Magpies - 2019 Mitre 10 Cup
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@Tim Good spot, Tim.
He is not in Havelock North's squad list for 2019 and I wondered where he had gone.
@Number-10 Sounds like he had recently been some kind of midseason replacement for Verona in Italy.
https://www.rugbymeet.com/it/news/mercato/il-verona-rugby-presenta-il-nuovo-arrivo-sam-ulufonua
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@Number-10 Sounds like he had recently been some kind of midseason replacement for Verona in Italy.
https://www.rugbymeet.com/it/news/mercato/il-verona-rugby-presenta-il-nuovo-arrivo-sam-ulufonua
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@Stargazer That answers the U20s question.
@Nepia It doesn't anwer the question clearly, though. What kind of visa issue? Considering he's a professional rugby player, he must at least have a work visa now (maybe the Talent (Arts, Culture, Sports) Work Visa). A visa to enter Argentina? Can't imagine they wouldn't let him in for the JWC.
I'd love to hear an explanation.
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Sam McNicol to play again this year, hopefully, starting with club rugby.
Is still currently signed to the Chiefs.
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Yay good news, and even playing club rugby for the good guys when he comes back
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I wonder whether the HBRU is going to announce this officially?
wfc_axemen: Our club would like to congratulate @ollie_sapsford for signing with @hbmagpies he will be a great part of your team. Ollie has been an absolute professional and role model for all. Making him an important part of our club for the past few years. Ollie can often be found on Hataitai Park working on his tan or in the hair care aisle at your local super market. From everyone at the club we wish you all the best on your next chapter and hope to see you in an Axemen jersey again in the future! #WellingtonAxemen #GiveEmTheAxe -
I wonder whether the HBRU is going to announce this officially?
wfc_axemen: Our club would like to congratulate @ollie_sapsford for signing with @hbmagpies he will be a great part of your team. Ollie has been an absolute professional and role model for all. Making him an important part of our club for the past few years. Ollie can often be found on Hataitai Park working on his tan or in the hair care aisle at your local super market. From everyone at the club we wish you all the best on your next chapter and hope to see you in an Axemen jersey again in the future! #WellingtonAxemen #GiveEmTheAxe@Stargazer Is he any good? I can't find much about him.
I wonder if he's a Canes forced on us or have we just picked him up?
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There are two ways to look at this. He never made the Wellington Lions squad but has always been involved with the Hurricanes since he arrived in Wellington about three years ago, playing fairly frequently for the Development Team. The fact that he continues to be seIected for that team perhaps indicates he just might be a plant up to the Bay at the request of the WRFU. I hear he was rated very highly by the expert panel when he attended the International Rugby Academy of New Zealand (IRANZ). He is more the dependable solid won't make many mistakes type of player rather than one that will score a brilliant runaway tray from his own goaline beating innumerable players on the way. Kind of the Jason Shoemark sort of player now that I come to think of it.
The HBRFU tend not to trumpet player signings the way some other provices do. Who knows who they may also have up their sleeves all signed and sealed but keeping it undwer wraps as is ther standard modus operandi. As Stargazer knows it is difficult to get their Mitre10 Cup lineups each week and player signings tend to follow the same pathway. -
If the HBRU has signed him, I hope it's only a development contract. I hate it when players from outside the Bay without any experience in NPC (or higher) are signed on full contracts, while local players have to prove themselves in club rugby first.
Also, the last thing I want is another TJ Vaega, Sasa Tofilau and other one- or two year- signings from other provinces that didn't perform.
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If this is as bad as it sounds, we may not have Bucky for the 2019 season either. :disappointed_face:
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From the article that I posted in the club rugby thread:
Magpies head coach Mark Ozich was pleased to hear Latu was back in the Bay. "There is still space in our squad for a midfielder as well as utility space on the wing. "There is a lot of good young talent chasing those spots but the fact Penikolo has been there and done that puts him in good space." -
About McClutchie not making the NZ U20s:
Kereru-Symes, Flanders and Toala were all members of the national title-winning Hastings Boys' High School 1st XV in 2017. A fourth member of that team, Magpies first five-eighth Lincoln McClutchie, missed selection for the Oceania Championship where the Baby Blacks will chase a fifth consecutive title. "A lack of versatility may have cost Lincoln a spot. Craig has gone with one specialist first five-eighth in Waikato's Rivez Reihana and there are a couple of versatile players who can play that role," Ozich said. "I have already spoken to Lincoln and he has taken his feedback on board. He needs to lengthen his exiting kicks, hang his re-start kick offs more and increase his physicality on defence. Other than that he drives a good game."https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=12220323
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Some bits and pieces from today's HBT article about the weekend's club rugby:
Most significant:
Magpies first five-eighth Lincoln McClutchie, who has been called into the Highlanders squad as injury cover.Trial with Warriors ...
Auto Super Shoppe Hastings Rugby and Sports second five-eighth Neria Fomai scored a hat-trick in the first 25 minutes of this Elwood Park encounter. The former Southland Stags midfield back is displaying the benefits of his summer trials with the Warriors NRL club in Auckland and will be a serious contender for a Magpies Mitre 10 Cup squad berth this season.Has he played at first-five eight before? His versatility may prove to be valuable in the future:
... Hurricanes squad member Danny Toala, who had stints at first five-eighth and fullback, also impressed in the winning backline ... -
If - as discussed in the general Mitre 10 Cup thread - Vince Aso signs with the Magpies, maybe we'll finally see Lowe at centre? I wouldn't be against that change, although Jonah has been good for us on the wing. With Sam McNicoll also set to return, we could have an awesome backline:
9 Weber/Fakatava, 10 McClutchie, 11 Emerson, 12 Toala, 13 Lowe, 14 Aso, 15 McNicoll
If Walker-Leawere comes to the Bay, I wonder whether that means one of the other locks (Allardice, Cridge, Parsons) is moving on, or whether they're going to use Cridge at 6 again. But with both Mikaele-Tu'u and Flanders in the squad (and both should start), that doesn't really make sense to me. If Allardice stays, Parsons may be the victim of this signing.
Possible starting forwards:
1 Farrell/Long, 2 Dixon/Kereru-Symes, 3 May/Rakete-Stones/Tavita-Metcalfe, 4 & 5: Allardice/Cridge/Walker-Leawere, 6 Flanders, 7 Evans, 8 Mikaele-Tu'u.
(I think Mikaele-Tu'u is much better at 8 than at 6)
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If - as discussed in the general Mitre 10 Cup thread - Vince Aso signs with the Magpies, maybe we'll finally see Lowe at centre? I wouldn't be against that change, although Jonah has been good for us on the wing. With Sam McNicoll also set to return, we could have an awesome backline:
9 Weber/Fakatava, 10 McClutchie, 11 Emerson, 12 Toala, 13 Lowe, 14 Aso, 15 McNicoll
If Walker-Leawere comes to the Bay, I wonder whether that means one of the other locks (Allardice, Cridge, Parsons) is moving on, or whether they're going to use Cridge at 6 again. But with both Mikaele-Tu'u and Flanders in the squad (and both should start), that doesn't really make sense to me. If Allardice stays, Parsons may be the victim of this signing.
Possible starting forwards:
1 Farrell/Long, 2 Dixon/Kereru-Symes, 3 May/Rakete-Stones/Tavita-Metcalfe, 4 & 5: Allardice/Cridge/Walker-Leawere, 6 Flanders, 7 Evans, 8 Mikaele-Tu'u.
(I think Mikaele-Tu'u is much better at 8 than at 6)
