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15 more of the biggest transfer flops in rugby union history

Stephen Donald of Bath looks on during the Aviva Premiership match between Harlequins and Bath at Twickenham Stoop on April 13, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

After releasing the first part of our worst signings in rugby history series, we opened the doors for readers’ suggestions to go alongside those that didn’t make our initial list.

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Here are 15 more poor signings.

Stephen Donald, Chiefs – Bath 2011
Donald started the 2011 World Cup as the All Blacks’ fourth choice fly-half enjoying a fishing holiday but ended up kicking the match-winning penalty against France. Bath signed him after they failed to land Dan Carter, but he ended up second choice behind Tom Heathcote within a year of the Auckland final.

Geo Cronje,  Blue Bulls – Harlequins 2004 
Cronje, who was left out of South Africa’s 2003 World Cup squad after being caught up in a racism row, arrived at The Stoop with a knee injury as a result the nearest anybody came to seeing him in the famous multi-coloured quarters was at a pre-season photo shoot.

Julian Savea, Hurricanes – Toulon 2018
Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal was that upset with the signing of World Cup winner Savea after a defeat to Agen, he told him he was no longer welcome at the club and even demanded a DNA because “this isn’t the Savea that we signed. They must have changed him on the plane.”

rugby transfers
Photo: Jeremy Ward / www.photosport.nz

Taqele Naiyaravoro, Waratahs – Glasgow Warriors 2015 

Fijian-born 6′ 5’ winger Naiyaravoro was a signing that promised the earth and was supposed to take the Pro12 champions to the next level, but it just never happened. The get-clause in his three-year deal was invoked at the earliest opportunity, allowing him to high-tail it out of Scotstoun.

Zinzan Brooke, Auckland – Harlequins 2000
Brooke is one of the best No.8s to ever play the game and was signed by cash-strapped Premiership strugglers on a £200,000 as a player-coach, but his best days were clearly behind him when he arrived in South London and out of his depth. He quit the club in January 2001.

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James Haskell, Wasps – Northampton Saints 2018
Marmite back row Haskell signed for Saints because he wanted to extend his international career, but it was a case of the spirit being willing but the flesh being weak. Recurring ankle and toe problems restricted him to just five appearances, and he announced that he was retiring when his contract ended.

Richie Gray, Glasgow Warriors – Sale Sharks 2012
Scotland lock Gray was signed by Sale on a three-year deal amid much fanfare, hailing him as their ‘marquee’ signing. However, despite being a talisman for his country and winning selection for the 2013 Lions tour, he left the North-West for Castres a year later after failing to make an impact.

John Smit, Sharks – Clermont Auvergne 2007
Nobody was quite sure why Clermont wanted to sign the Springboks World Cup-winning captain Smit given they already had one of the world’s best hookers –  Mario Ledesma –  on the books. Smit struggled to get in the team and filled in at tight-head to get a game leaving after just a season.

John Smit
John Smit
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Craig Quinnell, Cardiff – Saracens 2002
Saracens put Quinnell up for sale just six months into a four-year deal estimated to be worth £500,000 after failing to impress director of rugby Wayne Shelford, who is reputed to have told him to have told him to remove weight from his backside and get it onto his chest.

Harry Mallinder, Northampton Saints – Black Rams Tokyo 2021
Mallinder came close to winning an England cap when he toured Argentina in 2017. He could play as fly-half, inside centre and full-back but was released after not playing a game in two years so he could follow Louis Rees-Zammit in pursuing a career in the NFL as a punter and kicker under the International Player Pathway.

Owen Finegan, ACT Brumbies – Newcastle Falcons 2005
The Wallaby cut an imposing figure and had played a key role in his club’s winning the Super Rugby title and his country’s winning the 1999 World Cup, scoring a last-minute try. However, he could not replicate his success with The Falcons and departed with a year left on his contract.

Rico Gear,  North Harbour to Nelson Bays/Tasman 2005
Gear was struggling to get a game for the Blues, so Nelson Bays broke the bank quite literally to take him to the top of the South Island. The seven games he played in two seasons are estimated to have cost $300,000 (£145,000) or around £20,216 a game. Tasman later had to be bailed out financially by the New Zealand Rugby Union.

Jerry Collins, Hurricanes to Toulon 2008
Collins became the sixth All Black to join the Pro D2 champions after they were promoted to the Top 14. He signed a big-money three-year deal but walked out after a season to move to the Ospreys after only making a modest impact.

Robbie Kempson, Ulster – Northampton Saints 2004
All was not well behind the scenes at Franklins Gardens. The prop only lasted one season at Franklins Gardens because of injury problems and told South African media about “the under-handed agenda of English players at Saints” against Alan Solomons, who had taken him across the Irish Sea.

Waisale Serevi, Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars – Leicester Tigers 1997
Considered to be one of the greatest sevens players in history, he earned a lot of money from the fifteen aside game without hitting the same heights. His defensive game at Welford Road was seen last best as questionable and his moments of genius were too few and far between.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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