NPC - news, injuries etc

[KiwiMurph]

Tayler Adams used to be a 9 but has switched to first five and in 2017 won the Sydney club rugby player of the year award. He got very little time for the Rebels this year but could be useful as a 10 option.

[taniwharugby]

@stargazer Apoua really struggled for us at scrumtime last year, IIRC came on in one game as a sub, was getting demolished so was subbed off about 15mins later, barely saw him again after that game.

Seems handy with ball in hand though, but given scrumming is usually a strength of Southland...hopefully with some changes to technique he'll be sweet, just not against us!

[Bovidae]

@taniwharugby Dave Hewett should have a good idea about the strengths of the props.

[taniwharugby]

@bovidae based on his limited minutes last year, he would need to improve considerably given our scrum was one of the better ones we have had for years last year and he struggled at M10 cup level.

[Tim]

@tim said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:

Matt Johnson has recovered from heart surgery?

From his Instagram:

Been a tough 18 weeks since surgery, but thanks to this one I’ve managed to come back fully cleared.

[Stargazer]

@rapido said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:

Ngaluafe not there. Or am I way out of date?

Did a quick google search and apparently he left NZ late in 2017 to play in Italy. I think as injury cover, because the article below says it was only until May 2018. It doesn't say for which team and in which competition. According to the article it was uncertain whether he'd be back to push for antoher Stags contract.

https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/the-southland-times/20171109/281917363355646

[chchfanatic]

Phil Burleigh back from Scotland and is playing for new Brighton. Apparently he has a contract with Canterbury. Also Sam beard is contracted too

[Chris]

@chchfanatic wow Phil’s been around for awhile back at his old club Sam Beard is interesting stronger runner back from overseas as well

[Tim]

I thought that Phil Burleigh was an old BOP man?

[Chris]

@tim no he is a Canterbury man I played with his Dad Wayne ,at New Brighton Phil was a Canterbury B player for awhile before getting a contract with BOP

[shark]

Yep I think Burleigh went to Shirley Boys.

Adds further depth to the Canterbury squad. Presumably Bateman is around this year, or is he off to Japan? Could be a quality old head or two to support the likes of Ennor and Finau.

[Stargazer]

@shark Bateman won't play Mitre 10 Cup; he has signed with Ricoh Black Rams in Japan.

[chchfanatic]

@shark haven’t seen finau around chch this year.

[Tim]

Anyone know when the Mitre 10 Cup squads have to be released?

[Magpie_in_aus]

Anyone know when the All Blacks line up is named?

[Stargazer]

@magpie_in_aus said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:

Anyone know when the All Blacks line up is named?

On Thursd ... oh, wait ...

Usually on the Sunday morning after the Semi-Final they name the squad for the game of three halves, don't they? IIRC, that's the RC squad minus Finalists and plus injury cover and cover for the Finalists.

[Magpie_in_aus]

@stargazer
wow I was not expecting a serious answer.

What day is fathers day?

[Nepia]

@magpie_in_aus said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:

@stargazer
wow I was not expecting a serious answer.

What day is fathers day?

Sunday or Sundee for us Aussie residents.

[Snollygoster]

The Bop union said they would officially announce their squad last Friday but as yet there's been nothing. It seems odd really as they are in camp at the moment and have their first preseason game in four days so I can't understand the delay.

[Chris B.]

Some news on the Ta$man squad - bolded are some items of interest, italics of particular interest....

A Ta$man Mako High-Performance rugby squad has been chosen to prepare for Mitre 10 Cup pre-season matches against Manawatu and Wellington.

The Manawatu game is scheduled for 11.30am on Friday, August 3, in Porirua, while the Wellington game will be played at the Renwick Domain on Thursday August 9, kick off 2pm.

The HP squad is:

Forwards - Ryan Coxon (Wanderers), Sosefo Vaka (Nelson), Kershawl Sykes-Markin (Nelson), Ray Niuia (Waitohi), Jesse MacDonald (Central), Sam Moli (Marist), Blair Prinsep (Stoke), Isaac Salmon (Nelson), Quinn Harrison-Jones (Renwick), Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta (Stoke), Caleb Havili (Marist), Michael Curry (Moutere), Julius Tagafau (Marist), Braden Stewart (Central), Jacob Norris (Marist), Jed Brown, Vernon Fredericks (Moutere).

Backs - Ben Finau (Moutere), Jack Grooby (Waimea Old Boys), Nemia Kenatale (East Coast), Tim O'Malley (Waitohi), William Havili (Nelson), Leicester Faingaanuku (Nelson), James Hawkey (Marist), Nick Foxley (Nelson), Levi Aumua (Renwick), Tima Faingaanuku (Nelson), Tomas Aoake (Stoke), Jamie Spowart (Marist), Fetuli Paea (Waitohi).

Unavailable due to injury were Rupena Parkinson and Anty Burnett.

The 2018 Ta$man Mako Mitre 10 Cup squad will be officially announced on August 10.