NPC - news, injuries etc

[Bovidae]

@Yeetyaah Probably close to halfway between Auckland and New Plymouth. The Blues U18s played the Hurricanes U18s in Taupo on Sunday.

IIRC another non-Waikato preseason game was played in TA last year or the year before.

[Stargazer]

@Yeetyaah Maybe meeting each other approx. halfway to reduce travel?

[Yeetyaah]

@Bovidae True. Stoked tbh because it means I'll go to it, and the one vs Waikato.

[Stargazer]

There's a preseason game between Waikato and Hawke's Bay on Friday 26 July at Owen Delany Park, Taupo.

I haven't been able to find out the kick-off time. Does anyone know?

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer I haven't seen any preseason fixture list for Waikato until you posted that they are playing Taranaki on Aug 2. That is a regular preseason game though.

The mooloo website seems to be focused on club rugby not rep rugby.

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae The Waikato v Hawke's Bay game is also a regular preseason game. It's almost always in Taupo. Last year, it was on 4 August. It's a pity that many unions are so disinterested in informing their supporters of these games (or inform them late). I only know about this one, because I read it in the Hawke's Bay Today.

[OleOleOle]

I am a Waikato supporter but the lack of any real information is so frustrating, they don't share their training squads or information around pre-season games. Its a real closed shop. Then, with little connection with the fans, they wonder why they struggle to get bums on seats come competition time.

[Dice]

Vince Aso still going to the Hawkes Bay?

It makes me wonder if he's sticking with Auckland as Tai Lavea said we were stacked in the midfield this year. That comment makes sense if Aso is staying, but not so much if he's not.

[Stargazer]

@Dice No, he won't play for Hawke's Bay. Looking at his posts on instagram, he's in Auckland.

[Bovidae]

@OleOleOle Agreed. They tend to have a squad training during the latter stages of the club season but who exactly is in that squad is anyone's guess. Hopefully more information is announced after the club final this Sat with preseason games fast approaching.

[Stargazer]

Taranaki Bulls team to play Manawatu, Friday 19 July, Hicks Park, Hawera, 6pm;

1 Chris Gawler (Coastal)
2 Bradley Slater (NPOB) (c)
3 Donald Brighouse (Southern)
4 Josh Lord (Coastal)
5 Leighton Price (Tukapa)
6 Alex Kauvalu (Coastal)
7 Kaylum Boshier (NPOB)
8 Johnny Faletagoa'i (Spotswood United)
9 Lisati Milo-Harris (Inglewood)
10 Daniel Waite (NPOB)
11 Lukas Halls (Tukapa)
12 Regan Verney (NPOB)
13 Brayton Northcott-Hill (NPOB)
14 Liam Blyde (Clifton)
15 Jackson Ormond (Southern)

Reserves:
16 Scott Mellow (Tukapa)
17 Jared Proffit (Spotswood United)
18 Kyle Stewart (Stratford/Eltham)
19 Tevita Fa’ukafa (Coastal)
20 Jack White (Inglewood)
21 Warwick Lahmert (Spotswood United)
22 Josh Jacomb (Spotswood United)
23 Josh Setu (Clifton)
24 Meli Naholo (Clifton)
25 Rhodes Featherstone (Inglewood)

Club players line up for Yarrows Taranaki in first pre-season outing

MEDIA RELEASE 18 July 2019 A group of talented club players have been selected to play in the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls...

So, Donald Brighouse has moved from Otago to Taranaki and Regan Verney from Northland, Jackson Ormond has returned from Southland. No Kini Naholo.

[taniwharugby]

@Stargazer sadly Regan was injured and he never actually pulled on a Northland jersey (to play rugby) had heard he was keen to return but it didnt happen for some reason.

[Bovidae]

Verney is from the Naki. I see Josh Lord is starting. Ex Ham BHS/NZSS lock and first year out of school.

[Bones]

@Bovidae didn't Verney play for Wellington a couple of seasons ago? Certainly shopping himself around if so.

[Bovidae]

@Bones Yep, and got signed for the Chiefs last year on the back of that. He never played a game because of injury.

[taniwharugby]

@Bones he did in 2017.

edit Bovide beat me to it

[Nogusta]

@Stargazer Surprised to see Johnny Faletagoa'i name in there! - Auckland born and raised, played local club league (Mangere East Hawks) as a fullback/wing/centre, went over to Aussie to try his luck and played Queensland Cup level. Didnt know he was back in NZ playing rugger??

[Stargazer]

[Stargazer]

Southland have named their 2019 Mitre 10 Cup squad and there are a few surprises, including Charles Alaimalo and Marty McKenzie (returning home) and two Aussies!

.

More info:
https://www.sporty.co.nz/southlandrugby/newsarticle/79540

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer Looks like Southland have cast their net far and wide to strengthen their squad. Logan Crowley is another so he must have been down the pecking order at Taranaki.

I'm keen to see how Alaimalo goes because he went down south with a promise of playing (he wouldn't have made the Waikato starting XV). A season of experience and he can come back to play for Waikato with big brother.