Marshall re-joins Hurricanes after stay with Irish
HURRICANES have lured James Marshall back to Wellington for the 2019 Super Rugby season.
Marshall will rejoin the team for which he played the last of his 44 matches when they won their first Super Rugby title in 2016 before joining Lonon Irish.
The 29-year-old utility back joins in the same week All Blacks Jordie Barrett and Ardie Savea recommitted to the franchise and New Zealand Rugby until the end of next year.
“I’m very excited to be heading back to the Hurricanes, a team that I’ve loved and supported since I was a kid,” Marshall said.
“I feel that it’s the best environment for me to play to my potential being surrounded by the quality players and management that they have.”
John Plumtree, who will take over from Northampton-bound Chris Boyd as Hurricanes head coach in 2019, is delighted to see Marshall return.
“James can play a number of positions to a high ability while he’s a great thinker and communicator on the field,” Plumtree said.
“The coaching group think he will be a really good asset next season. He will have no trouble fitting back into the squad.”
Meanwhile James Wilson has returned to one of his old clubs in New Zealand after his Bath exit.
The utility back was offered a new contract at the Rec, but that was later withdrawn by the club when they realised they could not afford to fit him into the salary cap.
It hasn’t taken the 35year-old long to find a new deal, however. Wilson is going back to Southland, the club he represented from 2003 until he came to Europe in 2011.
Wilson, below, said: “I don’t know how it’s happened, but I feel better than when I was running around for the Stags last time. I think these five seasons away in Europe has helped me a lot. “They looked after me and my body’s in good nick. I’m conditioned to playing a lot of rugby, which is good.