NPC 2025

[taniwharugby]

@Canes4life that's a strong side, probably very close to full strength and what Northland will face as they defend the Shield next week...I'm thinking it has been about a decade or more since we last won down there.

[Yeetyaah]

@Bovidae said in NPC 2025:

I don't even know if Waikato has played a pre-season game. Hawke's Bay might be the only team that was available to play based on who was/is playing each other.

They apparently played Hawkes Bay yesterday in Taupō but there's no info anywhere.

[Yeetyaah]

Chucked Waikato a DM on Instagram and they said the squads are out on Tuesday.

[Bovidae]

@Yeetyaah said in NPC 2025:

@Bovidae said in NPC 2025:

I don't even know if Waikato has played a pre-season game. Hawke's Bay might be the only team that was available to play based on who was/is playing each other.

They apparently played Hawkes Bay yesterday in Taupō but there's no info anywhere.

Yeah, they often play a pre-season game there. I had checked the HB socials yesterday to see if there was any info. Nope.

[UpTheHarbs]

@Yeetyaah Revealing a squad just two days out from your first game of the year? Yeah right.

[Yeetyaah]

@UpTheHarbs Only going on what I've just been told by their official socials, can post the screenshot to please you if needed

[Bovidae]

Speaking to someone with inside info, Waikato had a good win over HB. Micah Fale is one of the new players in the squad.

[Trig]

I saw a harlequins squad named the other day, is that essentially the Waikato B squad?

[Bovidae]

@Trig said in NPC 2025:

I saw a harlequins squad named the other day, is that essentially the Waikato B squad?

Yes, re-branded a few years back. They will play in the Northern Region Development competition. The squad is a mixture of U20 players to some older veterans.

[Yeetyaah]

Waikato season launch on tomorrow morning at 6.30am. Crazy how late they've left it lmao.

[Dan54]

Well fellas, week of NPC starting, so almost my favourite time of year!!
Mrs is happy, she has had the tv for watching the Tour de France, (mind you she records it and watches during day) and as there stull all else on tv, I should have tv completely free. Mind you when rugby on always the case. And she gets a trip to New Plymouth on Sat night for Naki game!

[Duluth]

So three days out from the first game of the comp - what's on the official website?

No news stories in the last month. The last NPC related story is from March
Squad links point to instagram posts for each teams 2024 squad
They do have the correct fixtures list

[george33]

8 All Blacks released for NPC bit disappointing really.

[Duluth]

ABs released to play NPC:

Anton Lienert-Brown, Brodie McAlister, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Pasilio Tosi, Emoni Narawa, Christian Lio-Willie, Dalton Papali’i and Ruben Love

[Grooter]

@george33 Sevu should be playing for the Stags, he basically played the same amount of minutes in the French series as Narawa & Love did

[SouthernMann]

@Duluth said in NPC 2025:

ABs released to play NPC:

Anton Lienert-Brown, Brodie McAlister, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Pasilio Tosi, Emoni Narawa, Christian Lio-Willie, Dalton Papali’i and Ruben Love

Who will play 12 for Ta$man? Jim the Difference or the Crusader's captain.

[Bovidae]

@Duluth said in NPC 2025:

So three days out from the first game of the comp - what's on the official website?

It seems that using the website is a thing of the past. It is the first place I would look.

The Bunnings NPC FB page has had regular articles and has been showing all NPC squads with gains and losses. Well, except one.

https://www.facebook.com/BunningsProvincialRugby

[Duluth]

@Bovidae said in NPC 2025:

It seems that using the website is a thing of the past. It is the first place I would look.

It was the same last year. From memory, I think it updated it not long before the first game

NZR uses a similar website template between that one, a SR one and the AB one. Stories can get published to all three. They just haven't bothered writing anything about the NPC since March

[Yeetyaah]

Josh Moorby and Lima Sopoaga both in the Waikato team. A lot of the same squad members. Micah Fale doesn't seem to be in the main squad.

[Bovidae]

@Yeetyaah Have you seen the full squad? My info on Fale was from the father of one of the players.