NPC - news, injuries etc
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Head Coach Leon MacDonald has re-signed with Ta$man for two more years.
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Also posted in the Super Rugby thread:
Bad news for Highlanders fans:
Otago and Highlanders flanker James Lentjes is out of rugby for up to six months due to a shoulder injury that requires surgery.
Lentjes out of action for up to 6 months
Otago and Highlanders flanker James Lentjes is out of rugby for up to six months. Lentjes has damaged his shoulder and a scan last week confirmed...
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Some people have no luck ...
Canterbury flanker Jed Brown is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after rupturing his Achilles tendon at the weekend. ... Achilles tendon ruptures usually take between six and nine months to heal. ... Brown's off-contract with the Crusaders, and his latest injury won't do him an favours in securing a Super Rugby contract for the season. Even with a smooth recovery, it could be May or June before he's ready to play rugby again. The 26-year-old has had a horror run of injuries the past three years, starting with a strained medial collateral ligaments (MCL) in his right knee playing for Canterbury in 2014. It got worse the following year, when he busted the anterior crucial ligament (ACL) in the same knee playing for the red and blacks, while hamstring and shoulder injuries plagued him last year. -
The Manawatū Turbos have been given the green light to unleash Ngani Laumape in their Ranfurly Shield challenge against Taranaki in New Plymouth on Wednesday night. The four-test All Black was back training with the side on Monday after not being part of the squad who travelled to South Africa. It will be Laumape's second game of the season for Manawatū after starting against Otago earlier in the season. -
@stargazer does Taranaki get Naholo back?
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Augustine Pulu banned for two weeks for wild high shot
Counties Manukau halfback Augustine Pulu has been banned for two games after receiving a red card following a dangerous tackle on Manawatu's Jade Te Rure.
The two-test All Black was given his marching orders by referee Glen Jackson with just five minutes to go in Counties' Mitre 10 Cup match on October 5 after he flew in with a high swinging arm.
A hearing was convened at the New Zealand Rugby judiciary on October 7, where Nigel Hampton QC said the tackle initially made contact with the chest of the Te Rure, then rose onto the neck, making it a low end offence with a starting sanction of a two week suspension.
However, Mr Hampton said Pulu had been suspended for a similar offence in 2016, suggesting a reckless approach to some aspects of his tackling technique.
One week was initially added to the two-week sanction, but this was reduced after it was noted Pulu immediately apologised to Te Rure and this was the first red card of his career.
Pulu will miss his side's final match against Ta$man on Saturday and, if they progress to the playoffs - they sit fifth in the Premiership - a possible semi-final.As Counties are unlikely to make the semi-final, it's interesting when he will have to serve his second week. Is he suddenly going to play sevens? Or does that second week somehow "disappear"?
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Shane McDermott calls time on 1st class referee career
When the full time whistle has been blown this Sunday at the North Harbour v Taranaki 2017 Mitre 10 Cup match at QBE Stadium Albany, Bay of Plenty Rugby referee Shane McDermott will also call full time on his 20 year 1st class career both as a player and a referee. -
Very interesting read
Some really concerning stuff in there
All the comments about changes to selections and identifying talent and how this will take a few years to bear fruit - I remember reading a very similar article a few years ago about the Blues and the exact same things were covered - changing age group rep selections and pathways etc - wouldn't you think there would be alignment between franchise partners and the Blues - this is crazily frustrating for a fan to take. You'd the NZRU would take a more proactive hands on approach in getting involved and sorting it the fuck out.
Very interesting who the next coach will be.
In the initial years of professionalism, Auckland and the Blues were virtually one dominant entity. Wellington were also the Hurricanes; Canterbury the Crusaders. The advent of private ownership changed that dynamic, and in the case of Auckland clearly for the worse. During those early years North Harbour in particular were largely frozen out of the Blues. It remains a sore point today, and forms part of the reason a major divide developed between Auckland rugby and the Blues. The other was a personality clash between former long-serving Blues and Auckland chief executive Andy Dalton, and Blues private owner Murray Bolton. This feud progressed to the point where Auckland is largely not welcome to use the Blues' purpose-built base at Alexandra Park. Yes, two rugby organisations in the same city apparently can't co-exist at the same facility. Auckland is on the hunt for their own training base after the council effectively kicked them out of Nixon Park. Other Blues board members are known to have long-held grudges with Auckland rugby, too.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11932863
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Head coach Glenn Delaney confirmed halfback Ere Enari broke his lower-leg during Canterbury's 32-27 win against Auckland on Friday, and started his road to recovery with surgery on Saturday. Enari, who was carted off after his leg got tangled up while attempting to make a tackle late in the first half at Eden Park, is expected to be out of action for up to six months. (...) The 20-year-old joins Canterbury flanker Jed Brown (Achilles tendon) and prop Daniel Lienert-Brown (neck) with season-ending injuries, but the blow of losing Enari has been cushioned by the team's depth at halfback. Lincoln University teammate Jack Stratton scored two tries after replacing him on Friday night, while Drummond will return to the mix after being rested for the final regular season match. -
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SEMIFINALS AT A GLANCE (NZ Time) Premiership: Canterbury v North Harbour at AMI Stadium, Christchurch, 5.05pm Saturday Taranaki v Ta$man at Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth, 7:35pm Saturday Championship: Wellington v Northland at Westpac Stadium, Wellington, 7.35pm Friday Bay of Plenty v Otago at Tauranga Domain, Tauranga, 2.35pm Saturday -
The women's Farah Palmer Cup and the Heartland Championship have also reached the semi-finals stage. See the fixtures below. The women's semi between Canterbury and Waikato will take place before the men's semi-final and will be broadcast on Sky Sport 3. It seems the other women's semi, and the Heartland semis will not be televised, but possibly they will be livestreamed.
Farah Palmer Cup
Heartland Championship
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