Magpies 2020
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New Magpies signing: Lolagi Visinia
From the HBRU Facebook page:
New signing lends muscle to Magpies backline
Former Blues and All Black 7's player Lolagi Visinia will join the 2020 Magpies squad.
The wing will "add size" to the Magpies backline which many indicated as a need to have to compete week after week with the best provincial union sides throughout New Zealand.
The back, who has returned from France where he has been playing for FC Grenoble since 2017, said he's "excited" after moving to Hawke's Bay and keen to contribute to the community through club rugby.
"I'm looking forward to getting into club rugby with Clive and playing for the Magpies," he said.
"This a massive opportunity for me to be a part of the Magpies team as I have been following their success of over the last few years and I'm keen to be a part of the legacy."
Magpies coach Mark Ozich was "thrilled" to have Visinia joining his backline.
"It is fantastic to have secured Lolagi into our Magpies squad. He adds a different dimension to our team at 1.94m and 105kg and having the ability to play a number of positions in the backline."
HBRFU chief executive Jay Campbell echoed Ozich's comments Lolagi is a proven performer at fullback and wing at Super Rugby level and said his additional "size and pace will complement our other outsides we have within our roster".
Visinia has also played representative rugby for the Auckland and New Zealand Schools and Under-20 sides.
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No doubt, the fact that his brother Sebastian Visinia moved to the Bay several years ago and stayed, despite not making the Magpies, has something to do with this move as well. Great for Clive to have both brothers in the squad now. -
Next up in the 2020 squad updates:
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hbmagpies: Grit, determination and speed that’s what you get from Mason Emerson every time he plays for the Magpies. Having returned from playing in the USA during the off season we hope to see him in space and scoring plenty of tries this season.
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Next one. O'Connor's second year of his contract was optional, so it's now confirmed he'll stay.
From the HBRU Facebook page:
Tough, dependable and inspiring, Brendon O'Connor has been a great Magpies servant over the years and will be one of many very good loose forwards in the 2020 squad.
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With the news that Tiaan Falcon has signed with a Japanese club, I wonder whether he'll still be available to the Magpies in 2020? Not sure when the Japanese preseason begins, but McClutchie and Parsons left after Mitre 10 Cup in 2019, but this year the NPC finishes later and the next Top League season/schedule will probably look completely different ...
If Falcon isn't available (or not the entire season), I wonder who'll be the back-up 10. Hopefully, not Ili again. I wonder whether that's one of the reasons why Caleb Makene is playing first five for Taradale? I can't imagine Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong being ready for NPC level. I think he's too green. Danny Toala might be another option. Auckland probably have already signed Zarn Sullivan, but I wouldn't mind him coming home.
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@Stargazer is Stacy ili still in the bay
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@frazzerbazzer I don't know. He wasn't on the NOBM team list that was published at the beginning of the club rugby season, but that doesn't mean he's not playing. His last instagram post is less than 2 weeks old and it's a photo of him in a Magpies jersey. There's no caption. So, no idea.
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Already knew this, but again confirmed for 2020:
A great addition to the Magpies team in 2020 after coming home to Hawke's Bay from his time in the South Island. Fullback, wing or 1st five Caleb Makene is courageous and will add good balance to the team.
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@Stargazer Given the depth of Props I don't see this guy getting much game time.
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@Billsy111 I'm not so sure whether we have that much depth at prop. He'll probably be on the bench as back-up for Taumalolo, and Rakete-Stones moving to TH (starter), if May indeed retires after SR. Hintz and Waa are probably fighting for the TH bench spot, although I'd rather not see Waa signed. He was awful, last year. Tevita-Metcalfe is playing club rugby in Wellington, so I'm not sure he'll be back, this year. No idea whether Tim Farrell will be available, despite playing club rugby.
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Great news! From the HBRU Facebook page:
Exciting young stars re-sign for Magpies
Exciting locally-bred talent Kianu Kereru-Symes, Devan Flanders, Folau Fakatava, Lincoln McClutchie, and Danny Toala have re-signed with the Hawke’s Bay Magpies for the next two years.
The Hastings Boys’ High School products were all part of the winning 2017 National first XV competition team and have been Magpies since 2018 as well as going on to higher representative honours.
Flanders and Toala are in the Hurricanes, Fakatava, is with the Highlanders while Kereru-Symes has spent time with both the Highlanders and Blues as injury cover. McClutchie spent a 4 month stint with Japanese club NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes, returning to New Zealand just prior to lockdown.
Magpies head coach Mark Ozich said the re-signing of the five talented players signals their commitment to the Bay, as well as a strong belief that they can achieve further playing career opportunities by committing to the region.
“We’re really excited to have this group commit and stay in Hawke’s Bay.
“They’re all different young men, each brining their own unique attributes to the table.
“What’s common though is they’re all exceptionally talented young rugby players that have been nurtured here in Hawke’s Bay.
“We’re expecting big things from them in their third 3rd season of Mitre 10 Cup rugby.
Flanders, who has played 8 games for the Hurricanes in 2020 and has also been turned out for his club side Havelock North this season, is looking forward to the Mitre 10 Cup season.
“I am super stoked to be running out on to McLean Park in the black n White jersey,” he said.
The former New Zealand U20 representative has made the most of his opportunities in his first season of Super Rugby, benefiting from learning off the likes of Magpie team mate Gareth Evans and All Black Ardie Savea.
“I am really enjoying my time with the Hurricanes at the moment and have learnt a lot on and off the field,” Flanders said.
Hawke’s Bay Rugby Football Union CEO Jay Campbell is also delighted to keep local talent firmly in the Bay.
“Having these players commit to Hawke’s Bay for the next two years highlights the great environment Oz (Mark Ozich) and Symsy (Josh Syms – Magpies Assistant coach) are creating in the Magpies environment, which allows them to continue to develop into the exciting players we all know they can be here in front of fans, friends and family,” he said.
Campbell reiterated the importance of developing and retaining local talent.
“Our first option is always to develop and nurture our own home grown talent and it will be exciting to watch them all continue to grow on and off the field over the coming two years”.
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Also great is that a two-year contract means that a player like Lincoln McClutchie hasn't decided to leave for Japan on a more long-term basis (yet).
Note that Josiah Tavita-Metcalfe is indeed not in this group of re-signings.
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@Stargazer Very good bunch of signings. Young and very talented. The more they play together for the Magpies the more they'll develop. Why Fokotava hasn't been coming off the bench for the Highlanders I'll never know. He's way better than Harrington.
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@Billsy111 Yeah, I'm happy to see this group has re-signed. I'm particularly pleased that McClutchie has committed for 2 more years, considering he didn't get a full SR contract for 2020. This means he hasn't given up trying and that his stint in Japan was - for now - short-term.
With Hammington ruled out for the remainder of SRA, Fakatava should finally get some game time. They can't continue to let Aaron Smith play 80 minutes every game (like against the Chiefs, when Folau didn't come off the bench); from a player welfare perspective that would be completely irresponsible.
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@Stargazer said in Magpies 2020:
They can't continue to let Aaron Smith play 80 minutes every game (like against the Chiefs
if they subbed Aaron off, do they still win?
I think unlikely, so theres that part to consider too.
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@taniwharugby No doubt, the Landers lose valuable experience and leadership if they sub off Aaron, but it's just not good from a player welfare perspective to let him play 80 minutes every single week. Besides, they signed Fakatava to have a replacement for Smith in the long-term. How is Fakatava to become that replacement if he never plays? I know he's only 20, but they have to start giving him game time at some point and trust him to do a good job. I guess they'll look at where things are at during each game and will sub Smith off when either the game can't be won anymore, or when it's in the bag.
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From HBRU Facebook:
Preseason games
Fri 28 August - 2.05pm - venue TBC
Waikato v Hawke's BayFri 4 September - 2.30pm - venue TBC
Hawke's Bay v AucklandThey called the latter game an "actual game", but not "first class". So I assume the HB Saracens or a Hawke's Bay XV will play the first game and the Magpies will play the second.
