Looks like Kaino may be coming to a club near you

He comes of contract after the super 15 and has said he's looking at all his options. I say it's time for a dash for cash. He should be a better buy than Collins, who was physically starting to slide towards the end.

Word on the street is he is in contact with Ulster as John Afoa is a very good friend of his (best man at his wedding) and would replace Pedrie Wannenberg... Would be a massive signing!!!

Former Kiwi backrow? Sounds like something the Ospreys would go for.

Former? Is he already retired?

Ospreys have shedded a lot of their past imports and if they keep it narrowed down to a couple I'd love Kaino to be one of them.

Can't see him wanting to just hear his voice echo around the Liberty though

Ospreys are cutting costs Kaino and Bowe for Ulster!!!

Munster to hijack both bids and sign Kaino and Bowe

I thought he was coming to Gwent Dragons???!

Kaino to replace Chabal at Racing (who just been sacked).

Very difficult to compete with French money.

Why was Chabal sacked?

Rumours are Chabal is going to Toulon.

Toulon is becoming a retirement home!

Heard the Kaino to Ulster rumour for a while now, would be one hell of a signing. Best 6 in the world for me and at the peak of his powers

Bathite wrote:Heard the Kaino to Ulster rumour for a while now, would be one hell of a signing. Best 6 in the world for me and at the peak of his powers

Hed have Ferris to battle with for that spot at Ulster

Evaluation of a French club which doesn't threaten to leave the group one year - needs more money.

Chabal allegedly had an argument with Berbizier about the way the team is playing and also about his contract renewal. Realisticly RM didnt offered him as much as he wanted or currently have which is fair enough as he's not that useful anymore to be honest.

Hed have Ferris to battle with for that spot at Ulster.

It's presumed that Kaino would play 8 whilst Ferris is available and whilst he isn't he'd play 6 with Wilson at 8.

HHmmm Kaino at 8 and Ferris at 6...ouch...welcome to the house of pain!

marty2086 wrote:

Bathite wrote:Heard the Kaino to Ulster rumour for a while now, would be one hell of a signing. Best 6 in the world for me and at the peak of his powers

Hed have Ferris to battle with for that spot at Ulster

Yeah you're right two of my favourite players in world rugby, but have Kaino shading it, due to his consistency over the last 18 months (whilst Ferris was injured though!)

Come to the Ospreys Kaino!

There was a french article on the ulster supporters forum suggesting Wannenburg will be going to stade or racing

Kaino is out of Ospreys price bracket - they cant afford him.

The worry for Ulster is the French may offer something they cant match

Or possibly an AP team under the new one player that doesn't impact the salary cap ruling?

Very true Geoff. Some French clubs could probably double what we could offer

I am little confused about the new Irish rules. How many foreigners are allowed?

beshocked wrote:I am little confused about the new Irish rules. How many foreigners are allowed?

Currently 6 per squad. One of the 6 must be eligable to play for Ireland in the future under residency.

beshocked wrote:I am little confused about the new Irish rules. How many foreigners are allowed?

Bear in mind that if Kaino were to sign we will have dropped Wannenburg and danielli.

Isn't there the new bizarre ruling that if only 1 foreigner can play per position over the 4 Irish clubs? E.g. If Kaino is signed as a 6 the other 3 Irish clubs can't do the same?

I thinks thats what it is. I read an article saying it could be illegal and the likes of Nacew, Howlett could have a case since their children are Irish born or something. Citing the Bosman ruling as an example.

Wouldn't be due to come in till 2014 if indeed it comes in at all. I think it will be renegotiated. Still wouldnt obstruct signing Kaino mind you

Tweeted by the guy who broke the story about Kaino wanting to leave that Kaino's agent had been onto Garrett Fitz (CEO of Munster).

It looks like he (or his agent) is hawking himself around a bit.

The new Irish rules don't start till 2013-14 and even then are going to be revised before impementation.

The rules for next year are 4+1 hence the reason each of the 3 senior provinces are having to drop at least 1 NIQ this summer.

Easy for Ulster - we just wont replace Danielli

It looks like he (or his agent) is hawking himself around a bit.

I would imagine he wants the best deal possible from his time away from NZ. 2 years away at say £250k a year would give him a very nice retirement fund to take home to NZ before the next RWC. I wonder why he isn't going to Japan that seems the fashionable move for SH players these days.

I think he'll stay personally.....

gowales wrote:I thinks thats what it is. I read an article saying it could be illegal and the likes of Nacew, Howlett could have a case since their children are Irish born or something. Citing the Bosman ruling as an example.

Pienaer will be a father of an Irish born child soon as well.

beshocked wrote:Isn't there the new bizarre ruling that if only 1 foreigner can play per position over the 4 Irish clubs? E.g. If Kaino is signed as a 6 the other 3 Irish clubs can't do the same?

It doesnt apply to Connacht just the other three.

So yes the idea is that Ulster, Munster and Leinster will each have 5 foreigners with 1 of them eligable for Ireland in future through residency.

And they divvy up the 15 positions between them 5 each and keep it swapping around.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

It looks like he (or his agent) is hawking himself around a bit.

I would imagine he wants the best deal possible from his time away from NZ. 2 years away at say £250k a year would give him a very nice retirement fund to take home to NZ before the next RWC. I wonder why he isn't going to Japan that seems the fashionable move for SH players these days.

I'd say he will be on plenty more than 250k. Probably 350 at a minimum.

Standulstermen wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

It looks like he (or his agent) is hawking himself around a bit.

I would imagine he wants the best deal possible from his time away from NZ. 2 years away at say £250k a year would give him a very nice retirement fund to take home to NZ before the next RWC. I wonder why he isn't going to Japan that seems the fashionable move for SH players these days.

I'd say he will be on plenty more than 250k. Probably 350 at a minimum.

He won't be getting 350K in Ireland anyway. Michael Corcoran (RTE) twittered that it is unlikely that the IRFU would/could match what Tommy Bowe was on (350K) for the Ospreys, so whichever club wants him will have to come up with a fair bit of cash as well. Can Ulster afford to do that?

I thinkI heard Rocky Elsom got E400k for his year at leinster

RE: Japan I'd imagine he wants to play top class rugby as well as being well paid.

He can do both in Europe. In Japan he'd be well paid but wouldn't experience the Heineken Cup - that has become a massive carrot in attracting SH players.

Feckless Rogue wrote:I thinkI heard Rocky Elsom got E400k for his year at leinster

Leinster probably came up with that money themselves - and it was a few years ago now. POC took a paycut to 350K. I can't see the Irish players been too happy about NIQ being treated better than they are.

I'd say he will be on plenty more than 250k. Probably 350 at a minimum.

Well £250K is worth about E300K so depends what currency we're talking. Castro is on around £300k (maybe a touch more it depends on which rumours you believe) at Tigers (E360k) and I don't think anyone in the AP earns more or the clubs could afford to pay out much more as the wage cap isn't going up by that much. I think the marquee signing is limited to stop the likes of Bath or Sarries getting the owners to write players blank cheques.

Here's some extra context on Kaino's plans (he did an interview on RadioSport in NZ overnight): http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10783116

geoff999rugby wrote:The worry for Ulster is the French may offer something they cant match

geoff as you know though Ulster have an appeal to him that no one has and thats his good mate Afoa hopefully thatll be a big factor

Im not sure but it depends how ulster would potentially spend the wages I'd danielli and Wannenburg given that Wilson is already signed. I'm not sure how much ulster could afford Sin. I don't think there is any way an irish team could match what he would get in France.ulsters bargaining chip is Afoa/Payne who have been talking up the experience up here.

I as say if it is a case of highest bidder I don't think he will play in. Ireland

I'm not sure hes an Ulster calibre player to be honest. He's best going somewhere where he'll get gametime.

I doubt the fact that his mate is in Ulster would count for much. I'm sure he has plenty of mates in Auckland. He wants big money.

roddersm wrote:I'm not sure hes an Ulster calibre player to be honest. He's best going somewhere where he'll get gametime.

Forgot to add the in there rodders

Feckless Rogue wrote:I doubt the fact that his mate is in Ulster would count for much. I'm sure he has plenty of mates in Auckland. He wants big money.

Worked with Pienaar. Of course he wants money but he doesn't want to be miserable for 2/3 years. The saffers like it here and in no small part is this because they are here together. Young families moving to a new area will like some semblance of continuity which would be provided given that Afoa is his best mate and Payne a teammate. Will it be the overriding factor? probably not depending on the money. Certainly I think it gives ulster a chance. What could go against them is how much money Is available.

GeordieFalcon wrote:HHmmm Kaino at 8 and Ferris at 6...ouch...welcome to the house of pain!

Whenever I see Ferris play I think he would be great at 8. His carrying and general run through players and knock them over like skittles is second to none and the more he can get his hands on the ball the better. He wouldn't make any less bone crunching tackles either. Always thought of Kaino as more of your traditional dark arts 6, although he does carry well too. Either way they are 2 of the best backrow players in the world.