another kiwi gooooorrrnnnnnn?

[roughyedspud]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=79&objectid=10490864

Kiwis centre Shontayne Hape could be the next New Zealand league player to adopt the red rose of England.
The Herald understands the Bradford Bulls star has agreed terms with Premiership club Northampton and that the deal is subject only to the granting of a work permit. Hape is contracted by the Bulls until the end of 2009 but would likely have a get-out clause in his Super League contract.
Like former Bradford teammate and close friend Lesley Vainikolo, who exercised his own get-out clause mid-way through last year, Hape would qualify to play for England on residency grounds.

christ, if they are'nt swapping to samoa they are switching to england RU :lol:

 

[International RL]

The 'world game' of Rugby Union...

Though...im filthy at Hape :x

 

[taipan]

England the home of union,with huge playing numbers apparently,have to rely on an ex rl broken down forward ,now elderly knee injury prone ex Kiwi league players.
Great development by the RFU:lol: ,learnt from the ARU that grassroots is just another name for NFI.

 

[LordLeague]

Hape has nothing to offer at international level in Rugby League these days (not sure he ever did!) He should not be anywhere near a full strength Kiwi team. I wish him well in his retirement to RU.

LordLeague.

 

[roughyedspud]

Hape has nothing to offer at international level in Rugby League these days (not sure he ever did!) He should not be anywhere near a full strength Kiwi team. I wish him well in his retirement to RU.

LordLeague.

thats funny, cos when the kiwis start whinging about the players not being released or the old "we only lost cos their players where injured"....hape's name came up alot :lol:

 

[playdaball]

I rate Hape. He played a blinder in the 2005 Tri Series final at loose forward.

 

[Fast Eddie]

Yeah I thought he played well in both the 2005 and 2006 Tri Nations.

 

[The Observer]

Gloucester and the RFU are offering him
a) twice the money as Bradford are paying, bnut more importantly
b) the opportunity to play up to 12 test matches a year with England, including big tournaments such as the Six Nations and RWC.

 

[JB]

Hape has nothing to offer at international level in Rugby League these days (not sure he ever did!) He should not be anywhere near a full strength Kiwi team. I wish him well in his retirement to RU.

LordLeague.

I tend to agree. Always felt he was a bit over rated. Ironically i thought his best games for the Kiwi's was when Bluey chucked him at lock. Can remember 1 game at centre where Gasnier totally owned him. Went over and around him.

 

[LordLeague]

I tend to agree. Always felt he was a bit over rated. Ironically i thought his best games for the Kiwi's was when Bluey chucked him at lock. Can remember 1 game at centre where Gasnier totally owned him. Went over and around him.

Spot on, I too have those memories of Gasnier owning Hape. I always thought Hape was way too slow to play in the centres at test level, but do agree he had a couple of good games at lock. Put it this way, Hape is not the answer to the current Kiwi problems. I can't see him making much of an impact with the limited opportunities in Onion and predict he will be looking for a Superleague club within 2 years if he doesn't die of boredom first.

LordLeague