Bristol boss Pat Lam issues warning to Champions Cup rivals

You haven't even included that second quote in your article! Thanks for the share though, as I found a link and I never knew that he would have been first school boy ever to have a contract with NZR if he had of chosen to stay.

n an extraordinary move, Tupou will walk away from New Zealand despite being offered extra money from the NZRU — the only time they have made such an offer to a schoolboy.While Tupou has fielded big-money offers from France and England, he said it was best for him and his family to live in Australia, where his older brother Criff works as a miner and will oversee his career.

Intersting also that the article also says

“They said that ‘if you’re not on a New Zealand passport and you’ve been here for four years, you can play for the team’,” Tupou said.“But I’ve been here for four years and they said I can’t play for the New Zealand A team. It’s not fair. Maybe I’m not good enough to stay here.“But that’s one of my goals this year — to play for the New Zealand A team. If I can play with them, then maybe I’ll change my mind from going to Australia. If I have the chance to play for the All Blacks, I’ll take it.”

And most glaringly, from his brother

Criff Tupou said: “What people should understand is that this in not about what Nela wants, or what I want, but what is best for our poor little family.“Playing rugby for New Zealand or Australia will always come second to our family.“My mum lives in Tonga, she would not handle the weather in New Zealand.“And I have a good job in Australia and can look after Nela.“If things don’t work out for him in rugby, what can he do in New Zealand? He is better off in Australia where I can help him get a job.“New Zealand has more rugby opportunities, but Australia has more work and opportunities, and I need to look after my little brother.“We haven’t signed a contract with anyone, we will wait and see what offers we get and make a decision soon.”

So actually my comment is looking more and more accurate.

It does make you wonder about the process. NZR don't generally get involved too much in this sort of thing, it is down to the clubs. Who where they talking to? It appears that the brother was the one making the actual decisions, and that he didn't see the same career opportunities for Taniela as NZR did, prioritizing the need for day jobs. That is were rugby comes in, I'm sure it would have been quite easy to find Criff much better work in NZ, and I highly suspect this aspect was missed in this particular situation, given the discussions were held at such a high level compared to when work can normally be found for a rugby signing. How might his career have paned out in NZ? I don't really buy the current criticisms that the Aussie game is not a good proving ground for young players. Perhaps you might have a better outlook on that now.

So you TLDR shouldn't be so aggressive when suffering from that alzheimers mate👍

Well I suppose you actually should if you're a writer lol

Also above, Nick just has a funny way of agreeing with people, by repeating what they just as if making his own points.

Hes already made his debut, actually.

I agree on certain items on your menu - Marcus could still improve his contestable kicking and play behind pod for example - but you're drawing the wrong conclusions and minimizing the value of the chances he does create.

He is still very coachable and England don't need to lose the faith.

Give me some cold hard facts, I'm getting bored.😆🤓