Umaga set for Kiwi comeback

13 Mar 2010

All Blacks legend Tana Umaga will play for Counties-Manukau in the 2010 New Zealand Cup.

According to the Waikato Times, the former Test centre has signed for the battling Kiwi team and is expected to confirm the two-year deal early next week.

Umaga coached and played at Toulon, and is now expected to play and assist Counties-Manukau head coach Milton Haig. He will be available for the Chiefs in the 2011 Super 15, but at 36, there are doubts of his ability to still perform at that level.



20 Comments

  • 1.Staal: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2010, 09:17 am

    2011 are working on these Dragons…..

  • 2.TheTackler: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2010, 09:37 am

    Ooh! Aaah! Umaga!

  • 3.KWAGGA ROBERTSE: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2010, 09:40 am

    @TheTackler: Hody ou Tietkop!! Interesting prospect. The guy was awesome on his day…maybe he’s in for another day or two but I somehow think the young bunch might be a little too much for him

  • 4.JL1: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2010, 09:42 am

    I wonder if he will bring his handbags with him

  • 5.TheTackler: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2010, 09:42 am

    Form is temporary. Class is permanent.

  • 6.KWAGGA ROBERTSE: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2010, 09:46 am

    @TheTackler: Point taken but quit while you’re ahead…

  • 7.munkiboi: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2010, 10:15 am

    he still hoping to play in the backline or is he planning to re-invent himself at hooker?

  • 8.munkiboi: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2010, 10:15 am

    @TheTackler:

    yeah bring back Naas?

  • 9.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2010, 10:17 am

    bloke just wants to come home and play a little rugby, nothing wrong with that… funny how rugby works, was original a winger then converted to outside centre, and when he was injured we had a dearth of quality outside centres… now we have blokes like Smith, Kahui, Fruen (not there yet, needs to work on his defence)

  • 10.TheTackler: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2010, 10:59 am

    And he can cut his baby-teeth in the rugby coaching business at a sufficiently high position while deputising under Haig, who knows all the coaching ropes in the lower echelons. Good, steady career progression, Tana! He’ll be a huge asset to developing the next generation of NZ rugby men for many years to come.

  • 11.wp_boytjie: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2010, 11:10 am

    Umaga still playing ??

    AJ Venter must have convinced him to have another go

  • 12.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2010, 11:52 am

    @TheTackler: the ugly spear-tackler has already tried his hand at coaching, he was predictably ****

  • 13.Storm outta hell: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2010, 13:20 pm

    @Big Hit: Much like Chester..!

  • 14.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2010, 14:00 pm

    @Big Hit: much like Johnson…

  • 15.Storm outta hell: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2010, 14:03 pm

    @poppa69: or Muir :mrgreen:

  • 16.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2010, 14:05 pm

    @Storm outta hell: :lol:

  • 17.Mary Lynn: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2010, 14:45 pm

    Go Tana!!!!! Love the man.. ;-)

  • 18.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2010, 14:48 pm

    @Mary Lynn: how your highlanders going to do tonight Mary?

  • 19.superbok: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2010, 23:04 pm

    What is legendary about Umaga?

  • 20.Black Panther: Reply to this comment
    14 Mar 2010, 04:23 am

    @superbok:

    Born’n'Bred Kiwi, he was 1st Polynesian-heritage Captain of the All Blacks

    Won 95% of games as AB Capt.

    Captained ABs to a Grand Slam (2005)

    Captained ABs to TriN title (2005)

    Captained ABs to complete walloping of 2005 B&I Lions, 3-0 (over 100pts scored against).

    Recognised as best 13 in the World.

    74 Test Caps

    100 S12/14 Caps

    Council of the International Fair Play Committee awarded Umaga the Pierre de Coubertin Medal, a prestigious award for outstanding sportsmanship.

    which spells…..

    L E G E N D !

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