Jordan Taufua re-signs with Tasman
BYPETER JONES [Marlborough App]
TheTasman Mako are set to benefit from Jordan Taufua's decision to back out of acontract with a Japanese club.
Thehard-hitting loose forward, included in the All Blacks squad to play Franceearlier this month but sidelined with injury, has been granted a release fromthe Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars club before playing a game for them.
Originallyexpected to depart the country after completing his Crusaders’ commitments, the26-year-old will now return to Tasman's ranks, making him eligible for nationalselection.
Whilethat is good news for Tasman, they may not see too much of Taufua, who wasinspirational for the Mako on their road to the Mitre 10 Cup final last season.
TheAll Blacks selectors will choose a 33-man squad for the Bledisloe Cup and RugbyChampionship and, as Taufua was a member of the group picked for the domesticseries against France, he will likely be retained.
Ifhe is selected, Tasman could have four All Blacks on their books - ShannonFrizell, Liam Squire, Tim Perry and Taufua – leaving Mako coach Leon MacDonaldto look further afield for replacements, especially at loose forward.
Therugged loosie is contracted to return to the Crusaders in 2019.
TasmanRugby Union chief executive officer Tony Lewis, who confirmed that Taufua hadsigned with the union on Wednesday, said he and MacDonald had been talking withTaufua’s manager "virtually from the time he decided to go to Japan” andwe were always keen to keep him in the Mako ranks.
"Wewere also keen to respect the fact he had made the decision on what he wantedto do, so when he came back about 10 days ago and said ‘I have changed my mind’we didn’t have to think too hard about it.
"Wejust said we want you back, so it’s very exciting for us, potentially withthree loose forwards in that All Black mix.”
Taufuawas the Mako player of the year in 2017, Lewis suggesting "he is acrucial part to our jigsaw and we saw that the other day [Wednesday] when heplayed for the [Tasman] Buccaneers against Counties … his leadership,enthusiasm and the way he inspired the young guys around him, just showed themark of the man.”
