NPC 2022

[Canes4life]

Manawatu Turbos news from Club Rugby NZ

Manawatu media reporting yesterday that former Wellington College, Wellington U19s, Old Boys University and 2021 Hurricanes halfback Luke Campbell is joining the Manawatu Turbos this season for the NPC.

The same publication suggesting that former St Pat’s Silverstream and Norths and Tawa flyhalf Sam Clarke will be in the Turbos this year.

[bobily2]

Turbos have also signed Slade McDowall and Louis Rogers

[Bovidae]

So Rogers won't be in the Waikato squad. Interesting.

[Bovidae]

North Harbour have been very active in their recruiting.

Hooker Bryn Gordon which the club announced is lost to Manawatū after signing with North Harbour.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/300627852/kias-midfielder-filimone-ready-for-more-game-time-with-turbos

[Kiwiwomble]

@bobily2 said in NPC 2022:

Turbos have also signed Slade McDowall and Louis Rogers

Was just going to post this, bit of a superise move

[Grooter]

@Kiwiwomble it's alright because Sean Withy will be chomping at the bit for heaps of game time

[Stargazer]

[Grooter]

@Stargazer isn't Campbell parata the first five that was on the crusaders radar but decided to head back to Aussie or am I thinking of someone else?

[Tim]

Anyone know if Jimmy Roots is coming back to NZ?

[Stargazer]

@FakatavaAllBlack No, you're correct. He went back to Perth and was picked up by the Western Force. He signed an Academy contract. He played in one of the Force's preseason games IIRC. Doesn't mean he can't play NPC in NZ; several players do that after playing SR in Oz.

[Bovidae]

No Ryan Coxon in that Ta$man pre-season squad. I'm not sure if he is injured or returned to the Waikato. If it's the latter he hasn't been playing club rugby AFAIK.

[Chris B.]

@Bovidae Quite a few from last year's main squad who are not otherwise employed also not in that team. Strange, Paea, Nankivell, Hotham, Springer... and others.

[Grooter]

@Chris-B don't forget Tonga first five William Havili

[Stargazer]

[Bovidae]

Regarding the Waikato-Hawke's Bay game in Tokoroa next Friday:

It is not a Ranfurly Shield challenge, but Hawkes Bay are bringing the Log o’ Wood with them, and we’ll have the NPC and FPC trophies there too.

[Stargazer]

[bobily2]

Nehe Milner-Skudder is an interesting signing. Apineru has also transitioned into the front row

[Canes4life]

@bobily2 yeah he transitioned at the beginning of the club year to a tight-head prop. There's no doubt he's going to be mobile, whether he can scrum is another question altogether.

I'm a little perplexed at some of these signings, do we not have better options coming through than Filipo and the always injured Milner-Skudder? The tight five is very average aswell.

[Tim]

@bobily2 said in NPC 2022:

Nehe Milner-Skudder

An even worse signing than Bird.

[bobily2]

@Canes4life said in NPC 2022:

@bobily2 yeah he transitioned at the beginning of the club year to a tight-head prop. There's no doubt he's going to be mobile, whether he can scrum is another question altogether.

I'm a little perplexed at some of these signings, do we not have better options coming through than Filipo and the always injured Milner-Skudder? The tight five is very average aswell.

It definitely makes sense given his size/build and age. And on the plus side, it seems he couldn't do too much worse than some of the props Wellington have fielded in recent times. Hopefully he kicks on - there are a few other decent props who've made the transition