2022 Hawke's Bay Representative Rugby

[Stargazer]

Apparently, our Under 20s played - and lost to - Manawatū U20, last Saturday. Unfortunately, the HBRU can't be bothered to keep us in the loop about our rep teams, but fortunately there's a write-up on the clubrugby website.

Manawatu beat Hawke’s Bay 28-21 in an under 20s representative hit-out at Tremain Field, Napier on Saturday.

On a soggy surface, and with unlimited substitutions, the visitor’s superior lineout drive and excellent starting first-five Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula was the difference in a willing, scrappy contest. Manawatu led 14-0 with two converted tries before the grunt of the Magpies pack saw them rumble over for a try from a lineout drive. Manawatu scored in the left corner when Armstrong-Ravula slashed through and delivered a cut-out pass to space. Bay skipper Cooper Flanders muscled over to reduce the deficit to seven as Manawatu appeared to lose direction. However, their lineout remained a strong suite and when they earned a lineout five metres shy of the hosts line they proved unstoppable. Hawke’s Bay scored a converted try on fulltime, reward for stubborn attack. Their replacement left winger looked especially handy.

As this column noted last week, Manawatu have a talented group of young players coming through. As well as home grown talent such as their U20s captain and flanker Elijah Crosswell and midfielder Kyle Brown – to name two – players such as Armstrong-Ravula are from outside the region. Armstrong-Ravula is the nephew of Richie Mo’unga and comes to Manawatu and Hurricanes territory out of St Andrew’s College in Christchurch.

Not surprised to see that Cooper Flanders is the captain of the HB U20 team. Still only 18 years old, but a good leader.

[Stargazer]

From HBRU Facebook:

Our academy boys are off to Palmerston North tomorrow to take on Wellington Rugby academy at Bill Brown Park! Kickoff is at 11am.

Unfortunately no spectators are allowed and there will be no live-stream but we will try and update you on scores as much as possible!

Good luck to all those involved!

TEAM LIST

Starters:

1 Maika Fehoko (MAC)

2 Dylan Homan (St Johns)

3 Alo Aiolupotea (HRS)

4 Matt Monaghan (NOBM)

5 Tom Allen (HBHS)

6 Tupou Ma’afu Afungia (MAC)

7 Tino Savea (Taradale)

8 Cooper Flanders (Havelock)

9 Corey Berkett (NBHS)

10 Hoera Stephenson (Aotea)

11 Mefi Tupou (MAC)

12 Meni Manase (MAC)

13 Jayden Stok (NTOB)

14 Bethel Malasia (NTOB)

15 Ezra Malo (Taradale)

Reserves:

Pulea Faleiva (NOBM)

Vikta Tevita/Aone Lolofie (HBHS)

Brandon Televave (MAC)

Joel Russell (NBHS)

Jonty Stewart (NOBM)

Bryson Pakoti (HBHS)

Andrew Hayward (HRS)

Kere Penitito (NOBM)

Josiah Sakaria (MAC)

Harry Godfrey (CHB)

I'm quite happy to see 7-11, 13-14, Hayward, Penitito and, obviously, Godfrey in the squad.
Of the missing names, I hope particularly Gilgal Malasia and Kaihau Pasikala have not been poached. Also missing Jayden Walker.

I don't recognise the names of any of the tight five. I'll do some googling when I can find the time.

[Number 10]

(1) Fehoko and (3) Aiolupotea played for HB Under 19 last year and (2) Homan for HB Under 18 last year.

[Bovidae]

We talked about Monaghan last year. Went to King's and was named in the NZ Schools squad.

[Stargazer]

From the Club Rugby socials:

Today's scheduled game in neutral Palmerston North between the Wellington and Hawke's Bay U20 sides has been cancelled, owing to some close contacts of another positive case. So the only trip away today for us is to our garden where the capsicums are booming.

The HBRU didn't post anything about the cancellation. They simply removed the post with the team line-up from their FB feed. I'm glad I copied it before they did that; at least we've got a list of (most of) our academy players now.

[Stargazer]

Nice to get an update!

Busy start to the year for HB Academy

Still no complete list of players, but the article names players that have come to the Bay from other provinces:

Among the 20 Academy players 14 are local and have attended high school here, as for the other six boys that have moved to the bay from out of the region they will be playing for local clubs in premier comp. Meni Manase and Brandon Televave from Auckland will be playing for MAC, Matt Monaghan has joined the Old Boys Marist squad, Ezra Malo Taradale, Jurrell Maiava playing for Havelock North and Nik Patumaka for Tech.

[Higgins]

@stargazer
Ezra Malo - from Wanganui, 2022 Hurricanes Under 20s Squad

Meni Manase ex Tangaroa College, 2021 Blues Under 18 Development Camp

Matt Monoghan ex Kings College, 2022 Hurricanes Under 20s Squad, Was with Cooper Flanders in the paper only NZ Schools 2021 Team

Jurrell Maiava - ex Mt Albert Grammar, looks to be a big hard running/tackling centre
https://www.hudl.com/profile/12611874/Jurrell-Maiava

Brandon Televavae ex Botany Downs College, 2021 Blues Under 18 Development Camp

Nik Patumaka ex Gisborne BH, 2021 Hurricanes Under 18 Development Camp

[Nepia]

@higgins said in 2022 Hawke's Bay Representative Rugby:

@stargazer
Ezra Malo - from Wanganui, 2022 Hurricanes Under 20s Squad

Meni Manase ex Tangaroa College, 2021 Blues Under 18 Development Camp

Matt Monoghan ex Kings College, 2022 Hurricanes Under 20s Squad, Was with Cooper Flanders in the paper only NZ Schools 2021 Team

Jurrell Maiava - ex Mt Albert Grammar, looks to be a big hard running/tackling centre
https://www.hudl.com/profile/12611874/Jurrell-Maiava

Brandon Televavae ex Botany Downs College, 2021 Blues Under 18 Development Camp

Nik Patumaka ex Gisborne BH, 2021 Hurricanes Under 18 Development Camp

I wonder where in the Canes region he's from originally?

[Higgins]

@nepia Digging a bit further pre scholarship days he was listed as attending Haunui College when listed amongst the 2020 Blues Under 17 Development squad. Whether he is from Whangarei or from further north I suppose we will have to await confirmation from the likes of @taniwharugby. Looks to be a big munter if the couple of unlabeled photos I saw are indeed him.

[Bovidae]

His father is an ex-Northland player.

It just means that some of these new players have been selected for the Hurricanes U20s wider squad already.

[taniwharugby]

@higgins from Whangarei, son of former Northland, Blues and NZ 7s player, Tony Monaghan.

I havent seen him for a a decent time (played touch rugby against him, one of his brothers and mates in late 2021) so cant comment on his size now, but dont think he was massively tall, more a 6 height IIRC (although that means lock in Hurricane-ville.)

[Higgins]

@taniwharugby Maybe the photos that came up when I google searched weren't him? The guy in those had the Taniela Tupou sort of build but looked a bit taller than Tupou.

[Bovidae]

@higgins Check out the King's-AGS game on YouTube. Monaghan makes a few good runs.

[taniwharugby]

@higgins neither of them are a Monaghan!

[Higgins]

@taniwharugby Thanks! Just watching the Grammar v Kings game on youtube to see what he plays/looks like, the guy pictured above is the Kings tight head prop in that game.

EDIT: @Nepia It looks like he is the guy in the red 4 jersey making a midfield burst running time 14 mins 25sec into the coverage or 5minutes 30 seconds on the game clock. Looks like he was the rear lifter for the guy in No. 6 that won the lineout steal for the play that set up his burst

[Nepia]

@bovidae said in 2022 Hawke's Bay Representative Rugby:

His father is an ex-Northland player.

It just means that some of these new players have been selected for the Hurricanes U20s wider squad already.

Yeah, I didn't read it properly and thought it was Hurricanes Schools.

[Number 10]

HBRU AGM last night.

All over in 40 minutes.

Profit of $137,000 for 2021. Reserves now over $2.5 million.

Patron and 2 Board members re-elected unopposed.

The new HQ in Orotu Drive is now mortgage free. Two more RDO's appointed.

[Nepia]

@number-10 They didn’t discuss my agenda item of putting the Canes on notice for their anti Magpies selection bias?

[Number 10]

@nepia

Hurricanes were never mentioned, but I think many share your view!

[Higgins]

@number-10 Just imagine what the profit would have been had they been allowed to have proper crowds for the Shield Defences. I guess the gate would have been conservatively affected by at least five or six thousand for each one with the Covid-19 restricted attendances. Our marketing/sponsorship people must be doing a fabulous job to get us to that level (although the annual distribution from the NZRFU must also help) however they sure don't spend much of it on social medial/website news, team naming releases etc!