Magpies 2020

Stargazer

Confirmed for 2020 (not a surprise):

The hard carrying Isaia Walker-Leawere will be looking forward to getting back to the Bay and continuing his great form from the 2019 Magpies season. The big Maori All Black and Hurricanes lock provides size and grunt in the Magpies engine room

Stargazer

Also confirmed for 2020:

Stacey Ili, a player who can play most positions in the backs has been a key part of the Magpies backline over recent seasons. A creative and gutsy player and great team man, we are delighted to have Stacey back this season.

Comment from Danny Toala under the FB post:

Stacey Ili when you back g 😂

So is he playing club rugby in Hawke's Bay, or not? Toala's comment suggest he's not. But if he isn't, where is he?

Magpie_in_aus

@Billsy111 said in Magpies 2020:

@Stargazer He might be 35, but all that experience would be very valuable. Can't see Bryn turning down the chance to play a season with Gareth. Adds hugely to the locking stocks.

Be a great addition. Didn't he get named in some northern hemisphere team of the decade?

Higgins

@Stargazer said in Magpies 2020:

Also confirmed for 2020:

Stacey Ili, a player who can play most positions in the backs has been a key part of the Magpies backline over recent seasons. A creative and gutsy player and great team man, we are delighted to have Stacey back this season.

Why oh why oh why?????? Is our depth so low in club rugby that we need to have someone come in to back up our existing players. The Treasurer and Marketing/Sponsorship Department of the HBRFU must be doing an outstanding job getting the money together to fund all these players. From memory Ili, whilst doing a no frills type job, was nothing super special.

Stargazer

Confirmed for 2020:

hbmagpies: With the All Blacks back to take part at the start of the season we look forward to Brad pulling on the Magpies jersey, a fan favourite with superb game knowledge who loves a snipe with ball in hand. Looking forward to seeing Webby play for the Pies in 2020.

Stargazer

Confirmed:

hbmagpies: Clive Rugby and Sports Club player Josh Kaifa enters his 3rd season with the Magpies. The openside flanker is always dominant over the ball and will be putting his best foot forward to lockdown the number 7 jersey for 2020.

One of the better imports of the last few years, IMO. Has been good off the bench.

Stargazer

Confirmed for 2020:

Unlucky with injury but blessed with versatility Sam will provide great balance for our backline whether he's in the midfield or outside backs. Tall, quick and intelligent we look forward to seeing him back this season.

Billsy111

@Stargazer A very good backline building here. Hopefully Sam can stay injury free because he adds depth and strength to it.

Stargazer

Confirmed:

Solomone Funaki returns for his second season with the Magpies. After making his debut in 2019, the powerful number 8 will provide plenty of excitement for Magpies fans when he is let loose in 2020.

Some comments on that text. First of all, he was already in the 2018 squad, so this will be his third, not his second season. Second, isn't he an openside? Or has he changed to no. 8? And what good will that do? Anyway, I don't expect Magpies fans to be that excited when he takes the field as that will mean there are lots of injuries: he'll be behind Evans, Mikaele-Tu'u and Flanders at 8, and behind O'Connor, Kaifa, and probably also Evans at 7. If Tremain is in the squad, he'll even have more competition at 7.

Nepia

@Stargazer I can't even remember him.

Number 10

Not surprised you don't remember him @Nepia ?

He's only made one appearance and that was 22 minutes against Canterbury in 2018 coming on as a sub for Geoff Cridge.

@Stargazer is right, he is unlikely to feature again this year, either.

His brother Setefano played for Northland last year.

Stargazer

Confirmed. I don't think it's a secret that I'm not a fan. Hopefully, he's better in 2020 than he was last year.

Taradale rugby and sports prop Namatahi Wa'a will be looking to continue his club form into the Mitre 10 Cup. With playing both loosehead and tighthead, the big prop provides versatility and brings a hard edge to the front row.

kiwimatrix

@Stargazer We don't know the money situation, everybody is obviously operating on reduced budgets this year and guys like Wa'a and Funaki are already in the bay so it may just be that we didn't have money to recruit a big name prop this year and they may be in by default.

Stargazer

@kiwimatrix Good point, although I suspect he had a two-year contract and was always going to be in the squad for that reason. I just hated seeing our scrum going backwards as soon as Wa'a came on. Third choice player at best, just like Funaki, for when injury strikes or for rotation against a weaker opponent. Useful to have in the squad, but hopefully not needed in the big games. I hope we have better (preferably local) options, next year. I hope, for example, that Patrick Teddy is progressing well ...

kiwimatrix

@Stargazer We might get a better guide tomorrow in the Taradale Marist game of how Wa'as going.

Higgins

@Stockcar86

@kiwimatrix said in Magpies 2020:

@Stargazer We might get a better guide tomorrow in the Taradale v Napier High School Old Boys-~~Marist~~ game of how Wa'as going.

Corrected on behalf of Stockcar86

Stargazer

@Higgins I don't get that at all. So many former NBHS players don't play for NOBM.

Higgins

@Stargazer But that is the name of the combined club. You don't have to be a doolan to play for an unamalgamated Marist club nor do you have to be an Old Boy of a school to play for an Old Boys club.

Stargazer

From HBRU Facebook page:

Allardice and Falcon Heading to Japan

The Magpies will be without the services of lock Michael Allardice and utility back Tiaan Falcon who have both decided to ply their trade in Japan.

Allardice has been a regular starter in the Magpies pack since 2012 after coming to Hawkes Bay and joining the Napier Pirate Club. The timing is right for Ally, wife Jana and their daughter to experience another culture while their family is young.

Allardice’s lineout ability, leadership and work rate has seen many polished performances in the black and white jersey but also added significant value to the team having had a big influence in Magpies set piece play particularly lineouts over the years.

Falcon who is Hawkes Bay born and bred attended Lindisfarne College and progressed through the HB Rugby development programme.

A star for the NZ Under 20 side he debuted for the Magpies in 2016 and has player several positions in the backline.

Falcon is a Clive Rugby and Sports Club member who have benefitted of having his services on and off over the last few seasons when recovering from injuries which have unfortunately limited his time on the field for Hawkes Bay.

The Hawkes Bay Rugby Union and all Magpies fans wish both Tiaan and Ally all the best for their Japanese rugby journey where they will be playing for Verblitz. Like all Magpies players we are thankful to have you as Magpies family and hope to see you again on McLean Park in the future.

kiwimatrix

@Higgins Its weird they didn't change the name like the hastings clubs did when they merged.Why wouldn't they call it Napier rugby and sports club or something similar???

The Silver Fern

Magpies 2020