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Former Chiefs wing Bryce Heem quits Toulon to return to New Zealand

(Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)

Former Chiefs wing Bryce Heem has ended his time with French giants Toulon and returned to New Zealand due to “major family reasons’’.

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The 32-year-old, who also played for the All Blacks Sevens, played as recently as Sunday for Toulon, scoring a try in the four-time French champions in their 35-13 win over Stade Francais in the Top 14.

However, a statement from the club confirmed Heem’s exit, while a report from French outlet Rugby Rama stated that his motive for the swift exit came down to “major family reasons’’.

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“‘Human’ and ‘family’ values ??are essential in the Rugby Club Toulonnais project,” the Toulon statement read.

“So the decision to release Bryce Heem from his contract became obvious. President Bernard Lemaitre thanked Bryce ‘for his attachment to the club and his human qualities’.”

Toulon head coach Partrice Collazo added that Heem was a well-regarded, high-quality player who was “able to unite by his skills but also and above all by his irreproachable state of mind” during his time in the south of France.

Heem’s departure brings the curtain down on a two-year spell with Toulon after joining from Premiership outfit Worcester Warriors in February 2019.

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Since then, Heem scored six tries in 25 outings for Toulon, adding to his tally in the Northern Hemisphere after dotting down 32 times for Worcester in 70 matches.

Prior to that, the heavily-built speedster made a name for himself in New Zealand, initially coming through the provincial ranks with Auckland and Northland before flourishing with current Mitre 10 Cup champions Tasman.

Heem’s efforts for the Mako earned him a contract with the Chiefs for the 2015 season, of which he featured regularly in as he scored four tries in 16 appearances.

He also spent three years with the All Blacks Sevens between 2011 and 2014, during which time he helped New Zealand clinch three World Sevens Series titles and a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

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Heem leaves Toulon as they sit in third place on the Top 14 standings, 10 points adrift from league leaders Toulouse.

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R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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