NPC - news, injuries etc

[Number 10]

All Black Nehe Milner-Skudder is turning out for NP East Coast this weekend

June 3, 2021 NPEC NEWS
NPEC Coach Hosea Gear has named his 22 for the Centenary Match this weekend against Poverty Bay at Whakarua Park at 2pm.

Several new caps have been included with the stand out being Nehe Milner-Skudder who will debut for the Sky Blues at Fullback along with Josh Deaden in the Starting XV.

On the Reserves Bench we see: Jody Tuhaka, Sam Matenga , Will Bolingford, Tanira Tamanui Nepia as possible new caps with Cap #1193 Richard Green, Cap #1182 Hamuera Moana and Cap #1179 Tipene Meihana rounding off the bench.

NPEC vs Poverty Bay
Saturday – 5th June
2pm Whakarua Park Ruatorea

1. Cap #1081 Perrin Manuel (VC)
2. Cap #1192 Jorian Tangaere
3. Cap #929 Adrian Collier
4. Cap #1142 Paddy Allen
5. Cap #995 Riki Waitoa
6. Cap #1152 Trent Proffit
7. Cap #1057 Hoani Te Moana
8. Cap #1106 Hone Haerewa (C)
9. Cap #1062 Sam Parkes
10. Cap #1072 Te Rangi Fraser
11. Cap #1162 Teina Potae
12. Cap #1181 Tawhao Stewart
13. Cap #1190 Tutere Waenga
14. *New Cap #1198 Josh Dearden
15. *New Cap #1199 Nehe Milner-Skudder

RESERVES:
16. *New Cap Jody Tuhaka
17. *New Cap Sam Matenga
18. *New Cap Will Bolingford
19. *New Cap Tanira Tamanui Nepia
20. Cap #1193 Richard Green
21. Cap #1182 Hamuera Moana
22. Cap #1179 Tipene Meihana

Leroy Kururangi – Manager
Morgan Wirepa Jnr – Forwards Coach
Laman Davies – Scrum Coach/hydration specialist
Amanda Foubister – Nutritionist/trainer
Hosea Gear – Head Coach

[mariner4life]

@number-10 said in NPC - news, injuries etc:

Laman Davies – Scrum Coach/hydration specialist

lol sounds like a grizzled ex-prop who can still smash everyone at jug-races

[Kiwiwomble]

@number-10 i just saw that, thought he'd still be with the Highlanders, are we to read into this we dont see a future with him?

[mikedogz]

It could be part of his re hab. Hika Elliot played a season at Poverty Bay then came back to super rugby.

[Kiwiwomble]

@mikedogz was he injured again after he played at the end of SRA? thought he was all good

[mikedogz]

It sounds like a guest appearance for Ngati Porou East Coast. He has family ties to the region through his mother. It is their Centenary this year.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/125339915/former-all-black-nehe-milnerskudder-set-for-east-coast-debut-in-unions-centenary-match

[Stargazer]

According to Southlands' social media, this is the "High Performance Squad for phase two of the preparations towards the Bunnings Warehouse NPC"

[Tim]

Steve Jackson is back at Harbour.

https://www.harbourrugby.co.nz/news-item/harbour-name-steve-jackson-to-form-trio-of-npc-coaches

9 Jun 2021

North Harbour Rugby name experienced Steve Jackson to form trio of Bunnings Warehouse NPC coaches.

North Harbour Rugby has confirmed a third Bunnings Warehouse NPC coach with Steve Jackson signing on to join the QBE North Harbour team for 2021.

Jackson has a wealth of coaching knowledge and was a former player around New Zealand and overseas.

He coached at the Blues, also took Samoa to the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and recently he was in charge of the Shimizu Blue in Japan, but the 48-year-old is happy to be home in New Zealand again.

“It’s great to be home and spend more time with my family. Japan was great and we were in the second division and made the top two in our pool and played the semis. Our team in Japan worked first and trained in the evening, 14-15 hour days. It was like club rugby in a way,” said Jackson.

“The Japanese people have been through a lot. But they even managed to get some crowds to rugby. They are very passionate about everything they do. But when it comes to rugby Kiwis are more natural and instinctive with the game.”

It is the second stint as a coach at North Harbour after he was last in charge of the side in 2014-16 taking the team from Championship to Premiership.

He joins the two other QBE North Harbour coaches in Ben Afeaki and Daniel Halangahu.

“Dan and Ben are both outstanding coaches. When I was given the call, I didn’t hesitate to come back. I’m looking forward to it. Dan and Ben are easy to work with, great coaches and great people too. We got a good crop of players and I’m sure we can do well.”

Among his coaching experience have been earlier roles with the Blues Development, Blues 10s, Ta$man and Counties Manukau among others. As a player he spent time at Southland, North Harbour and Ta$man and the Maori All Blacks.

Head of Performance at Harbour rugby, Alex King is pleased to be working with Jackson again.

“He’s a good coach and knows Harbour rugby. It’s great to have him back again as part of the team. He’s got great skills, plenty of respect and will work well with Dan and Ben too. We’ve got a great trio to take the guys forward for what should be an exciting season.”

With the full list of fixtures for the competition released QBE North Harbour has home matches this season against Waikato on Sunday 8 August to open the season and then other matches at North Harbour Stadium where they take on Southland, Ta$man, Manawatu and Northland.

There is also a potential Ranfurly Shield challenge against Hawkes Bay in Napier, Friday 10 September.

[Stargazer]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CP9X8RSJnYj/

[Kiwiwomble]

@stargazer is that saying he's resigned?...or just voted in the election

[Stargazer]

@kiwiwomble Sorry, sometimes you see the text when you post something from instagram, and sometimes you don't.

Text:

He's back!

Read more

https://www.sporty.co.nz/southlandrugby/newsarticle/104503?newsfeedId=736257

[Kiwiwomble]

Some solid signings, always rated faddes, surprisingly quick

[Tim]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CQFv6FjNQnX/

[Stargazer]

Wellington XV squad named to face NZ Under 20s

Head coach Leo Crowley has named a Wellington XV to go up against the New Zealand Under 20s in a pre-season fixture at the Hutt Recreation Ground on Wednesday 30 June.

Unavailable for Selection
Callum Harkin – Old Boys University
Herman Seumanufagai – Oriental Rongotai
Mateaki Kafatolu – Petone
Morgan Poi – Old Boys University
Pekahou Cowan – Petone
Reuben Va’a – Oriental Rongotai
Tomasi Alosio – Hutt Old Boys Marist

[Tim]

@stargazer Interesting. Plummer was in the Auckland system. I wonder if Plumtree is staying up in Auckland?

[Bovidae]

Some Hurricanes U20 players in that Wellington squad too.

[Kiwiwomble]

@stargazer any mention on where Conner Garden-Bachop is going to play NPC? he should be 10 weeks into the 12 week recovery so thought he might start popping up on NPC pre season lists somewhere, or have it missed it and he's still with Wellington?

[Stargazer]

@kiwiwomble They haven't named a single SR player in that squad. This has the look of a wider training squad, nothing more.

[Canes4life]

@stargazer yeah that list is purely development players and club players.

[Dice]

@tim Are you thinking of Ben Plummer? He's also a lock and Harry Plummer's brother.