NZ Club Rugby 2023 ( General)

[Tim]

@Steven-Harris Any relation to Harbour player Fatongia Paea?

[Stargazer]

Tried to find out which Super Rugby players are returning to club rugby this weekend. Many clubs/unions haven't published team lists yet, but this is what I have found:

Hurricanes
Wellington
Pasilio Tosi (3, Paremata-Plimmerton)
Peter Umaga-Jensen (13, Wainuiomata)
Ruben Love (10, Wainuiomata)

Hawke's Bay
Jacob Devery (8, Hastings)

Bay of Plenty
Justin Sangster (4, Te Puna)

Taranaki
Kini Naholo (14, Clifton)

Also noticed: there's an Alex Fidow named at 23 for Ories. Is that the former Hurricane, or someone with the same name?

Highlanders
Otago
Folau Fakatava (20, Dunedin)
James Arscott (9, Green Island)
Scott Gregory (13, Otago Uni)
Saula Ma'u (18, Harbour)

Hawke's Bay
Jonah Lowe (15, Clive)

Bay of Plenty
Nikora Broughton (13!, Rangiuru)

Taranaki
Rhys Marshall (2, Inglewood)

Auckland
Fetuli Paea (23, Manukau)

Blues
Auckland
Kurt Eklund (2, University)
James Lay (1, University)
Marcel Renata (3, University)
Corey Evans (12, Grammar TEC)

Moana Pasifika
Auckland
Isi Tu'ungafasi (3, Grammar TEC)
Lolagi Visinia (15, Suburbs)
Sione Tuipulotu (4, Manukau)
Tomasi Alosio (22, Manukau)

North Harbour
Henry Taefu (12, Northcote)

Drua
Bay of Plenty
Etonia Waqa (6, Te Puna)

[Canes4life]

@Stargazer yes that’s Alex Fidow the former Hurricane. Apparently he’s been playing in the backs and has shed a few kegs.

[Bovidae]

Jack Lam (Hamilton Marist)
Hame Faiva (Varsity) - at no.8
Daniel Sinkinson (Melville)
Ayden Johnstone (Hautapu)

[Kiwidom]

@Canes4life thought he was in Queensland playing League?

[Steven Harris]

Caught up with Kurt Eklund who bought up 100 x games for Auckland University today
https://fb.watch/lmuvzYM4xV/

[mikedogz]

Alamanda Motunga (Papakura)
Zuriel Togiatama (Papakura)
Potu Leavasa ( Manurewa)
Jonathan Taumateine ( Manurewa)
Alexander McRobbie (Bombay)

McNamara Cup (Premier Men):
Papakura 48-5 Ardmore Marist
Manurewa 36 -12 Bombay
Patumahoe 6-17 Pukekohe
Karaka BYE

[Canes4life]

@Kiwidom must have not worked out for him.

[Bovidae]

[OleOleOle]

@Bovidae Hautapu looked really good in beating Old Boys for the 2nd time this season. With Te Awamutu tipping up Marist, you have to say Hautapu & Te Awamutu deserve the top 2 spots heading into the final round (and semi-finals). It will be interesting to see if any of the remaining teams can pose a serious challenge come semi-final time.

Tech looks almost a certainty for the Championship final, I can only see Matamata having a hope of challenging them.

[Bovidae]

@OleOleOle Hautapu will only get stronger once they get some of their Chiefs players back. Salabiau looks to be scoring tries for fun.

When I have a quick scan of the team lists some clubs seem to have more changes than others each week. I don't imagine they are all injury-related.

[mikedogz]

Two of Melville's loose forwards that were getting good game time at the start of the year have come back to Te Rapa. They got fitter and stronger but must have fallen out of favour.

[Tim]

[Higgins]

@Tim Billy Cavubati was handy with his kicking boots too and had the odd good one here and there, this not one of his better ones!

[Bovidae]

[Higgins]

Who could believe that both Petone (lost 29 - 33 at home to Tawa) and Marist-St Pats (wiped out 20 - 25 by Oriental-Rongotai at Hataitai Park) were dumped into the bottom tier of the Championship playing for the Hardham VC Cup after matches in Wellington yesterday. College Old Boys-University (slaughtered 46 - 12 at Hell Park by Johnsonville) will emulate them if they cannot dispose of Tawa next week.

[Tim]

[Bovidae]

Ayden Johnstone looks to be the only SR player playing. Adam Thomson is dusting off the boots again for Hamilton OB.

[Bovidae]

I watched the livestream of the TA Sports-Marist game. The Marist forward pack was too strong in wet conditions over a young TA pack.

[mikedogz]

Counties Energy Club Rugby SEMI-FINAL RESULTS

McNamara Cup (Premiership Men):
Pukekohe 12-16 Manurewa
Patumahoe 16-18 Karaka

Sid Marshall Shield (Championship):
Drury 14-12 Waiuku
Te Kohanga 25-18 Weymouth

Bob Chandler Cup (Premier Reserves):
Patumahoe 30-0 Bombay
Karaka 46-22 Pukekohe

Under 85kg:
Patumahoe 28-19 Karaka
Waiuku 33-3 Pukekohe