Hawke's Bay rugby 2018
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Fears Hawke's Bay Magpies No 8 Gareth Evans may be playing his Mitre 10 Cup rugby for another province this year have been alleviated. New Magpies head coach Mark Ozich confirmed last night new Hurricane Evans will be turning out for the Bay again this season."Jonah will be back with us again as will Ben. Ihaia has some offshore options to ponder but if he stays in New Zealand after the Super season he will be back with us," Ozich said. Ozich pointed out Magpies loosie Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, who was a world champion Baby Black last year, has secured a Highlanders contract. He said the Magpies were close to securing the services of 2016-17 captain and long-serving Highlanders hooker Ash Dixon. Former All Black halfback Brad Weber and fellow Chiefs, lock Michael Allardice and outside back Sam McNicol, will be back with the Magpies this season.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11985671
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That actually looks like a decent nucleus of a team ....
Good that MMT has got a Highlanders contract now, was that confirmed when squads were named or is it a recent development (memory like a goldfish). Anyway, another Magpie who needs to go to a franchise not the Canes to get recognition.
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@nepia He was not initially named in the squad, but was called up to join them for preseason as injury cover (for James Lentjes?). They said at the time they wanted to take a good look at him, because other loosies in the squad could cover 6 and 7, but they wanted someone who could also cover 8. I guess they liked what they saw!
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@stargazer said in Hawke's Bay rugby 2018:
@number-10 Is that certain? I haven't seen an official announcement that he's going overseas. They could re-sign him?
Did you also notice the absence of any reference to Ruchard Buckman in the interview with Mark Ozich?
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We have a new assistant (forwards) coach: Josh Syms
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11989213
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New CEO: Jay Campbell. Internal promotion.
The union's commercial manager since 2008, Campbell, 46, replaces Mike Bishop, who had the role for 12 years, and will switch offices on February 26. Bishop leaves on February 23.
"We're going to have a very inexperienced but exciting young side. We've got two inexperienced, but highly motivated coaches in Mark [Ozich] and Josh [Syms] who are both hungry for success.While the Magpies haven't got a challenge against holders Taranaki in the draft Mitre 10 Cup draw, which isn't expect to be finalised until the end of next month, Campbell is hopeful it won't be too long before the log o wood returns to the Bay. Following the resignation of four board members last year Campbell said he has enjoyed working with a new enthusiastic group of board members. Among his immediate priorities will be the appointment of a new commercial manager, a new academy manager following the resignation of Joe Payton, a new finance manager following the departure of Jo Bayliss and two new rugby development officers as Magpies centenarian Chris Eaton is playing overseas and Magpies prop Jarvy Aoake has transferred to Waikato to work for New Zealand Rugby.Union chairman Brendan Mahony said his board conducted an extensive and robust search and interview process before deciding Campbell was the best candidate to lead the province forward.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11991492
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According to this article in the HBT, Trinity Spooner-Neera has returned to the Bay. I assume he will play his club rugby for Havelock North.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11991209
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@stargazer What a weird article as they didn't say why Pirates aren't attending.
Also, internal promotion for CEO ... hmmm
.But, positive from that article, Chris Eaton is overseas. Thank god, he wont be blocking a 9 spot in the Bay anymore.
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Well it seems like there has been a bit of movement within the Bay union. The 2 most positive Im hearing are Phillpott gone, and Eaton playing overseas. Lets hope with new coaches and administrators Hawkes Bay rugby starts to turn around. I see key players have been retained which is great, and I wonder if others may want to come to the Bay with what appears a fresh start administration wise.
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HBRU announced a $15,000 profit for 2017 tonight, their 19th consecutive profit.
Reserves are now $1.16 million. Income was $150,000 down at $4.2 million
Magpies first two games are away to Southland and Otago.
Hugh Renton seems to have gone to Canterbury, and Ihaia West and Richard Buckman won't be back.
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@number-10 So both West and Buckman are going overseas? I can't see them playing for another province. Damn. Falcon will need to step up this season, or Snee may need to lace up his boots again. They'll definitely need to sign another 10, because it's way too early to introduce McClutchie. And geez, who's going to replace Bucky? Please, not another Auckland reject.
I expected Renton to leave as he moved to Christchurch recently. TBW is still travelling at the moment; I hope he comes back soon and will be good enough to play for the Magpies again. Not sure what position Flanders plays, but it also seems far too soon for him.
Did they say anything about Lamborn? I understand he was also looking overseas, possibly the new competition in the USA, but I don't know whether he actually signed anywhere.
And what about Ellery Wilson? Does the fact that he coached the HB7s team mean that he stopped playing XVs himself? Again, way too soon for Fakakava.
The fact that both Vaega brothers and Dunn were recruited because Ozich knew them, worries me. The recruitment really needs to be better this year.
Edited to ask whether there was any news on Dixon.
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@stargazer With Ozich having a whole year to recruit and build depth in the region, I’m sure he has more time to do this than last year when he got the job 2 months before hand and with the head coach away at 20s. I guess we will see how good of a coach he actually is with this years results.
No news on Wilson, Lamborn or Dixon.
Sad to see Renton leave, truely believe the Union has failed him as a player. They signed him young as so did the canes, now they let him go after being injured for 2 years when they signed him.
Ihaia and Bucky huge loss but hearing that falcon could be well and truly ready with expectation of him playing a lot more for the chiefs during the season, although probably off the bench. Need to find a decent 12 to get go forward.
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6 or 7 boys in the squad straight out of school. 2 of them front rowers. So looks like we are going to have the Hawkes bay under 20 front row with Farrell and Devery still under 20 this year.
Mclutchie will end up being a halfback in the future, won’t grow much taller than what he is even though has all the tricks in the books. He’s smaller than Ihaia.Can’t wait to see how Flanders and Toala go. Think they could add some impact
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This is last year's squad and the info I have about signings and departures:
Michael Allardice - signed
Jarvy Aoake - has left the Bay (Waikato)
Mark Braidwood
Richard Buckman - won't retun (going overseas?)
Geoff Cridge - will he be back from a serious injury in time (assuming he's signed)?
Israel Dagg - signed but maybe with ABs?
Jacob Devery
Ash Dixon - off contract, no info about re-signing yet
Pasqualle Dunn - signed
Mason Emerson - signed
Gareth Evans - signed
Tiaan Falcon - signed
Tim Farrell - signed? will he be back from a serious injury in time?
Matt Gardner
Hayden Hann
Mason Kean
Tony Lamborn - off-contract
Jason Long
Jonah Lowe - signed
Ben May - signed
Sam McNicol - signed
Marino Mikaele-Tu'u
Nick Palmer
Pouri Rakete-Stones
Hugh Renton - to Canterbury?
Brodie Retallick - signed, but no doubt with ABs
Fa'alemiga Selesele - off-contract?
Cardiff Vaega
TJ Vaega
Brad Weber - signed
Ihaia West - won't retun (going overseas?)
Ellery WilsonInjury cover:
Chris Eaton - playing in Spain. Unsure whether he'll be back
Zac DonaldsonOther (HB Saracens) players, who played for the Magpies in 2017:
Josh Eden-Whaitiri
Lucas Goodin
Ben Hamelink
Ricky Hayes
Ben Parsons
Jorian Tangaere - had to hang up his boots for medical reasons
Dan Snee - without contract (may have to play in Spain if that country qualifies for 2019 RWC; will also consider hanging up his boots)Uncapped but signed:
Folau Fakatava
Devan Flanders
Lincoln McClutchie
Danny ToalaI suspect Devery, Rakete-Stones and Mikaele-Tu'u are signed, but couldn't find any source confirming that. Cheez, I really hope they all are! On the other hand, Selesele's contract might have expired. Can't imagine he was signed for more than 2 years.
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@footy01 Are they? Never saw an announcement of that on HBRU FB or in HBT, only the four I mentioned. Good signings.
Edited to add:
I found the announcement of the sigining of Kianu Kereru-Symes.
http://www.sporty.co.nz/magpies/newsarticle/56694 -
Posted by Havelock North Rugby Club on FB:
Morena Village whanau. We are in need of some help with accommodation for Sam Ulufonua who is here from Auckland to play for the village. Thanks to Richard Kinnear and HBHS he is in work and is contracted with HBRFU as a devlopment player however wanting to make the Magpies. If anyone can help or is looking for a flatmate/roomie/boarder please let Tom Blake or Richard Kinnear know ASAP. Sam is a lock 23 yrs 6ft.4 ..134kg. Sam is looking to settle here for awhile...........This is from his player profile on the Auckland Rugby website:
Sam Ulufonua Club: Ponsonby Position: Lock Height: 1.96m Weight: 130kg DOB: January 3, 1996 Caps: 2 Points: 0From the Mitre 10 Cup stats page:
Sam Ulufonua
Position: Lock
Date of Birth: 03-01-1996 (22 yo)
Height: 1.96 m
Weight: 130 kg47 Minutes Played
2 Total Games
0 Tries
0 Metres
1 Carries
0 Average Gain
0 Clean Breaks
0 Passes
0 Offloads
1 Turnovers Conceded
0 Defenders Beaten
6 Succ. Tackles
1 Missed Tackles
85.7 Tackle Succ. Rate
0 Penalties Con. When Attacking
0 Penalties Con. When Defending
0 Yellow Cards
0 Red Cards
