Auckland Rugby 2022
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https://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/newsarticle/118456?newsfeedId=1360311
2022 Auckland NPC Squad (Club, School)
Forwards
Robbie Abel (Waitemata)
Sione Ahio (Waitemata, Liston College)
Leni Apisai (Ponsonby)
Adrian Choat (Waitemata, Liston College)
Hamish Dalzell (College Rifles)
Vaiolini Ekuasi (East Tamaki, De La Salle College)
Joshua Fusitua (Grammar TEC, Auckland Grammar School)
Blake Gibson (Ponsonby, Saint Kentigern College)
Alex Hodgman (Eden, Mount Albert Grammar School)
Akira Ioane (Ponsonby, Auckland Grammar School)
Niko Jones (Waitemata, St Peter’s College)
Felix Kalapu (Grammar TEC, Auckland Grammar School)
Jamie Lane (Ponsonby, Sacred Heart College)
James Lay (University, King’s College)
Jordan Lay (University, King’s College)
Terrell Peita (Ponsonby, Mount Albert Grammar School)
Jackson Pugh (Marist Brothers Old Boys)
Marcel Renata (University, King’s College)
Angus Ta'avao (Eden, Dilworth)
Hamdahn Tuipulotu (Ponsonby, St Peter’s College)
Patrick Tuipulotu (Ponsonby, St Peter’s College)
Connor Vest (University)
Soane Vikena (Waitemata, Mount Albert Grammar School)
Backs
Tomas Aoake (Ponsonby, De La Salle College)
Caleb Clark (Ponsonby, Mount Albert Grammar School)
Joel Cobb (Ponsonby, Mount Albert Grammar School)
Corey Evans (Grammar TEC, Auckland Grammar School)
Taufa Funaki (Marist Brothers Old Boys, Sacred Heart College)
Bryce Heem (Grammar TEC, Avondale College)
Simon Hickey (Grammar TEC, King’s College)
Rieko Ioane (Ponsonby, Auckland Grammar School)
AJ Lam (Grammar TEC, St Peter’s College)
Jock McKenzie (Grammar TEC)
Manu Paea (Manukau Rovers, Otahuhu College)
Harry Plummer (Grammar TEC, St Peter’s College)
Salesi Rayasi (Marist Brothers Old Boys)
Zarn Sullivan (College Rifles, King’s College)
Tanielu Tele’a (Marist Brothers Old Boys, Saint Kentigern College)
Jordan Trainor (Ponsonby, St Peter’s College)
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (East Tamaki, Otahuhu College)
Sam Wye (Ponsonby, St Peter’s College)
Development Players
Josh Beehre (Grammar TEC)
Che Clark (Grammar TEC, King’s College)
Pasqualle Dunn (East Tamaki)
Sofai Maka (Manukau, De La Salle College)
Caleb Tangitau (Grammar TEC)
Essendon Tuitupou (Ponsonby, Kelston Boys’ High School)
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Removing ABs and injured players, and grouping them by position:
Loosehead Prop
Alex Hodgman
Jordan Lay (covers tighthead)
Joshua FusitiaTighthead Prop
Marcel Renata
Sione Ahio
Hamdahn TuipulotuHooker
Soane Vikena
Leni Apisai
Robbie AbelLock
Hamish Dalzell
Jamie Lane
Connor VestLock/Six
Felix Kalapu
Loose Forward
Adrian Choat
Blake Gibson
Niko Jones
Vaiolini Ekuasi
Terrell Peita
Jackson Pugh (also plays lock?)Halfback
Taufa Funaki
Manu Paea
Sam WyeFirst Five
Simon Hickey
Jock McKenzie (covers fullback)First Five/Second Five
Harry Plummer
Midfield
Corey Evans
Bryce HeemWing/Centre
Tomas Aoake
Wing
Joel Cobb
AJ Lam (covers centre)
Salesi RayasiFullback
Zarn Sullivan (covers first five)
Jordan TrainorDevelopment Players
Josh Beehre - lock
Che Clark - flanker and NZ sevens player, apparently is 6'6''
Pasqualle Dunn - 28 yo midfielder
Sofai Maka - fullback/wing
Caleb Tangitau - NZ sevens player, wing
Essendon Tuitupou - centre/wing/fullback -
@Tim said in Auckland Rugby 2022:
Not happy to say the least that there is an Aussie loose forward in there. Where is Wallace Sititi?
An Aussie lock too. Ieremia likes to throw in a couple of weird selections each year (Kata, that AFL guy a few years ago etc)
Speaking of Kata, did he turn up in another squad?
Is the Jock Hobbs tournament back this year? Is Sititi still young enough for that?
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@KiwiMurph said in Auckland Rugby 2022:
Looks like a mid table side to me.
Front row and loose forwards should be pretty good, but lock is a worry, halfbacks are inexperienced, and centre depth is a problem.
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@Tim Of the players not returning they will miss Scrafton the most I think. I spoke to a friend of Jamie Lane who said that he bulked up a lot while playing a season of MLR in the U.S. The lack of Wallace Sititi is a mystery. He was not even in the 'contenders' wider training group named earlier. Makes me suspect that he has signed elsewhere? Or is he still very young, like U19?
Do we know how long Tanielu Tele’a is out injured for? -
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Auckland Rugby 2022:
Tanielu Tele’a
Think he did his ACL, so should be out until next year.
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@Tim Dalzell at 5, a big body at least. Kalapu at 19. Peita at 20 for Jones. ( 2 opensides on the field already). Peita is a talented player. I hope he has a breakout season. His MLR season was disrupted when he had to return to NZ after a horrible family tragedy (parents I think).
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300546603/far-north-deaths-investigated-as-a-suspected-murdersuicide -
@Daffy-Jaffy I wouldn't play Jones, but I suspect the coach might. Would be good to see Kalapu get a run.
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Two additions to the coaching group -
The Auckland Rugby coaching group welcomes two new additions to the 2022 make-up. Census Johnston joins as Scrum Coach after coaching experience with Manu Samoa and in France. Census has come back to take on development of the scrum capabilities of the NPC and Auckland Rugby Academy players.Jono Hickey joins the Auckland squad in a coaching capacity. The former Auckland Halfback who racked up 32 caps in the Blue and White Hoops will take on the attack coaching role. Hickey will join brother Simon in the NPC campaign after several years coaching Auckland Bs and Under 19s.
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The quality of the season will depend on how well those locks go. Also Auckland need one of the larger loosies to get up to speed quickly and form a trio with Choat and Gibson
Front row is pretty good at this level. Plenty of options in the backs. Although I hope Heem doesn't get injured because the depth at 13 isn't great
Looking forward to seeing Vikena kick on after some solid SR cameos
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I'm really excited to see Vailoni Ekuasi in this campaign. He's a special talent from what I've seen of him and in Auckland, we know how to produce quality 6s and 8s. Another one from the production line.
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A back row of Choat/Peita/Ekuasi after the inevitable Gibson injury?
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