NPC - news, injuries etc

[Stargazer]

New Manawatu signing:

James Tofa signs on for 2018

The 20-year-old wing, who played for the Hurricanes Development XV this year, inked his first provincial rugby contract with the Manawatu Turbos this week.

Raised in Levin, Tofa spent most of his high school years at Horowhenua College where he started as a first five-eighth before shifting to the midfield and wing.

He moved to rugby powerhouse Rotorua Boys’ High School for his final year of school.

From there he moved to Christchurch playing in the Canterbury club competition where he was a standout for the University club and played provincial sevens.

Last year he made a brief shift to Invercargill late in the club season, but injuries scuppered his chances of playing provincial rugby.

A visit home to Levin just before Christmas convinced him to look at his options closer to home so he opted for Manawatu.

[Stargazer]

Not sure whether this has been posted before, but Canadian lock Evan Olmstead has signed with Auckland for the 2018 Mitre 10 Cup season.

Americas Rugby News  /  Jun 10, 2018

Olmstead heading to Auckland for Mitre 10 Cup - Americas Rugby News

Evan Olmstead will be packing his bags and heading south once his June test commitments are over. The big Canadian lock has signed with New Zealand province Auckland for the upcoming Mitre 10 Cup provincial competition. He departs Newcastle Falcons after two seasons with the English Premiership...

[Tim]

@stargazer Interesting find. Auckland could be short at lock this year, with all the injuries and a few players departing.

[Duluth]

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

Interesting find. Auckland could be short at lock this year, with all the injuries and a few players departing.

I see Jack Whetton is playing club rugby in Auckland. He's not as good as the injured/leaving locks but he maybe he's going to return to the NPC?

[African Monkey]

@duluth I've also noticed Fa'atiga Lemalu (ex Sunwolves and Samoa lock) playing for Papatoetoe. I'd assume that he's playing for a spot in the Mitre 10 cup side.

[mikedogz]

74K views · 961 reactions | 1995 - Counties vs Canterbury at Pukekohe...

1995 fixture, a very handy Counties side beat Canterbury 41-39 scoring some great tries. RIP to two Counties legends playing in this game, Jonah Lomu &...

[Stargazer]

[Stargazer]

Pre-season game:

Counties Manukau Cavaliers v Ta$man
Wednesday, 27 June; k/o 1.15pm
Mountfort Park - Manurewa

According to CM's Facebook page, Kieran Read will play in that game!

[Stargazer]

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

Pre-season game:

Counties Manukau Cavaliers v Ta$man
Wednesday, 27 June; k/o 1.15pm
Mountfort Park - Manurewa

According to CM's Facebook page, Kieran Read will play in that game!

Several players returning from injury in this game!
I see that Ta$man is becoming quite a Havili family affair, with both David's brother and cousin in the squad.

[Stargazer]

Counties

.

Anyone able to go to this game?

[Crucial]

Is 20. Jordan Taufau the same person otherwise known as Jordan Taufua?

Should have stayed with CM mate, at least we made the effort to spell your name correctly.

[Chris B.]

@crucial He's skipping both to play for the Mitsubishi Dynaboars during the NPC - though hopefully for him he's got an out-clause if selected for the ABs.

[Stargazer]

[Machpants]

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

@crucial He's skipping both to play for the Mitsubishi Dynaboars during the NPC - though hopefully for him he's got an out-clause if selected for the ABs.

Hopefully Todd has the same clause

[taniwharugby]

@chris-b you'd hope most managers with any brains have this written in automatically in thier players contracts these days, especcially for players who are starters at super and have played for the ABs

[Chris B.]

@machpants The somewhat strange thing about Todd's signing is that the news has come out while he's in the AB camp, but there's no talk of any exemption if he's selected for the ABs.

I'd say he's definitely going to Japan.

[Stargazer]

Tomorrow, there's a preseason game in Palmerston North between the Manawatu Evergreens and Hawke's Bay Saracens. K/o 6.00pm at the Sports & Rugby Institute.

Here's the Manawatu line-up. Note that Jade Te Rure is still there.

15 Cody Hemi (Varsity)
14 Awatere Kiwara (COB)
13 Shai Wiperi (FOBO)
12 Hamish Northcott (Varsity)
11 James Tofa (COB)
10 Ben Wyness (Feilding)
9 Atu Henare (Kia Toa)
8 Jordan Stewart (Te Kawau)
7 Tyler Moeau (FOBO)
6 Liam Mitchell (Te Kawau)
5 Nick Crosswell (Feilding)
4 Mickey Woolliams (Varsity)
3 Gene Syminton (COB)
2 Tim Cadwallader (COB)
1 Sean Rankin (Feilding)

Reserves: Sam Stewart (Te Kawau), Sean Paranihi (FOBO)/ Taumutu Afemui-Nohotima (Kia Toa), Jackson Iose (Kia Toa), Sam Wasley (Feilding), Griffin Culver (Feilding), Jade Te Rure (Kia Toa), Luther Hirini (OBM), Adam Boult (Te Kawau).

Not considered due to injury, suspension or Super Rugby commitments were Te Rangatira Waitokia, Junior Laloifi, Jono Ihaka, Ueta Tufuga, Ben Werthmuller, George Macpherson, Liam Hallam-Eames, Brice Henderson, Antonio Kiri Kiri, Otere Black, Jamie Booth, Fraser Armstrong, Brayden Iose, Ngani Laumape, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Michael Alaalatoa, Aaron Smith, Jackson Hemopo, Rob Thompson and Kayne Hammington.

.

The Hawke's Bay squad can be found here on the Magpies forum.

[Tim]

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

Note that Jade Te Rure is still there.

The Hurricanes could do worse for a backup 10.

[booboo]

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

Tomorrow, there's a preseason game in Palmerston North between the Manawatu Evergreens and Hawke's Bay Saracens. K/o 6.00pm at the Sports & Rugby Institute.

Here's the Manawatu line-up. Note that Jade Te Rure is still there.

15 Cody Hemi (Varsity)
14 Awatere Kiwara (COB)
13 Shai Wiperi (FOBO)
12 Hamish Northcott (Varsity)
11 James Tofa (COB)
10 Ben Wyness (Feilding)
9 Atu Henare (Kia Toa)
8 Jordan Stewart (Te Kawau)
7 Tyler Moeau (FOBO)
6 Liam Mitchell (Te Kawau)
5 Nick Crosswell (Feilding)
4 Mickey Woolliams (Varsity)
3 Gene Syminton (COB)
2 Tim Cadwallader (COB)
1 Sean Rankin (Feilding)

Reserves: Sam Stewart (Te Kawau), Sean Paranihi (FOBO)/ Taumutu Afemui-Nohotima (Kia Toa), Jackson Iose (Kia Toa), Sam Wasley (Feilding), Griffin Culver (Feilding), Jade Te Rure (Kia Toa), Luther Hirini (OBM), Adam Boult (Te Kawau).

Not considered due to injury, suspension or Super Rugby commitments were Te Rangatira Waitokia, Junior Laloifi, Jono Ihaka, Ueta Tufuga, Ben Werthmuller, George Macpherson, Liam Hallam-Eames, Brice Henderson, Antonio Kiri Kiri, Otere Black, Jamie Booth, Fraser Armstrong, Brayden Iose, Ngani Laumape, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Michael Alaalatoa, Aaron Smith, Jackson Hemopo, Rob Thompson and Kayne Hammington.

.

The Hawke's Bay squad can be found here on the Magpies forum.

Manawatu are not short of a halfback

[Crucial]

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

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

Note that Jade Te Rure is still there.

The Hurricanes could do worse for a backup 10.

They already have.