Planet Rugby

Sorry, this story is unavailable

Comments

jonesy2 says...

kennsysmith -- yes but the fact is NZ rugby fans are holding SBW in the highest regard like they do/did thorn. and thorn is just one of many examples. in case you hadnt noticed there are a lot of pro athletes who are bizarrely hated by sad, pitiful individuals who arent part of a particular ingroup (maybe they are opposition fans or whatever) simply because of their high profile and enigmatic talents, eg lebron james, mitchell johnson, quade cooper, fernando torres etc and sonny bill is one of them

Posted 17:00 17th July 2012

rugby_rockstar says...

Very nice and diplomatic. in fact its not really news is it.

SBW isn't as effective in union as league (any fan of both codes knows why) so it's understanable why he would enjoy going back to league. As a neutral rugby fan, I wish him all the best and I enjoyed watching him play, (at least when he wasn't playing against us!)

Posted 10:31 17th July 2012

rugby_rockstar says...

As far as NZ goes, you are the best all round test team on the planet. Deadly in the loose, solid in the tight. about as close to the rugby union finish article as you can get and the rest of the world could do worse than to nick all your ideas and use 'em against you ;)

Posted 10:30 17th July 2012

cuw3100 says...

its painful to see some of the comments from people who have never made a name in a rugby field!!!

someone said NONU is overrated, maybe its Frank Bunce or Tana Umaga commenting LOL.

and to degrade SBW becoz he is changing his job is purely ludicrus.

maybe those commenting have believed in the Japanese ideology and have been employed for life !!!!

Posted 07:31 17th July 2012

kennsysmith says...

Funny how there is all this vitriol for SBW, and yet Brad Thorn, who started in league, came to Union, went back to league, and then finally came back to Union is put on a pedestal by most AB fans as one of their best ever.

Posted 02:30 17th July 2012

jonesy2 says...

atg77 -- you sir are the most enormous idiot i cant help think you are having a laugh. jog on.

Posted 07:05 15th July 2012

ruckingkiwi says...

atg77, haha a little harsh to call Nonu overrated wouldn't you think?

Although agree they are all getting on but there are some very good players coming through, obviously next in line is Kahui, Ellison, Fruean but also Francis Saili, who appears to be a real talent, Ngatai will get more time at 12 next year. By WC time there will be others again, it's hardly time to worry.

Posted 00:59 13th July 2012

atg77 says...

@hellovanite... well I'd just like to point out this is not America and not American sport we are talking about. In rugby we have the honour of playing for your country to aim for, not just a bigger bank balance. On another note, the ABs perenial achillies heal is going to haunt them very soon with SBWs departure... midfeild. Smith is getting on and with Nonu overated, there are not alot of other players stepping up for the 12/13 jersey... memories of three conscutive world cups where NZ played a fullback out of position at outside centre are coming flooding back...

Posted 13:51 12th July 2012

hellovanite says...

The game as a spectacle is poorer for the loss of SBW, that's a fact. As Carter put it, different things drive different people. Maybe its the money, maybe it is, but it's his business not yours, his freedom of choice. This is normal behaviour in the hotbed of professional sports, that is America. Maybe some of you should be a little less precious over it. Rugby will survive.

Posted 13:50 11th July 2012

Carpelone says...

I would miss him, since i think that he is an exciting player to watch. The best centre in business? Naaa. His defence is suspicious and his distribution questionable. However, offloading skills and techniques are remarkable and forced the other 12 to try new things (see Steyn, the one without a belly). He was setting a benchmark against which to compare inside centres.

But whatever he decides, that's fine with me. We should never see him back to union, though.

Posted 13:21 11th July 2012

SkinnyProp says...

I'm not surprised he's going back to League but I am surprised that he's forfeiting the RC, would have been a great stage for him to display his skills, which are only going to get better over time. He's only 26 so I have no doubt he'll be back in time for RWC 2015!

Posted 12:30 11th July 2012

Philly says...

Kinda saddens me to see you say that NHSaints. SBW is an exciting player to watch. His offloads are beautiful and sublime. And if Dan Carter can be sympathetic to him, why can't you?

Posted 02:23 11th July 2012

porridge_time says...

The guy is changing his job for goodness sake get over it. As a rugby union fan I think his move to Japan and then to League means the Test Arena loses out on someone who offered so much... but the vitriol delivered towards this young many is shameful.

Posted 01:41 10th July 2012

georgesmith says...

Only time will tel if All Blacks will miss SBW. That wil b as early as the upcoming championship. He is world-class, no doubt. But ABs have so many world-class players. D. Carter, R. McCaw, C.Smith, K. Read, Frank boys and so on... Wise decision by SBW. make money while u stil can.

Posted 22:27 09th July 2012

scrumdog says...

Rugby Union wont miss this guy..the game is bigger than one player!

Posted 16:30 09th July 2012

jonesy2 says...

so regrettable especially as he had just become the best centre in the game who knows what sort of greatness he would have achieved. i find it weird that he is going to japan instead of the roosters because he cant play in the league world cup now

Posted 14:16 09th July 2012

Lankanallblack says...

I wish they had a rule where once a player switches codes then that's it. No more going back and forth,

Posted 11:09 09th July 2012

rugbylover says...

@NHsaints. Amen to that. The more who follow him [from the AB's] the better. Otherwise we'll just have to change the rules a bit more. Nine straight losses is too much.

Posted 10:25 09th July 2012

NHsaints says...

Thank god and good ridance,

Posted 09:02 09th July 2012

Page 1 of 1

Character Count : 0/1900

Forthcoming Fixtures
FixtureDetails
All times are local
International Match
Sunday , May 26
England vs BarbariansEngland vs Barbarians Preview
More International Match fixtures
Super Rugby
Friday , May 31
Crusaders vs Waratahs08:35
Brumbies vs Hurricanes10:40
Saturday , June 1
Highlanders vs Blues08:35
Reds vs Melbourne Rebels10:40
Stormers vs Southern Kings16:05
Cheetahs vs Bulls18:10
More Super Rugby fixtures
British & Irish Lions
Saturday , June 1
Barbarians vs British & Irish Lions12:30
More British & Irish Lions fixtures
Recent Results
FixtureDetails
All times are local
Aviva Premiership
Saturday , May 25
Leicester 37 - 17 NorthamptonLeicester vs Northampton Report
More Aviva Premiership results
RaboDirect PRO12
Ulster 18 - 24 LeinsterUlster vs Leinster Report
More RaboDirect PRO12 results
Top 14
Clermont Auvergne 9 - 25 CastresClermont Auvergne vs Castres Report
More Top 14 results
Super Rugby
Blues 13 - 20 BrumbiesBlues vs Brumbies Report
Western Force 19 - 18 HighlandersWestern Force vs Highlanders Report
Stormers 20 - 15 RedsStormers vs Reds Report
Sharks 16 - 18 BullsSharks vs Bulls Report
Southern Kings 22 - 34 CheetahsSouthern Kings vs Cheetahs Report
More Super Rugby results
Top 14
Friday , May 24
Toulon 24 - 9 ToulouseToulon vs Toulouse Report
More Top 14 results
Super Rugby
Chiefs 28 - 19 CrusadersChiefs vs Crusaders Report
Melbourne Rebels 24 - 22 WaratahsMelbourne Rebels vs Waratahs Report
More Super Rugby results
Heineken Cup
Saturday , May 18
Clermont Auvergne 15 - 16 ToulonClermont Auvergne vs Toulon Report
More Heineken Cup results
Super Rugby
Crusaders 23 - 3 BluesCrusaders vs Blues Report
Waratahs 28 - 22 BrumbiesWaratahs vs Brumbies Report
Cheetahs 27 - 13 RedsCheetahs vs Reds Report
Bulls 35 - 18 HighlandersBulls vs Highlanders Report
More Super Rugby results
Amlin Challenge Cup
Friday , May 17
Stade Francais 13 - 34 LeinsterStade Francais vs Leinster Report
More Amlin Challenge Cup results
Super Rugby
Hurricanes 12 - 17 ChiefsHurricanes vs Chiefs Report
Western Force 13 - 23 SharksWestern Force vs Sharks Report
Melbourne Rebels 30 - 21 StormersMelbourne Rebels vs Stormers Report
More Super Rugby results
Aviva Premiership
Sunday , May 12
Saracens 13 - 27 NorthamptonSaracens vs Northampton Report
Saturday , May 11
Leicester 33 - 16 HarlequinsLeicester vs Harlequins Report
More Aviva Premiership results
RaboDirect PRO12
Leinster 17 - 15 GlasgowLeinster vs Glasgow Report
More RaboDirect PRO12 results
Top 14
Castres 25 - 12 MontpellierCastres vs Montpellier Report
More Top 14 results
Super Rugby
Blues 36 - 32 Melbourne RebelsBlues vs Melbourne Rebels Report
More Super Rugby results