Highlanders 2020
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Officially announced on the Highlanders FB page:
NEW RECRUIT ALERT All Blacks Sevens Player to Join Highlanders! 20-year-old Northland back Scott Gregory will shift South to play for the Highlanders in 2020. Gregory, a strong running outside back, had a standout season with the Northland Taniwha during the 2018 Mitre 10 Cup. The same year he was selected for the NZ World Rugby Under 20 Championship in France, where he played in all 5 games. He gained selection again this year for the World Championships in Argentina. A former NZ age grade athletics champion, Gregory was a member of the All Blacks Sevens team this season, playing in several tournaments throughout the year. He will be a welcome addition to the Highlanders outside back stocks next season with his strength and pace. Gregory is looking forward to being part of Super Rugby in 2020, “I’m thrilled to be given an opportunity to head down south to the Highlanders for the coming season. All part of a childhood dream.” Gregory has signed with the Highlanders through to 2021. -
@Stargazer said in Highlanders 2020:
All part of a childhood dream.”
Way the article reads, it could just be part of his dream to play super rugby, rather than a dream to play for the Highlanders, but if so, is a bit of a concern for the Blues if you have kids in the region growing up wanting to play for other franchises.
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@Stargazer Big news for us! better than player signings.
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The likes of Connor Garden-Bachop and Josh McKay are brilliant pick-ups. Can we keep CGB and give the Highlanders Jonah Lowe.
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@Stargazer did I not write this around 3 weeks ago. Shit my sources are on the money
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@Canes4life I haven’t seen that much from CGB apart from in The Jubilee Cup Final the kid must have big wraps on him, I don’t think he’s even made his provincial debut yet.
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@Canes4life That’s out of character for the Canes😂 hopefully we get to see him for the Lions this year then.
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@shark said in Highlanders 2020:
The way McKay and Punivai are going so far in the NPC, and with Gregory making himself available for the NZ 7s, the back three is still looking pretty dire.
I wouldn't say dire. Just inexperienced. Punivai and - especially - McKay have shown plenty of promise already.
The Highlanders will be the team that's most in rebuild mode in 2020, and won't have high expectations for next season, but with good coaching - something we can expect from Tony Brown in particular - they won't end up with wooden spoon and will still offer good opposition, even to Kiwi teams. -
@Stargazer said in Highlanders 2020:
but with good coaching - something we can expect from Tony Brown in particular
I expect him to have a national job before the start of the SR season.
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McKay has been ordinary on defence in general with a couple of glaring missed tackles as the last line of defence thrown in. He's been ok with ball in hand but has scored at least one opportunistic try which might influence the perception of his play.
Punivai needs to back himself. He has size and pace but doesn't seem to want to use either. It's almost like he doesn't feel like he can impose himself on a game. Reminds me of Patrick Osborne in his first couple of years.
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If anyone is looking for the official media release about the signing of Mitchell Hunt, Jona Nareki, Ngane Punivai and Connor Garden-Bachop by the Highlanders, here it is: https://thehighlanders.co.nz/media-centre/news/982-experience-and-youth-feature-of-latest-recruits
