin Slade wants to further his AB ambitions then he will have to move franchise, away from the stacked Crusaders, which will most likely benefit the highlanders or hurricanes with former Crusaders assistant coach Hammet moving there.

Headlines have also released that Willie Ripia will be playing for the Force next year.

If you know of any current transfer negotiations taking place then please post.

[Bones]

I think you mean Mackintosh could move to the Canes, not will. Better off staying down south anyway IMO, no guarantee of a starting spot for him with the Hurricanes.

Same deal with Slade. Would be fighting it out with Cruden for a starting spot and probably Hobbs for a bench spot. Although could be useful at FB if we play Jane on the wing - but there's also Savea, Ngatai and Gear to consider. That's only mentioning the Welly players...

[Canes4life]

I think you mean Mackintosh could move to the Canes, not will. Better off staying down south anyway IMO, no guarantee of a starting spot for him with the Hurricanes.

Same deal with Slade. Would be fighting it out with Cruden for a starting spot and probably Hobbs for a bench spot. Although could be useful at FB if we play Jane on the wing - but there's also Savea, Ngatai and Gear to consider. That's only mentioning the Welly players...

Yeah i meant he might be coming to the canes cuz he has an out clause in his contract. I spose Slade will be better off at the highlanders as they have lost dagg but will be very stupid to stick around at saderland. I spose slade wudnt really fit in at the canes with kurt baker another option at fullback. But with Mark Hammet now coach means that he could be encouraged to sign him. Mayb him and Cruden will share duties. But like you said if Hobbs is fit then it will be very hard to fit him in anywhere.

[Red Beard]

Seems a shame to me. Imagine if the Highlanders could have retained Dagg, Thomspon, McIntosh etc and picked up the likes of Slade, Ross, Kerr Barlow, Mayhew, Bent plus a few others. I reckon Henry and co should step in for the good of NZ rugby and advise a few up and comers to head to the deep south. Mind you if the Highlanders boardroom is still in complete disarray then the onfield stuff wont improve markedly either whoever they sign.

[Winger]

With Israel Dagg signing with the Crusaders for the 2011 Super 15 and free agent players eligable to play anywhere in NZ next year, no matter what province they're from means that it will be interesting to see who goes where next year.

Highlanders will be the biggest team affected with Adam Thompson likely to sign with the Crusaders and Michael Hobbs, being a wellington based player likely to sign with the hurricanes. Jamie Mackintosh and other highlanders could follow suit with a couple implying last year that they would leave the southern based franchise if they could keep their aliance with their provincial teams. this will mean that mackintosh will head to the canes and other players such as robbie robinson doing the same. However Graham Henry has stated that if Colin Slade wants to further his AB ambitions then he will have to move franchise, away from the stacked Crusaders, which will most likely benefit the highlanders or hurricanes with former Crusaders assistant coach Hammet moving there.

Headlines have also released that Willie Ripia will be playing for the Force next year.

If you know of any current transfer negotiations taking place then please post.

I had forgotten about Hobbs

With Fili playing well last WE and Treeby, Ngatai and Leiua as options in midfield he will not really be missed, unless their are injuries

Add in Lavave, Reddish Savea (and maybe Fugistaller and Ramsey) there will be a number of players just from Wellington chasing S15 contracts who did not get a contract last year

[Bones]

Seems a shame to me. Imagine if the Highlanders could have retained Dagg, Thomspon, McIntosh etc and picked up the likes of Slade, Ross, Kerr Barlow, Mayhew, Bent plus a few others. I reckon Henry and co should step in for the good of NZ rugby and advise a few up and comers to head to the deep south. Mind you if the Highlanders boardroom is still in complete disarray then the onfield stuff wont improve markedly either whoever they sign.

Yeah well, my pie-in-the-sky Canes 22:

1. Tialata
2. Hore
3. Hayman
4. Broadhurst
5. Eaton
6. Paterson
7. Lowe
8. So'oialo
9. Weepu
10. Cruden
11. Toeava
12. Nonu
13. Smith
14. Jane
15. Dagg

16. Elliot
17. Mackintosh
18. T. Waldrom
19. S. Waldrom
20. Mathewson
21. Fruean
22. Gear

[Allstar]

Alby is still with the Blues/Auckland as of next year. T Waldrom is going overseas at the end of the ITM Cup.

[Bones]

Alby is still with the Blues/Auckland as of next year. T Waldrom is going overseas at the end of the ITM Cup.

Huh? Assuming you didn't see this:

Yeah well, my pie-in-the-sky Canes 22:

And that's the only issues you saw in that team?

[Blue]

So Crusader back row of McCaw, Reid, Thomson?

Jaysus.

[Baron Silas Greenback]

So Crusader back row of McCaw, Reid, Thomson?

Jaysus.

And a backline including Carter, SBW and Dagg....