NPC - news, injuries etc

[Tim]

@Stargazer Yeah, the announcements are piss-poor from many teams. Auckland's way of announcing that AB Angus Ta'avo had signed was by an Instragram post congratulating their team's ABs named in the current squad.

[taniwharugby]

@Stargazer wonder if he will turn down a spot in the RWC squad if offered....

[cgrant]

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

Preseason: Hawke's Bay XV v Manawatu Evergreens (Wed 3 July 2019, 6.00pm at McLean Park, Napier)

Hawke's Bay XV squad: see the Magpies forum: https://www.forum.thesilverfern.com/post/340855

Manawatu Evergreens squad:

First half:
Andre Taylor (COB), Te Rangitira Waitokia (Varsity), Josiah Maraku (Feilding), Ueta Tufuga (Varsity), Junior Laloifi (FOB), Ben Wyness (Feilding), Atu Henare (Kia Toa); Sione Tu'ipulotu, Rhys Pedersen (OBM), Nick Crosswell (Feilding), Fraser Stone (Kia Toa), Tom Hughes (Varsity), Sam Tufuga (Varsity), Sam Stewart (Te Kawau), Faálelei Sione (Freyberg).

Second half:
Drew Wild (Feilding), Andre Taylor, Josiah Maraku or Ueta Tufuga, James Tofa, Adam Boult (Te Kawau), Stewart Cruden (COB), Griffin Culver (Feilding), Matene Ruawai (OBM), Johnny Galloway (COB), Doug Juszczyk (Varsity), Mickey Woolliams (Varsity), Nardus Erasmus (FOBO), Sunao Takizawa (COB), Harry Jones (Feilding), Sean Rankin (Feilding).

Andre Taylor ! He was one of the most exciting ball runner in SR a few seasons ago. I hope he can find that form again.

[Yeetyaah]

@Tim Shit I didn't even know he had signed for Auckland.

[Stargazer]

[Stargazer]

Wait and see whether it will be officially confirmed, but according to this article, Adam Thomson is about to sign with North Harbour! So cool to have him back in NPC after that awful health scare last year! Lots of young guys will be able to learn a lot from the old dog!

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/114079805/exall-black-adam-thompson-returns-to-nz-club-rugby-after-spinal-injury

[Yeetyaah]

@Stargazer Shit that's crazy. Huge comeback after that kind of injury, quality player and quality lad.

[98blueandgold]

@Stargazer what ever happened to Braydon Iose?

[Stargazer]

@98blueandgold said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:

Braydon Iose

He'll play for the Turbos again in 2019.

[Stargazer]

Another Counties signing.

[Stargazer]

And, of course, another Mako signing, too.

[shark]

So Connor Collins has moved to Wellington?

[Stargazer]

@shark Looks like it. Wouldn't have got much game time for Canterbury behind Enari & Drummond, so I guess he's trying his luck in the Capital? Wellington have lost at least one (Price), possibly two (Rangihuna), of last year's halfbacks.

[Yeetyaah]

@Stargazer Yeah I saw Price doing promo stuff for Waikato so I assume he's there now.

[Bovidae]

@Yeetyaah Price has been a regular for Marist so will likely be one of the 3 halfbacks in the squad along with Stratton and Takarangi/O’Donnell.

[Yeetyaah]

@Bovidae Hopefully they retain Stratton, he was great last year. Like what I saw from Takarangi as well.

[ploughboy]

i would imagine stratton is locked in as he has been turnjng out for the hautapu invintational xv

[Dice]

Is Sweeney doing another season with Waikato?

[Stargazer]

@Dice Yes, he's already signed.

[Bovidae]

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

Is Sweeney doing another season with Waikato?

And likely captain again.

Unfortunately this also limits who plays in the midfield. I'd like to see a Tupaea-Sullivan combo at some stage.