Highlanders 2026
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2026:
Force makes sense for Hastie. Grew up there until 2019. Played first XV with Tamati Williams over there. Its first string halfback getting on. Would he have already done the Australian residency?
What I'm frustrated about is that we haven't seen it announced who is leaving the franchise yet
Sad thing is he's one of the few Logan Park High School-adjacent rugby players we could claim.
His dad was the standout loosie for LPHS in the early 1990s.
Otherwise it's Flilipo Levi, who switched to Otago Boys in 7th form, or Shane Stewart, who played for Ulster about 25 years ago.
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@Smudge said in Highlanders 2026:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2026:
Force makes sense for Hastie. Grew up there until 2019. Played first XV with Tamati Williams over there. Its first string halfback getting on. Would he have already done the Australian residency?
What I'm frustrated about is that we haven't seen it announced who is leaving the franchise yet
Sad thing is he's one of the few Logan Park High School-adjacent rugby players we could claim.
His dad was the standout loosie for LPHS in the early 1990s.
Otherwise it's Flilipo Levi, who switched to Otago Boys in 7th form, or Shane Stewart, who played for Ulster about 25 years ago.
LPHS the home of Sparkie Dickel. Fuck all else in the sports arena. The only Dunedin school that can claim a current national talk back radio host though.
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@SouthernMann They also had 100m Olympics sprinter Chris Donaldson
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Any Josh Jacomb news?
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@upthelanders said in Highlanders 2026:
Any Josh Jacomb news?
I just looked back at the timing of the announcements around player signings last year. The big group of new guys was named right about a year ago.
Which suggests we might start seeing some movement around 2026 in the coming weeks. You'd think from a publicity perspective they'd let the game in Dunedin run. Then the NPC announcements. Following it up with any potential player movements. My guess is in two - three weeks the franchise may come out with new material/announcements.
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Rumours swirling that Thomas Umaga-Jensen might be joining his bro and shifting to Japan.
From Clubrugby.co.nz - Some notable spectators at William Jones Park on Saturday. Chase Tiatia was in the crowd having recently come back from his first campaign in Japan, as were the two Umaga-Jensen twins. Peter has already signed to play in the Land of the Rising Sun next season, with Thomas giving indications he might be headed that way as well.Peter has already signed to play in the Land of the Rising Sun next season, with Thomas giving indications he might be headed that way as well'.
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@Canes4life My expectation is that he won't be back.
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if so them im glad he went out on a relative high personally, decent string of games without injury, we saw glipses what could have been
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Hopefully TUJ can cash in over there. A player of his size will dominate. Get some caps for Samoa too.
Agree around signings. Especially if they are primarily the U20s lads. I really hope Tayne Harvey gets some game time for Southland. They have a shit tonne of midfield backs.
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Dave Dillon leaving the Landers.
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Looks a big step up from Dave Dillon. Looking forward to what he can bring.
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he has had a pretty good stint as defense coach for the Pumas and recently the Leicester Tigers and Brave Bloosoms in Japan. He guided the Pumas to a semi final in 2023 and was part of their victory over the All Blacks in Christchurch. Wonder if he brings any new signings with him.
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Very highly rated - wouldn’t look out of place in an ABs set up in the future. Don’t judge him on his league record - seems to have found his niche.
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Paul Cully now publicly stating the Stanley Solomon rumour in his articles
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