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Troubled All Black Guildford walks out on another club

Guildford during the Rugby World Cup in 2011

Former World Cup-winning All Black Zac Guildford has left another club mid-season.

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The troubled All Black – who has had well-publicised issues with alcohol in his past – took to social media to announce his decision to leave French ProD2 side Nevers, who he signed with last year.

He scored three tries in 10 appearances for the club.

“My time @usonneversrugby has come to an end,” Guildford said on Instagram.

However, on this occasion, there was no apparent off-field incident preceding the decision to leave.

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“It’s not the way I wanted things to be but I’d like to thank everyone in Nevers for the support and opportunity especially the president. So grateful for the understanding of the club that I need to be with my family at this time,”

Guildford added: “Before any second hand rumours come out there were no incidents I just have to do this for myself and my family to better my future. Much love to all.”

Guildford (1.82m, 97kg) won 11 caps for the All Blacks and scored six tries before off-field dramas effectively ended his international career.

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His much-publicised battle with alcohol climaxed with a drunken episode in Rarotonga in 2011 and his addiction problem would ultimately limit what many believe would have been a truly outstanding career in the famous black jersey.

After four years with the Crusaders his contract with the NZRU was terminated in 2014.

“We’re really disappointed that Zac has not be able to achieve his full potential in New Zealand. He is a good man, talented but troubled,” NZRU general manager rugby Neil Sorensen said at the time.

“Zac has struggled to continue to meet the commitments he made to himself to keep on top of his personal issues. Ultimately those issues are private to Zac but all parties agree that cutting ties now is the sensible decision.”

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After stints with the Waratahs and Clermont, he returned to rugby with Waikato, but was unable to lock down a Super Rugby place this season, with many questioning whether or not his off-field difficulties would continue to return to plague him.

Guildford remarked in October of last year after it emerged he would not get a Super Rugby contract that: “I feel like coaches and the NZRU are still looking at the old Zac Guildford but I’ve made a lot of changes and become a better person since I left the Waratahs 18 months ago.”

Guildford was the youngest player to play with the Hurricanes in Super Rugby (at age 18), was an U20 world champion with the “Baby Blacks” in 2008 and 2009, he was then selected for the first time with the All Blacks in 2009 at the age of just 20.

Guildford’s father Robert died within minutes of the final whistle being blown in the Baby Black’s victorious U20s World Championship final in 2009, aged just 44. Guildford has publically attributed his troubles with addiction to his father’s untimely death.

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H
Hellhound 43 minutes ago
France put World Cup pain behind them with unbeaten run in November

France is starting to look like they are finally over their WC headache, although they were lucky that NZ had a very bad game. The Argies as usual is one game good, the next bad. If they can sort that out and be more consistent, they could become contenders for the WC.


NZ, Argentina (if they are more consistent), and now the Wallabies too is in an upward curve (can they be consistent?), as well as Fiji(as inconsistent as Argentina) looks like possible contenders. The Boks will be as usual a huge threat to defend their title. Things are looking up for the South, so the North should rightfully beware of the Southern Hemisphere threat.


With the French looking dangerous, the English with their close runs (mostly a mindset problem) and the Scottish seems to be the NH main contenders. The Irish is good, but not excellent anymore. They are more overbearing and with their glory days mostly gone with old players hanging on by a thread, by 2027 if they don't start adding in the younger players, they won't make it past yet another WC Quarter final. The problem is that their youngsters, while good is nothing special.


That is just 8 teams without the Irish that can become real WC contenders. Lots of hickups to be sorted still for these teams, excluding the Boks to become a threat. Make no mistake, the top Tier is much closer than people realise and the 2027 WC will be a really great WC, possibly the best contended WC ever.

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