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Hurricanes confirm seven departures following 2022 season
By
Sam Smith
Seven Hurricanes have played their final matches for the New Zealand franchise and will head elsewhere for 2023.
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Wes Goosen, James O’Reilly, Alex Fidow, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Scott Scrafton, Teihorangi Walden and Tom Parsons have all finished up with the Hurricanes following a quarter-final finish in this year’s edition of Super Rugby Pacific.
Goosen’s departure was already well publicised, with the somewhat underrated outside back heading to Edinburgh for the 2022-23 United Rugby Championship season. The South African-born 26-year-old made over 70 appearances for the Hurricanes throughout a seven-year career and was a regular fixture on either wing. Despite the appeal of power wingers Salesi Rayasi and Julian Savea, Goosen made 17 starts over the past two seasons thanks to his exceptional acceleration and top-end pace.
Hooker O’Reilly was the Hurricanes’ third-choice rake throughout 2022, behind All Blacks Dane Coles and Asafo Aumua, but impressed with his limited opportunities on the park. He has made 16 appearances for the franchise since his first appearance in 2017.
Fidow had already confirmed that he would be departing Wellington and has signed for North Harbour for the coming NPC season. The 24-year-old made a name for himself as a youngster thanks to his dynamic ball-carrying but struggled to establish himself in the Hurricanes pack, competing with the likes of Tyrel Lomax, Tevita Mafileo and Owen Franks for game time. Despite accruing a quarter of a century worth of appearances for the Hurricanes over the past half-decade, minutes were at a premium this year and Fidow managed just two appearances and one start.
Garden-Bachop – son of former All Black Stephen Bachop – debuted for the Hurricanes in 2018 after previously representing the Melbourne Rebels for one season. With almost 50 Super Rugby appearances to his name, Garden-Bachop has been one of the Hurricanes’ primary options in the No 10 jersey since joining the side but found himself slipping down the pecking order this season with the young duo of Ruben Love and Aidan Morgan both getting opportunities in the first five-eighth role.
Second-rower Scrafton, having spent four seasons with the Blues, shifted south ahead of the 2020 season and has amassed 27 appearances for the Hurricanes in his three seasons to date. The 29-year-old has signed with Benetton on a three-year deal.
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29-year-old former Highlander Walden joined the Hurricanes for the 2022 season but made just three appearances in the yellow and black, with the likes of Peter Umaga-Jensen, Billy Proctor, Bailyn Sullivan and Jordie Barrett in the midfield.
Parsons, meanwhile, was not initially named in the Hurricanes squad for this year but was brought in as injury cover during the pre-season.
While the Hurricanes have not yet announced any new signings for next year, they have confirmed that Isaia Walker-Leawere, Devan Flanders and Josh Moorby have re-signed with the franchise.
Alex Fidow is an enigma, a power runner of the highest quality and a huge body, but has never really grasped the core roles of a front row forward, set piece. He could be the answer to New Zealand's woes of a power running forward, a la Ellis Genge; Taniela Tupou; Porter or Furlong. How Wellington failed to get his set piece sorted is a mystery?. Obviously a huge onus is on the player, but it seems the Union just gave up on him. He's only turning 25! Hopefully North Harbour can get the best out of him.
So where are the ones not mentioned as to where they are going to playing next season