NPC - news, injuries etc

[Stargazer]

Neria Fomai (Samoa 7s) has signed with the Southland Stags. In previous years, he played for the Hawke's Bay Development team.

[Stargazer]

Two Harbour players off to Japan:

Matt McGahan won't play for Harbour this Mitre10 Cup season and has signed with Yamaha Jubilo.
Also absent from the Harbour squad will be Michael Little, who has signed with Mitsubishi Dynaboars.

[Stargazer]

Antonio Kiri Kiri has re-signed with the Turbos:

http://www.turbosrugby.co.nz/news/246-kiri-kiri-is-a-2017-turbo

Heiden Bedwell-Curtis has been confirmed as the Manawatu Turbos' captain for 2017

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/91197979/heiden-bedwellcurtis-named-captain-of-manawatu-turbos-for-2017

[Stargazer]

Not sure how often (if ever) they'll wear the Naki jersey at the same time, but a certain someone is joining his 2 brothers at the same Mitre10 Cup team .......

Scott Barrett has signed with Taranaki!!

Just thought this was exciting Mitre10 Cup news!

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/rugby/barretts-reunited-scott-signs-taranaki

[KiwiMurph]

@Stargazer Liam Napier on twitter also stated "Expect Scott to join Jordie and Beauden at the Canes in 2019 too"

[Stargazer]

@KiwiMurph Yes, I saw that, but not sure whether that's a fact or wishful thinking on Liam Napier's part ...

[Tim]

Thinking about the Blues region teams this year. North Harbour should have a pretty solid XV:

1. Mayhew/Eves
2. Parsons
3. Mafileo
4. Nansen (injury?)
5. Cowley-Tuioti
6. Vui
7. Jacobson/Taramai
8. Moala-Liava'a/Taramai
9. Hall
10. Gatland
11. Li
12. Ahki (is Little available at all?)
13. Vaega
14. Stevenson
15. Duffy

[Tim]

Auckland's XV will be interesting, with a few good young prospects coming through. Any one know when Luatua is off?

1. Hodgman (injured?)
2. GPT
3. O. Tu'ungafasi
4. Fatialofa (injured?) - two locks in the NZ U20, Nee Nee, Moli, Seu
5. Scrafton - Pat T should get some rotation time here too
6. Seu/Papali'i
7. Gibson
8. A. Ioane
9. Fukofuka/Milo-Harris
10. Wiseguy Faiane/D’Angelo Leuila/Fonoti/Fosita - anyone else available? (Harry Plummer won't be ready/available until next year.)
11. B. Lam/Caleb Clarke
12. T.J. Faiane
13. Aso - Moala and R. Ioane should get some game time in the midfield too.
14. Trainor/Caleb Clarke
15. Nanai

9 & 10 the big issues (as always). Frontrow depth also a concern.

[KiwiMurph]

@Tim Did I see Harry Plummer was playing club rugby for Grammar TEC this past weekend? I take it he hasn't had his surgery yet.

[Tim]

@KiwiMurph Yep, scored all their points, I think. Hopefully he's already had surgery and has recovered. Sounds unlikely though.

[African Monkey]

@Tim said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:

Auckland's XV will be interesting, with a few good young prospects coming through. Any one know when Luatua is off?

1. Hodgman (injured?)
2. GPT
3. O. Tu'ungafasi
4. Fatialofa (injured?) - two locks in the NZ U20, Nee Nee, Moli, Seu
5. Scrafton - Pat T should get some rotation time here too
6. Seu/Papali'i
7. Gibson
8. A. Ioane
9. Fukofuka/Milo-Harris
10. Wiseguy Faiane/D’Angelo Leuila/Fonoti/Fosita - anyone else available? (Harry Plummer won't be ready/available until next year.)
11. B. Lam/Caleb Clarke
12. T.J. Faiane
13. Aso - Moala and R. Ioane should get some game time in the midfield too.
14. Trainor/Caleb Clarke
15. Nanai

9 & 10 the big issues (as always). Frontrow depth also a concern.

Ben Lam has signed for Wellington hasn't he? I'm assuming Hodgman is still with Canterbury as well. Hope to see Wiseguy Faiane at 10 as well

[Tim]

@African-Monkey said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:

Ben Lam

I thought Hodgman had signed with Auckland too, but I may well be wrong. Can't recall anything about Lam signing with Wellington.

[Kiwidom]

@Tim Jamie Lane could be another option at lock, he was nz u20s two years ago. Plays for Ponies.
Also Pryor Collier on the wing looked quite useful last year in his first season.

[Duluth]

@Tim said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:

Can't recall anything about Lam signing with Wellington.

He signed with Wellington at the same time as the Hurricanes

I wouldn't pick him, but I expect Tyrone Elkington-MacDonald will be in the squad.

[Kiwidom]

Not sure if it has already been mentioned, but Jordan Taufua has signed for the Ta$man Mako$ for the ITM cup. He played for them back in 2012,so not totally new to their environment.

[Stargazer]

@Kiwidom Yes, that was posted here when he signed in February. Good signing for Ta$man.

[KiwiMurph]

@Tim said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:

@KiwiMurph Yep, scored all their points, I think. Hopefully he's already had surgery and has recovered. Sounds unlikely though.

Going by an article from last year, it looks like Harry Plummer has already had the surgery and is back playing - which hopefully puts him in contention for this year's Auckland squad (even if its just to get a taste).

***Harry Plummer has dealt with more than his fair share of adversity in his short rugby career, so a slightly delayed April start to the 2017 season is a minor inconvenience for this talented No 10.

His exams were done, but his arm was in a brace as he rehabs from a shoulder operation last month, done a few days after the trans- Ta$man schools international.***

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11753558

[Bovidae]

You guys must love seeing Simon Hickey in that photo. Good times.

[KiwiMurph]

@Bovidae size wise you'd think he was the schoolboy of the two. In fact game-wise too.

[African Monkey]

@Bovidae He just won't go away.