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New PBs and all-time records: Quinn Tupaea raises the bar after injury layoff

New Zealand's Quinn Tupaea trains during the captain's run at FMG Stadium in Hamilton on September 2, 2022, ahead of the Rugby Championship match between New Zealand and Argentina. (Photo by MICHAEL BRADLEY / AFP) (Photo by MICHAEL BRADLEY/AFP via Getty Images)

All Blacks and Chiefs midfielder Quinn Tupaea is set to return from a disastrous knee injury looking bigger, better and stronger after raising the bar with some personal bests in pre-season.

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Tupaea, 24, is set to return to regular season action for the first time in a couple of years after suffering been struck down with the injury during a Bledisloe Cup test in 2022.

The rising star was struck down by an illegal cleanout from Australia lock Darcy Swain during the All Blacks’ stunning last-minute win over the Wallabies at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium.

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But after a lengthy stint on the sidelines, and after playing in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship with Waikato last season, Tupaea is raring to go for the Chiefs.

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Tupaea has reportedly set some personal bests both in the gruelling fitness Bronco and in the weight room. The 14-Test All Black has broken the Chiefs midfielders’ all-time records for squats and pull-ups.

The returning New Zealand international, as reported by Stuff, also set the record for the midfielders’ bench press during his time on the sidelines. But Tupaea has remained coy about specific times and figures.

“I’m pretty excited to be back playing this year, it’s a lot different to last season,” Tupaea told Stuff. “I’m feeling pretty fit, and it’s been a hard, hot pre-season, so the body’s in a good spot and I’m ready to rip in.

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“I’ve got a few records in there now, so I’m pretty happy,” he mentioned about the gym. “Nah, we’ll keep that under wraps.”

Tupaea has been named as one of four midfielders in the Chiefs’ squad for 2024 along with All Black Anton Lienert-Brown, Gideon Wrampling and Rameka Poihipi.

The Chiefs are coming off a largely successful pre-season which saw the Hamilton-based side win two matches from as many stats in Japan before returning to New Zealand.

But it all matters now with the regular season about to get underway. While Tupaea is in the frame to return against the Crusaders in the Super Rugby Pacific season opener on Friday, the All Black said it’s “going to be a battle” just to start for the Chiefs.

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“Obviously pretty keen to be back in that All Blacks mix,” Tupaea said. “That’s a goal of mine and a place I want to get back to.

“But the midfield here’s pretty hotly contested, so it’s going to be a battle every week to start, and even be in the 23.”

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NB 5 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Nice bit if revisioniusm but that's all it is JW.


For your further education, I found the following breakdown of one prominent club's finances in the Top 14 [Clermont].


For Clermont (budget of €29.5 million for 2021-2022) :

- 20% from ticket sales

- 17% from the LNR (includes TV Rights, compensation from producing french internationals and other minor stuff)

- 5% from public collectivities (so you're looking at funds from the city of Clermont, the department of Puy-De-Dôme and the region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)

- 4% from merchandising and events

- 3% from miscellaneous

- 51 % from sponsorships and partnerships. They've got 550 different partners. The main ones are CGI, Groupama, Limagrain/Jacquet, Omerin, Paprec, Renault and of course Michelin (not surprising since they're actually the founders of the club).


As you can see nothing comes from the FFR at all. The LNR is a separate entitiy to FFR and their aims frequently do not accord.


It is also why the European breakaway plotted by LNR and PR back in 2013 had nothing to do with the governing bodies of either England or France - and it most certainly did not have their blessing https://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/15331030/jean-pierre-lux-anglo-french-cup-detrimental-european-rugby


And from the horse's mouth [ex AB skipper Sean Fitapatrick] about the comp between Top 14 and Super Rugby:


"The Top 14 in France is probably the best rugby competition in the world at the moment, purely for the week-in, week-out.”


“I think the quality of players. They are bigger, they are faster, they are stronger. Which then carries on into the international game.”

Take it from someone who knows JW😅

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