Auckland Rugby 2019

[Dice]

@Tim Really liked what Reidlinger-Kapa did at 6 last year, but wish he was a little bit taller though, so he could be a proper lock option. He might be able to pass as a bench lock at NPC level.

Suafoa might be the best lock option off the bench for us this year.

I'm a little hopeful that Lemalu could come back, because I think he was only on a one year deal with Yorkshire Carnegie.

[Rapido]

@Dice Yorkshire Carnegie are about to revert to amateur status anyway, I think.

Edit: to semi-pro part time status.

[Nogusta]

@Tim said in Auckland Rugby 2019:

@Dice
Sam Slade and Sam Ulufonua other possibilities.

Sam Slade has signed with Counties I'm pretty sure

[Dice]

Any news on when Sione Havili is due back?

[Duluth]

Club teams for the weekend:

Premier Team Sheets - Round 4

We re back from the Easter break and straight back into club rugby. The Premier sides in the men s competition are all...

pdf link

I see the old Northland midfielder Derek Carpenter is playing for Ponsonby. Surprisingly he's starting on the wing

[Tim]

Grammar TEC seem to be doing better this year, and Lisati Milo Harris and Matt Storm are back from injuries. Anyone know how well those two are playing?

BTW, Jono Hickey is listed as their trainer.

[Tim]

Has last year's Auckland B captain, Max East, moved to another province?

[shack]

Who is likely to be the hookers this year? Mike Sosene? Kurt Eklund? Any young guns running around club rugby?

[Tim]

@shack Looks like Eklund has moved to Waihi, and isn't playing club rugby in Auckland any more.

[Tim]

@shack Frank Malu went on the dev tour to Australia earlier this year.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@shack Victor Tu'ungafasi (younger brother of Ofa) is an option. Leif Schwenke and Penisoni Fineanganofo both played preseason with Auckland last season but neither have appeared in club rugby yet this year so I don't know whats going on with them.

[Tim]

@Daffy-Jaffy Think Schwenke played at least one club game, but got injured.

[Tim]

[Tim]

Anyone seen much of Hawaii Ahokovi?

[Daffy Jaffy]

I saw him play fullback for Blues dev. vs Canes dev. He was very good. He made good decisions especially on defence, sometimes repairing others errors. He also put himself about in attack running a lot of support lines and was probably the blues most threatening back (along with Gjatema who was also very good). Ahokovi also scored a very good try beating several tackles on a burst supporting the forwards. Only one game though. We may see more of him for Auckland with Aso gone.

[shack]

@Daffy-Jaffy Has Aso left?

[Tim]

@shack In 2018 he signed a contracts with the Hurricanes and Auckland through 2020. This year he extended his contract with the Hurricanes through 2022, but I didn't see a provincial team mentioned.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@shack Sorry my vince Aso comment was a bit misleading. It was about his season ending injury, although that may only be for the super rugby season? So I guess he could be back for Auckland. The Canes broke him last season as well didn't they?

[shack]

@Daffy-Jaffy it could be a blessing in disguise if he is out, it would give players like Telea and Clarke a opportunity for more game time. Tbh i would rather players that don’t play for the Blues like Aso, Manu and Rayasi to leave Auckland so they don’t block the development of young players that want to play for the Blues. I was happy when i heard the news that Seu was going to Waikato. The Blues need to repair their relationship with Auckland to strengthen the pathway for young players because currently they are going from schoolboy/club rugby straight to Super rugby and that leap is too far.

[Tim]

SIGNING(S) ALERT ⚠️
. . .
✅ @jarred_adams
✅ @jamiehlane_
✅ @pattytuips
✅ @blaketgibson
. . .
All re-signed with @aucklandrugby 🏉 Great to have you on-board for the future and the @mitre10.cup