Magpies 2017
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@Number-10 Shit, Ropiha too? He still scored a try for Taradale on the weekend. Is West still under contract? I hope we can hold on to Falcon if West stays because he's a ten and I assume that's where he wants to play, too. I wouldn't mind them trying West at fullback and Falcon at ten, by the way (with McNicol and Lowe at 13 &14). I think Falcon is the better ten and I don't like having two midgets next to each other.
A mate of mine from Dunedin was saying he expected Buckman to sign with Otago, but he was probably just winding me up. I believe Kaka is back in Japan. Also wondering whether Horrell has retired or is still available (if not still injured), now that he's back from Japan. Also wondering where Tongia is; as far as I know, he also has no contract anywhere, unless he's ended up in the French 3rd division.
I think we still have Selesele, too? So we have a loosie for the bench. I heard Mason Kean has been playing well in club rugby?
We can probably add Mikaele-Tu'u and, I assume, Rakete-Stones (who can play both prop and hooker)? I have no doubt that Tangaere will return, unless another province steals him.
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Found it on Twitter. Billy Ropiha has signed with PRO D2 club Dax for one year.
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Great news (from Magpies FB page):
Ozich to join the Magpies
Hastings Boys High School First XV mentor, Mark Ozich has been appointed as the new Magpies Mitre 10 Cup Back Coach for the 2017 and 2018 Mitre 10 Cup seasons.
“Mark has enjoyed outstanding success with Hastings Boys High over the last two seasons and has them in strong contention to be the number one First XV in New Zealand for 2017 having been runner up in 2016 under his tutelage. HBRU CEO, Mike Bishop said today.
He arrived in Hawke’s Bay in 2016 with a strong coaching reputation earned as part of the Southland Stags coaching environment and having been a very successful coach prior to that with the Kelston Boys High First XV and with the New Zealand Secondary Schools team in 2014 and 2015, he also coached the Hawke’s Bay Development XV in 2016.We had a strong list of applicants and Mark was the stand out, his record of excellence with the teams he has coached speaks for itself and we believe he is more than ready to take the step to coaching at Mitre 10 Cup level, Bishop further stated.
“I’m hugely excited by the opportunity to work with the Magpies”, Mark Ozich stated today. It has been a goal of mine for several years to coach rugby at a professional level and I’m really looking forward to working alongside Craig and management group and a Magpies squad that is full of experience and talent. I firmly believe that the Magpies can have strong success over the next few seasons and I’m looking forward to being part of it”. Ozich further stated.
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I guess he is not near being able to play again yet, but great to see Doogie still part of the Highlanders outfit
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Lock Geoff Cridge and first five-eighth TJ Va'a have been injured throughout their two-year tenures as Hurricanes.
Cridge might get back on the park in August and is conspicuous for the lonely laps of Rugby League Park he runs while the playing members of the squad are on their lunch breaks. Dead-ball line, to dead-ball line he jogs, never cutting a corner. There's no-one there to check is he's taking short cuts, but he'd know.
Beyond that Cridge is studying.
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I wish I could upvote the previous post more than once
*edit - I am talking solely about the bottom left picture, definitely not the bottom right one...
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Awesome news! Richard Buckman has re-signed with the Magpies for the 2017 Mitre 10 Cup season!
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11867086
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Jonah Lowe looking forward to playing Lions in tour opener
"I am so excited. Nobody expects us to win, but we are in a black jersey with nothing to lose and keen to express ourselves." Jonah Lowe enthusiastically anticipates ahead of the British and Irish Lions opening fixture of their New Zealand tour against the Barbarians in Whangarei tomorrow.
Lowe is restless. The Hurricanes wider training group member has appeared three times for the Under-20's outfit and only played four games for his Hawke's Bay club this season. The winger has scored eight tries for Clive, including four in a single match.
"I am really benefiting from the Hurricanes trainings. It's a great group of guys and I am fitter and faster than I have ever been." Lowe enthuses.
In 2012, Lowe was playing centre for the St. John's College First XV in Hastings. Lowe scored 20 tries that year and caught the eye of King's College coach Tasesa Lavea.
"I got a text from my brother’s agent after the Hurricanes Under-16 tournament offering me a scholarship to King's. I was reluctant to go at first as all my mates were at St. John's, but Mum basically forced me to leave. She wanted me to improve my study." Lowe reflects.
"I don't mean to put St. John's down, but everything at King's was more hard out. Everybody was into study first, the house competitions were intense and being surrounded by a lot of well to do people was really motivating," he continued.
Lowe's nose for the try line didn't disappear at the prestigious private school. He was the leading try scorer from centre in the Auckland 1A competition in 2013, a year King's beat eventual national champions, Hamilton Boys' High School. King's season was eventually foiled by St. Kentigern College in the midst of a 52-game unbeaten streak in the 1A semi-finals. King's had led at halftime with Lowe scoring two tries.
"My Year 12 season is some of the toughest rugby I have played. When I look back now it's amazing to think who I marked. The likes of Nathaniel Apa (Canterbury), Reiko Ioane (All Blacks), Amanaki Savieti (Japan), Jonathan Faauli (Chiefs) and TJ Faiane (Blues) were all playing in 1A that year." Lowe recalls.
In 2014, King's had a poor season, but Lowe remained a potent attacking threat. He scored a brilliant individual try on national TV in the Auckland Grammar match and earned selection for the New Zealand Secondary Schools team that beat Fiji 58-0 and Australia 34-24 in Wellington. In the latter fixture Lowe scored a try.
"That was my first big rugby achievement. It was an awesome camp to be a part of and my first black jersey." Lowe acclaimed.
Lowe is from a rugby mad family. In the 12th grade he scored 40 tries alone in a season. The youngest of six siblings his parents Derek and Maliana are both school teachers with an extensive background in coaching kids sport.
His brothers Leighton, Jamie, Jacob and Karl all played Premier rugby for Clive. Jamie was captain of a Hurricanes' Under-18 team that featured Ma'a Nonu while Karl played 100 games for Hawke's Bay and was a New Zealand Maori flanker. His sister Lania played netball and works in supermarket management.
"I've been lucky to have some great mentors in my life. My family have always been supportive. It's been a long time since I have seen my St John's coaches Blair Cross and Grant McFarland s, but those two are really important to me." Lowe says.
Lowe's rugby hasn't been smooth sailing the whole time. Last year he was a member of the New Zealand Under-20's team that finished fifth at the IRB Junior World Championships in England. It was the Kiwis worst result and Lowe appeared in six out of seven matches and scored three tries.
"It was one game that let us down. We were beaten 33-24 by Ireland. The wet weather didn't suit our style, but that's a lame excuse. We got dominated at set-piece against a good Irish side and couldn't get anything going." Lowe rues.
New Zealand recovered to beat Wales twice and Australia 55-24, despite conceding a penalty try from a scrum after six minutes of resets. Were the Baby Black forwards too soft?
"I don't think so. I got a lot out of that campaign. I liked Scott Robinson as a coach; Scott and John Plumtree are much alike. The way they talk to their players and approach the game is similar." Lowe asserts.
Hawke's Bay only won two games in the NPC with a dozen Super Rugby players in the roster. Lowe was top try scorer with five tries. What went wrong?
"Honestly I don't know what went wrong. We had a good team and culture, but our defense let us down too often and we lost confidence. I believe confidence is everything in the game. Feeling good and unafraid to take risks makes you a better player."
The Barbarians assembled in Auckland last Saturday. Lowe has plenty of confidence in the Barbarians roster.
"We don't have too much time together which means the game plan won't be too elaborate. What we do have though are some great players and a real desire to give the best account of ourselves possible and play some free flowing Barbarians rugby. I think it will be an entertaining game to watch." Lowe warns.
In addition to Lowe, Luteru Laulala (Counties Manukau), James Tucker (Waikato), Lachlan Boshier (Taranaki), Sevuloni Reece (Waikato) and Bryn Gatland (North Harbour) all played New Zealand Schools. Bryn is the son of Lions coach Warren Gatland. Lock Mitchell Dunshea from Canterbury was a New Zealand Under-20's squad member and 32 year old Dwayne Sweeney brings the experience of 69 games for the Chiefs to the side.
Barbarians Coach Clayton McMillan speaking to the Sunday Star Times forecast:
If you've got a decent knowledge of New Zealand rugby you'd know most of these guys have come through the age-group system. They're either semi-pro or professional players and they'll bring a lot of youth and enthusiasm that will count for a lot.
"There's an edge and excitement around the opportunity that's been put in front of them. We want to do justice to Barbarians rugby and have a crack. If we can get enough quality ball there's every chance we'll get an opportunity to do that."
Lowe is a member of the Ngati Pikiao tribe. His favourite players are Bryan Habana, Seta Tamanivalu and Nehe Milner-Skudder.
The tour kicks off 7:30pm local time on Saturday night.
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I've been procrastinating a bit (as I do) about our backline this season, particularly after having watched Falcon closely playing for the Canes at the Brisbane Tens, preseason games, Canes dev and U20s and NZ U20s. I think there's a real potential, for him and Lowe, to step up this season; I'm less sure about Emerson, who's mostly been playing sevens.
I'd prefer to see Falcon play 10 and not second-five, but West will still be there, so I expect Falcon will play 12.
Do we risk losing Falcon next year if he plays 12 all season? Will it harm his chances for a Canes contract? What to do with West if they move Falcon to 10?One option would be starting West at 10 and Falcon at 12, take West off in the 2nd half, move Falcon to 10 and bring on a player from the bench at 12 (Horrell, if he's signed?).
Another question is where do we play Lowe? With the return of Buckman, it looks like Lowe will play on the right wing, unless McNicol is still out with injury and they move Buckman to fullback. I assume Chase can be the stop gap wherever in the outside backs a player is needed, and otherwise good for a bench spot, but I have no clue who else has been signed. I fear for a significant lack of depth in the backline (with Fruean, Tongia, Garland & Ropiha gone). It's too early for all those Hastings Boys backs, although things are looking good for our U19s team this year.
Brad Weber will be there this season, but who will be his back-up. Wilson again? Not a bad back-up, but not great either. Eaton, don't get me started. I assume Jono Ruru will still be with Otago. Are they keeping Eaton on until that Hastings lad (Folau Fakatava) is ready? I hope not; wouldn't mind them signing Michael Ruru if he's not staying in Oz. Who else?
Any news or rumours about signings?
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@Number-10 That's great news! He had an optional second year in his contract with Provence Rugby, but then he's apparently decided not to use it. Must have been hard playing in France with his family still living in the Bay. Hope he's still the good player he was a couple of years ago before he left, because I've not been impressed with Hamelink last year. His experience will be very valuable, too.
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Lots of info in the article below:
"We started three contracted players and brought another one [halfback Ellery Wilson] on ... Contracted props Mason Kean and Jason Long... Contracted winger Mason Emerson ...If this is correct, that implies that players like Jorian Tangaere, Shannon Chase, but also Chris Eaton have no contracts (yet).
A strong candidate(?):
Philpott was impressed with Hawke's Bay sevens rep Hann's contribution. "Hayden was up against better opposition tonight than he faces in club play and he didn't look out of place. With his ability to cover wing, fullback and centre he could force his way into the mix," the coach said.About Edmonds and Horrell:
Philpott said the Magpies' new scrum coach, injured Highlander Brendon Edmonds, who has replaced former All Black Campbell Johnstone, now in Spain, has done a top job. Former Chiefs utility back Andrew Horrell, who has still to shake off his concussion issues, has taken on a technical adviser's role with the Magpies. While Edmonds isn't expected to play this season Philpott said uncertainty surrounds Horrell's availability.Squad naming and prep:
The Magpies Mitre 10 Cup squad will be named on August 6. Before then there will be pre-season games against Waikato in Taupo on August 5, the same day as the Maddison Trophy final, against Manawatu in Palmerston North on August 12 and a pre-season camp in Dannevirke.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11886499
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That sounds hopeful for Edmonds - not career ending as initially feared. Would love the experience of Horrell if he is fit and able to play
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Hmmm, I'm convinced Tongia would have stayed in the Bay if the HBRU would have wanted him to, because his wife and her family are from the Bay, so IMO this can mean only one thing: the HBRU didn't want to re-sign him. They'd better have a good replacement for him, because I'm not too sure we'll see much of McNicol (again).
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Confirmation that Tolu Fahamokioa indeed won't return to the Bay. He has been named in the Wellington Lions wider training group.
Noteworthy: also named in that squad is Dan Kirkpatrick.
Wellington Lions Name Wider Training Squad
Wellington Lions Head Coach Tamati Ellison has named his Wider Training Squad, to prepare for the first Ranfurly Shield defence of 2023 against Horowhenua-Kapiti in three weeks.
