Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'I'll never forget': Laumape posts farewell Stade Francais message

(Photo by Thomas Coex/AFP via Getty Images)

Former All Blacks midfielder Ngani Laumape has posted his Parisian farewell message on social media after it was confirmed by Stade Francais that he had left the Top 14 club ahead of the 2022/23 season. It was May last year when it was announced that the 29-year-old had called time on his 15-cap New Zealand career after opting to take up a three-year in deal in France.

ADVERTISEMENT

However, the move hasn’t worked out as well as the centre imagined and he has now been linked with a switch to the Top League in Japan unless he is tempted back into the New Zealand Super Rugby fold by the NZR.

It was last week when Stade Francais owner Hans-Peter Wild admitted they were embracing the possibility of releasing Laumape from a deal that was agreed in 2021 after the Parisian club had lost France international Gael Fickou to city rivals Racing 92.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

“Ngani Laumape is training with us at the moment,” said the Stade Francais owner at the time. “But his family is having a little trouble adjusting to this huge city that is Paris and we have therefore recently studied the possibility of freeing the player. Whatever happens in the next few days, we will look at what the best option is for him, for his family and for the club.”

It has since been confirmed that Laumape has indeed exited Stade Francais, the club posting an official confirmation on its website that was followed by the ex-All Blacks player sharing his own thoughts about his departure on social media.

“Stade Francais Paris and its New Zealand international centre Ngani Laumape have agreed to put an end to their collaboration following the family adjustment difficulties that Ngani told us about,” explained the club’s official communique.

“Arrived last summer from the Hurricanes franchise, Ngani played 22 games in the pink and blue jersey. The capital club thanks Ngani for this season and wishes him good luck for the rest of his career.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Ngani later added his farewell message via his own social media: “Thank you Stade Francais for the opportunity. Got to meet some amazing people in my time in Paris which I’ll never forget. Merci, Stade Francais. Wish you guys all the best for the upcoming season.”

Ngani’s previous message on social media was last weekend when he pinned an old RugbyPass Instagram card to the top of his page. That message from last year, which pictured him celebrating a try for the Hurricanes, came with a quote in which he outlined his disappointment with the contract offered to him in 2021 by the NZR.

“I offer something in the midfield that no other midfielder can offer in New Zealand,” he said in the message, something he has highlighted again now that he is in the market for a new club after exiting Stade Francais.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

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
TRENDING
TRENDING Borthwick, it's time to own up – Andy Goode Borthwick, it's time to own up – Andy Goode
Search