Highlanders 2026
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@Kiwiwomble The current 1st 5s in the region are either from Southland or went to school there.
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:
@gt12 i think players should realise squads with depth win things....and players in squads that win things get looked at
but i get it and i suspect maybe Jacomb isnt a long term option, will do his contract, at which point mika can step up
@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2026:
A sign of the times where all SR clubs will try to lock in young local talent ASAP.
Southland schools produce more 1st 5s than Otago.
hows that measured?
Muliaina, Jimmy Taylor SBHS.
Cam Millar and Hurley schooled at OBHS. But both from Gore.
I don't see this as hoarding. It is signing a guy who has a strong futute. Jacomb will be 27 by the end of his contract with the Landers. There will be a strong indication about whether he has a long-term future in NZ (is he an AB).
I would be surprised if we see Cam Millar there post next year.
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:
@gt12 i think players should realise squads with depth win things....and players in squads that win things get looked at
but i get it and i suspect maybe Jacomb isnt a long term option, will do his contract, at which point mika can step up
@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2026:
A sign of the times where all SR clubs will try to lock in young local talent ASAP.
Southland schools produce more 1st 5s than Otago.
hows that measured?
The irony.
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@tubbyj said in Highlanders 2026:
Blues should chase Cam Millar. He is the kind of 10 they need, more Grant Fox than Carlos Spencer.
I'd be happy with a young Carlos Spencer. He went alright for the Blues, 608 points if I recall.
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@gt12 said in Highlanders 2026:
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:
@gt12 i think players should realise squads with depth win things....and players in squads that win things get looked at
but i get it and i suspect maybe Jacomb isnt a long term option, will do his contract, at which point mika can step up
@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2026:
A sign of the times where all SR clubs will try to lock in young local talent ASAP.
Southland schools produce more 1st 5s than Otago.
hows that measured?
The irony.
sorry that went over my head
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@tubbyj said in Highlanders 2026:
Blues should chase Cam Millar. He is the kind of 10 they need, more Grant Fox than Carlos Spencer.
Speaking objectively Cam has played his better rugby when he has more of a livewire 9 alongside him, Hotham back in age grade, Fakatava in 2024 super and Pledger in NPC just gone, when Hastie or Arscott were his 9 things didn't go as well so what I'm saying is Christie and Millar probably wouldn't gel
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:
@gt12 said in Highlanders 2026:
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:
@gt12 i think players should realise squads with depth win things....and players in squads that win things get looked at
but i get it and i suspect maybe Jacomb isnt a long term option, will do his contract, at which point mika can step up
@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2026:
A sign of the times where all SR clubs will try to lock in young local talent ASAP.
Southland schools produce more 1st 5s than Otago.
hows that measured?
The irony.
sorry that went over my head
Think it might be referencing the blues?
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@Bones said in Highlanders 2026:
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:
@gt12 said in Highlanders 2026:
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:
@gt12 i think players should realise squads with depth win things....and players in squads that win things get looked at
but i get it and i suspect maybe Jacomb isnt a long term option, will do his contract, at which point mika can step up
@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2026:
A sign of the times where all SR clubs will try to lock in young local talent ASAP.
Southland schools produce more 1st 5s than Otago.
hows that measured?
The irony.
sorry that went over my head
Think it might be referencing the blues?
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@Yeetyaah said in Highlanders 2026:
@tubbyj said in Highlanders 2026:
Cam Millar
Off to France after the 2026 season.
I'd be stoked for Cam if that is the case.
After such a good NPC this was his opportunity to land a decent gig overseas.
With rumours Jacomb is moving his provincial allegiances to Otago as well, Cam could have gone from starting at Super level next year to riding the pine during the NPC.
Good luck to the guy nabbing the cash and the opportunities.
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Another NDC confirmation from the Highlanders. I can't seem to find any information on this guy. Anyone know where he has come from?
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@SouthernMann Henry Hunter, King’s and NZ Schools 2025
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@macmanus said in Highlanders 2026:
@SouthernMann Henry Hunter, King’s and NZ Schools 2025
That must be why I couldn't find Henry Stuart
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so theyve stuffed up the announcement?
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@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2026:
Talk about an own goal from the media team.
There are a couple of others who could be the third NDC player from the U18 teams (e.g., Jimmy Taylor, Mason Coulthard, Jake Hill) or one of the new academy players.
You'd think it will be Jimmy Taylor.
The question with Taylor is what do they turn him into. Will be tough to crack it at 10. Will likely either become a 12 or 15.
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@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2026:
Taylor is another small 1st 5 so I doubt he is an option at 12.
You want to spread your NDCs across positions, which is why a lock/loose forward or outside back might be their choice.
I am pretty sure he is training with the Landers which suggests he is one of the three.
Just hard to see a path forward in his prefered position of first five. I think we will see a bit of him at fullback/wing for Southland during the NPC.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2026:
I am pretty sure he is training with the Landers which suggests he is one of the three.
If it is like the Chiefs there are a lot of NZ U20 eligible players training with each SR team. I've seen photos/videos of Ollie Guerin and Jamie Viljoen at Chiefs trainings and neither have a NDC.
