NPC - news, injuries etc
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I guess Taufua being told by Shag he'd get a chance with the ABs wasn't true(always seemed a bit of a stretch). If he goes, he won't be available for the ABs this year. He'd need a killer season plus a couple of injuries to other backrowers to get in next year.
Seems a good chance he'll be playing for Samoa in the World Cup next year(assuming Samoa beats Spain in the qualifiers).
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Another AB dies. RIP Fergie.
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Otago has retained a couple of front rowers and a couple of backs for the upcoming Mitre 10 Cup season. Props Donald Brighouse and Hisa Sasagi, and fullback Michael Collins, have all signed through to the end of the 2019 season, while winger Mitchell Scott has signed for this season.
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Manawatu Turbos preseason games:
July 4: Manawatu Evergreens v Hawke's Bay Saracens, TBC
July 27: Manawatu Turbos v Bay of Plenty v Wanganui, Taihape (game of three halves)
August 3: Manawatu Turbos v Ta$man, Wellington
August 10: Manawatu Turbos v Hawke’s Bay, Napier
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- Lewis Ormond: re-signed
- Jackson Ormond: new signing (from Taranaki; former NZ 7s player)
- Nico Costa (from Auckland)
New Southland head coach Dave Hewett has also signed Auckland Mitre 10 Cup and sevens player Nico Costa, with the Argentinian-born halfback bringing his older brothers Ignacio and Rodrigo south to play alongside him at club level. “Nico has come down as a nine, and while his brothers aren’t on contract, they want to give it a go,” Hewett said.
Costa, whose brother Rodrigo is now recovering from a fractured collarbone which could rule him out for about two months, had the option of remaining with Auckland after making a couple of appearances last season, but was keen for a change of scenery. That’s nothing new for the 23-year-old, who lived in Argentina, New Zealand and Abu Dhabi growing up as the son of an airline pilot, and has also played rugby in Spain. “I was thinking I was going to stay in Auckland for another season, but my manager told me the Stags were interested. I talked to Dave (Hewett) and [assistant coach] Jase (Kawau) and something just felt right. It made sense to me, I made my mind up right away.”
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@stargazer said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
Nico Costa (from Auckland)
Costa is a very underrated halfback, who showed his class against Canterbury last year.
Eden has been one of the best clubs, but has only had one person play for Auckland in recent years ...
Apparently all three Costa brothers have signed for Southland. I do hope that Auckland has a shock signing to join Ruru ...
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@stargazer said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
- Lewis Ormond: re-signed
- Jackson Ormond: new signing (from Taranaki; former NZ 7s player)
- Nico Costa (from Auckland)
New Southland head coach Dave Hewett has also signed Auckland Mitre 10 Cup and sevens player Nico Costa, with the Argentinian-born halfback bringing his older brothers Ignacio and Rodrigo south to play alongside him at club level. “Nico has come down as a nine, and while his brothers aren’t on contract, they want to give it a go,” Hewett said.
Costa, whose brother Rodrigo is now recovering from a fractured collarbone which could rule him out for about two months, had the option of remaining with Auckland after making a couple of appearances last season, but was keen for a change of scenery. That’s nothing new for the 23-year-old, who lived in Argentina, New Zealand and Abu Dhabi growing up as the son of an airline pilot, and has also played rugby in Spain. “I was thinking I was going to stay in Auckland for another season, but my manager told me the Stags were interested. I talked to Dave (Hewett) and [assistant coach] Jase (Kawau) and something just felt right. It made sense to me, I made my mind up right away.”
Boo.
Leave my Eden players alone.
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Heard Tony Lewis ( Ta$man CEO) interviewed on the radio today. Was quite interesting to hear lots of various developments in local rugby. One interesting snippet was that Sam Prattley remains contracted to Auckland, but was allowed to return home to play in the Ta$man Club comp because it was deemed to be an equivalent standard to Auckland!!!
However, the main news was the Ta$man coaching staff for the upcoming season which will be Leon, Andrew Goodman as backs coach, Clarke Dermody as set piece coach and Shane Christie as forwards coach.
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On Wednesday, 2 May, there's a preseason game between Hawke's Bay and Ta$man. Kick-off 2.00pm at Hutt Recreation Ground (Lower Hutt), #1.
This is Ta$man's squad:
1 Kershawl Sykes-Martin (Nelson)
2 Brendan Asomua-Goodman (Nelson)
3 Blair Princep (Stoke)
4 Mike Curry (Moutere)
5 Caleb Havili (Marist)
6 Vernon Fredericks (Moutere)
7 Anty Burnett (Stoke)
8 Isaiah Miller (Nelson)
9 Ben Finau (Moutere)
10 Willi Havili (Nelson)
11 Tomas Aoake (Stoke)
12 Mike Vaeno (Renwick)
13 Nick Foxley (Nelson)
14 Rupena Parkinson (Stoke)
15 Tima Faingaanuku (Nelson)Reserves:
16 Sam Moli (Marist)
17 Ryan Coxon (Wanderers)
18 George Tuineau (Waitohi)
19 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta (Stoke)
20 Jacob Norris (Marist)
21 Hugo Nankivell (Stoke)
22 Jack Grooby (Stoke)
23 Tim O¹Malley (Waitohi)
24 James Hawkey (Marist)
25 Caleb Coventry (Waimea Old Boys)