NPC - news, injuries etc

[African Monkey]

@Steven-Harris If true about Ta'avao then that's two big losses for Taranaki with Damian Mackenzie also leaving. Waikato looking fairly strong if they land Ta'avao.

[Canes4life]

@African-Monkey Don't you mean Marty?

[Stargazer]

With Beaudein Waaka now playing in Australia, the question is whether he'll come back to Taranaki for Mitre 10 Cup. If MMac is leaving, too, they lose two of their goal kickers. They'll be hoping Perofeta can stay fit all season. Unless Jordie doesn't make the RWC squad ...

[African Monkey]

@Canes4life Yeah that one haha sorry.

[Stargazer]

https://twitter.com/ManawatuTurbos/status/1116570975439470592

[Machpants]

So meaningless

[taniwharugby]

@Machpants except for that pic with the sponsor logos...thats the value for them and any other promo stuff he does, plus NZR reimburses Manawatu the salary for them to put into someone else.

BUt yeah, largely meaningless.

[Machpants]

Also, that haircut, does it count as rounding the corners, per Leviticus 19:27?

[Stargazer]

Counties Manukau: re-signed for the 2019 season

[Stargazer]

Five Turbos re-sign for 2019

Five Manawatu Turbos have inked extensions while one of the province’s out-bound All Blacks has also committed for the 2019 season.

Tom Hughes, Faalelei Sione, Sam Malcolm, Ben Wyness and Nick Crosswell have all signed extensions to return to the Turbos this year.

The Turbos have also confirmed that France-bound fullback Nehe Milner-Skudder will suit up in green and white in 2019 should he miss the All Blacks’ Rugby World Cup squad.

The latest group of signings helps bolster the squad with Rob Thompson, Otere Black, Fraser Armstrong, Liam Mitchell, Brayden Iose and Sione Asi already under contract along with All Blacks Ngani Laumape and Aaron Smith.

[Daffy Jaffy]

Stags training squad:
​Props: Chris Apoua (Star), Joe Walsh (Woodlands), Shaun Stodart (Marist), Ethan de Groot (Blues), Ben Soper (Blues), Kane Prentice (Te Anau), Leo Wiki (Star). Hookers: Brayden Mitchell (Star), Flynn Thomas (Marist), Greg Pleasants-Tate (Star). Locks: Ben Fotheringham (Marist), Manaaki Selby-Rickit (Star), Albert Qoro (Barbarians), Brenton Howden (Barbarians). Locks/No 6s: Ray Tatafu (Blues), Ben Paulin (Blues), Jack Capil (Star). Loose forwards: Matt James (Woodlands), Taine Te Whata (Blues), Charles Alaimalo (Woodlands), Jordan Stewart (Star), Lio Tosi (Marist), Bill Fokofuka (Blues). Halfbacks: Jay Renton (Blues), Hayden Edgley (Star), Osika Kanofonga (Blues). First five-eighths: Mitch Taylor (Blues), Toko Sopoaga (Woodlands). Midfield: Javaan Fa'amoe-Ioane (Marist), Caleb Young (Barbarians), Ray Nu'u (Green Island), Jay Thompson (POB), Moses Faletau (Woodlands). Outside backs: Sosi Tuimavave (Woodlands), Chad Kiensmidt (Barbarians), Josh Moorby, Alatini Vaahu (Marist), Rory van Vugt (Barbarians), Lewis Ormond (Woodlands), Isaac Te Tamaki.

[Number 10]

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

Stags training squad:
​Props: Chris Apoua (Star), Joe Walsh (Woodlands), Shaun Stodart (Marist), Ethan de Groot (Blues), Ben Soper (Blues), Kane Prentice (Te Anau), Leo Wiki (Star). Hookers: Brayden Mitchell (Star), Flynn Thomas (Marist), Greg Pleasants-Tate (Star). Locks: Ben Fotheringham (Marist), Manaaki Selby-Rickit (Star), Albert Qoro (Barbarians), Brenton Howden (Barbarians). Locks/No 6s: Ray Tatafu (Blues), Ben Paulin (Blues), Jack Capil (Star). Loose forwards: Matt James (Woodlands), Taine Te Whata (Blues), Charles Alaimalo (Woodlands), Jordan Stewart (Star), Lio Tosi (Marist), Bill Fokofuka (Blues). Halfbacks: Jay Renton (Blues), Hayden Edgley (Star), Osika Kanofonga (Blues). First five-eighths: Mitch Taylor (Blues), Toko Sopoaga (Woodlands). Midfield: Javaan Fa'amoe-Ioane (Marist), Caleb Young (Barbarians), Ray Nu'u (Green Island), Jay Thompson (POB), Moses Faletau (Woodlands). Outside backs: Sosi Tuimavave (Woodlands), Chad Kiensmidt (Barbarians), Josh Moorby, Alatini Vaahu (Marist), Rory van Vugt (Barbarians), Lewis Ormond (Woodlands), Isaac Te Tamaki.

Greg Pleasants-Tate now at his 5th province. Previously Bay of Plenty, North Harbour, Auckland and Canterbury.

Good to see Jay Thompson back from Australia.

[taniwharugby]

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

Charles Alaimalo

Is that Solomons little brother, who he was supposedly trying to help get a contract with Northland while negotiating himself too?

[Stargazer]

@taniwharugby Yes, that must be him. Weird how he's endede up with the Stags. Also noticing that none of the Costa brothers is in the squad.

[Yeetyaah]

Toko Sopoaga? Any relation to Lima?

[Stargazer]

@Yeetyaah Yes, I think he's the youngest of Lima's brothers (the others are Tupou Sopoaga, a no. 8, who plays for Petone Rugby and Zeke Sopoaga is a hooker, who plays for Old Boys Uni in Wellington).

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Stargazer From the article re: the new players and Costa.
There are some notable new names in the training squad, including 2017 New Zealand secondary schools loose forward Charles Alaimalo.

He was part of the Hamilton Boys' High School team which progressed to the 2017 national secondary schools final

The loose forward is the younger brother of Chiefs outside back Solomon Alaimalo, and has linked with the Woodlands club in Southland.

Josh Moorby is also set to make a move south from Waikato in the coming weeks to have a shot at playing for the Stags.

Moorby was part of the New Zealand sevens development squad this year and has played for the Waikato development and under-19 teams.

Last year's Canterbury B player of the year Matt James has also joined the setup and the loose forward is playing his club rugby for Woodlands.

The Stags decision-makers were still looking at other possible options outside the province to fill potential gaps.

Flanker Phil Halder is playing overseas at the moment and was not named in the squad named on Thursday, however Hewett said he would be back for the Mitre 10 Cup season.

Halfback Nico Costa is in Argentina at the moment but he too will return for his second year of his contract with the Stags.

.

[SammyC]

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

@Stargazer From the article re: the new players and Costa.

Last year's Canterbury B player of the year Matt James has also joined the setup and the loose forward is playing his club rugby for Woodlands.

.

Well deserved, has consistently been one of the best club players in Christchurch for the last 2-3 years.

[Steven Harris]

I am hearing that Hawkes Bay may have snared 2 big signings
Isaia Walker-Leawere from Wellington and Vince Aso from Auckland .,might be one for you Stargazer to follow up..!.
Got this from a pretty good source ...that would give the Magpies a decent battery of locks

[Number 10]

Yes, please.