NPC - news, injuries etc

[Chris B.]

Heard Tony Lewis ( Ta$man CEO) interviewed on the radio today. Was quite interesting to hear lots of various developments in local rugby. One interesting snippet was that Sam Prattley remains contracted to Auckland, but was allowed to return home to play in the Ta$man Club comp because it was deemed to be an equivalent standard to Auckland!!!

However, the main news was the Ta$man coaching staff for the upcoming season which will be Leon, Andrew Goodman as backs coach, Clarke Dermody as set piece coach and Shane Christie as forwards coach.

[Stargazer]

On Wednesday, 2 May, there's a preseason game between Hawke's Bay and Ta$man. Kick-off 2.00pm at Hutt Recreation Ground (Lower Hutt), #1.

This is Ta$man's squad:

1 Kershawl Sykes-Martin (Nelson)
2 Brendan Asomua-Goodman (Nelson)
3 Blair Princep (Stoke)
4 Mike Curry (Moutere)
5 Caleb Havili (Marist)
6 Vernon Fredericks (Moutere)
7 Anty Burnett (Stoke)
8 Isaiah Miller (Nelson)
9 Ben Finau (Moutere)
10 Willi Havili (Nelson)
11 Tomas Aoake (Stoke)
12 Mike Vaeno (Renwick)
13 Nick Foxley (Nelson)
14 Rupena Parkinson (Stoke)
15 Tima Faingaanuku (Nelson)

Reserves:
16 Sam Moli (Marist)
17 Ryan Coxon (Wanderers)
18 George Tuineau (Waitohi)
19 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta (Stoke)
20 Jacob Norris (Marist)
21 Hugo Nankivell (Stoke)
22 Jack Grooby (Stoke)
23 Tim O¹Malley (Waitohi)
24 James Hawkey (Marist)
25 Caleb Coventry (Waimea Old Boys)

[Stargazer]

https://twitter.com/WaikatoRugby/status/991467214095110144

[Bovidae]

Tupaea is playing regular club rugby but playing in the M10 Cup in his first year out of school will be a big step up.

[mikedogz]

Who are the AB's that could come back from injury through Mitre 10 Cup? Will Counties have all of their AB's? Sbw, Read, Laulala. Wellington will have Coles.

[Stargazer]

@mikedogz Not sure how serious Dagg's new injury is, but if it's more serious than anticipated, he could play for Hawke's Bay.

[Tim]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BieEV_7HZ8h/

harbourrugby Come on down to Windsor Park this Wednesday evening and see our QBE North Harbour Wider Training Group take on Auckland in a preseason game ahead of this years Mitre 10 Cup! Kick off at 6:30.

[Stargazer]

Pre-season game:

NZ Vikings (Northland HP Squad) vs Counties Manukau HP
Wednesday 16th May 2018
Kaiwaka Sports Complex
Kick off 6:30pm

I've posted the info on the Northland line-up here.

[Stargazer]

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

https://www.instagram.com/p/BieEV_7HZ8h/

harbourrugby Come on down to Windsor Park this Wednesday evening and see our QBE North Harbour Wider Training Group take on Auckland in a preseason game ahead of this years Mitre 10 Cup! Kick off at 6:30.

Full time: North Harbour (8) v (7) Auckland (HT: 0 - 0)

[Stargazer]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/103813823/manawat-turbos-sign-up-hooker-sam-stewart

[taniwharugby]

Heard that Auckland have signed the Dunshea that has been in the Blues dev side.

Apparently Northland had been negotiating with him and then after playing for Dev side Auckland came in and signed him.

[Stargazer]

Finally confirmed: Shane Christie - who has retired as a player - has been appointed as the new Ta$man Mako forward coach for the 2018 season.

http://www.mako.nz/news/shane-christie-brings-curtain-down-on-one-career-starts-another

[Stargazer]

Preseason game: NZ Vikings (Northland HP squad) v Counties Manukau Cavaliers (CM HP squad)

Wednesday, 16 May 2018
Kaiwaka Sports Complex
K/o 6.30pm

[mikedogz]

Counties Manukau Cavaliers - 34
Northland Vikings - 5

[Number 10]

Auckland 2015-2016 prop (and missed last year due to injury) Tom McHugh has shifted to Bay of Plenty and joined the Whakarewarewa club.

[Tim]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/104011946/doubts-raised-over-jono-gibbes-coaching-waikato-rugby

[Bovidae]

Oh, great.

If Gibbes doesn't return home his reputation will be tarnished in the Waikato.

[Duluth]

Who is Waikato's assistant coach? I assume they must be doing most of the selection work anyway?

[Chris B.]

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

Counties Manukau Cavaliers - 34
Northland Vikings - 5

Perhaps the Vikings need to strengthen their management team?

[Bovidae]

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

Who is Waikato's assistant coach? I assume they must be doing most of the selection work anyway?

Nathan White was named as the new forwards coach, and he is currently the co-coach at TA Sports. Roger Randle was the backs coach and I assume he is still involved.