2021 Hawke's Bay Representative Rugby
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Hawke's Bay's rugby academy side back in action
After a lost year in 2020, the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union academy team had their first fixture of the season on Saturday in Palmerston North. They drew 26-all with hosts Manawatū's academy side, the first game of a tri-series that includes the Wellington Rugby Union as well. The fixtures will go a long way to determining who is selected for this year's Hurricanes Under-20 team.He said development was at the forefront rather than the result, with six schoolboys getting a run in black and white.That contingent included Jacob Ward, who starred in his first game at lock having transitioned from prop. "He has shown huge potential, probably one that the Hurricanes will want to keep an eye on and see how he progresses in that position, and picks up the new skillset," the coach said. He added that forwards Tiaki Fabish and Frank Lochore and backs Jordan Thompson-Dunn and Harry Godfrey should be in the mix for the Hurricanes squad. George Stratton was fantastic in midfield, Wyatt said, but picked up a compound fracture to his leg in the match that required a trip to hospital. The senior academy players came together for a camp in Wairoa three weeks ago. Their next game is against Wellington in two weeks.Edited to add that I saw on instagram that Andrew Hayward (HBHS) was one of the schoolboys who played yesterday.
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@stargazer What ever happened to Jayden Walker? https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/rugby-napier-boys-high-prop-jayden-walker-pick-of-canes-crop/55RH7C3BCEKSVNP6XTRMFKICEE/
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@canes4life He was in our academy, last year, and would have played for HB U19s if the Jock Hobbs Tournament hadn't been cancelled. I can only assume he's still in the academy and also played, yesterday. Should be a good candidate for the Hurricanes U20 team.
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@stargazer No wonder they held us to a draw given that they look to have about thirty players stripped compared to about sixteen or seventeen for HB.
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Hawke's Bay Academy plays Wellington Academy, this Saturday (6 March) at the SRI in Palmerston North. Kick-off is 12pm.
Interestingly, Wellington Academy got smashed by Manawatu Academy, last Saturday. The full time score was 42 - 28 to Manawatu.
I hope the HBRU publishes the squad list, but not holding my breath.
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Hawke's Bay Academy squad to play Wellington Academy tomorrow:
1 Jayden Walker
2 Dom Devine
3 Troy McIvor
4 Tiaki Fabish (C)
5 Jacob Ward
6 Emil Crichton
7 Tupou Ma’afu Afungia
8 Cooper Flanders
9 Ezekiel Stewart
10 Harry Godfrey
11 Joeli Suka
12 Jordan Thompson Dunn
13 Jayden Stok
14 Kere Penitito
15 Jonty StewartReserves
16 Jackman Byrne
17 Sean Ormond
18 Hugh Taylor
19 Lexus Greening
20 Boris Van Bruchen
21 Brad Campbell
22 Bethel Lutele-MalasiaSome very promising players in that squad. Can't say I know all of them, esp the halves. Of the reserves, I only know the winger (22) and I've heard of - but not seen - Greening.
Divine played for Regional XV, last week, and looked promising.
I had heard that there were attempts to poach Jayden Stok (Wellington and Waikato); it looks like he has decided to stay. If this is indeed the case, I'm really glad, because he's a real talent.
No. 20, did we get a Dutch players as well?
Oh, and how many Penitito's are there. Here's another one!I wish I had time to drive up to Palmy ...
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Doing my best Ken Laban impersonation, I've looked up the players of our Academy team and which school they went to:
Napier Boys':
Jayden Walker, Tiaki Fabish, Jacob Ward, Ezekiel Stewart, Jayden Stok, Jackman Byrne, Bethel Lutele-MalasiaHastings Boys':
Emil Crichton, Cooper Flanders, Joeli Rauca Suka, Jordan Thompson-Dunn, Lexus GreeningSt John's College, Hastings:
Kere Penitito, Brad CampbellWairoa College:
Sean Ormond (also Gisborne Boys'), Hugh TaylorFeilding HS:
Jonty StewartSacred Heart College:
Dom Devine (moved to Auckland from Napier at the age of 6, attended Lincoln Uni & played 2 years for Canterbury U19)Shirley Boys':
Boris Van Bruchem (is indeed of Dutch descent; born in Chch)Southland Boys':
Troy McIvorWhanganui Collegiate:
Harry Godfrey (was good for NZ Secondary Schools', last year; glad we picked him up after losing Lattrell Smiler-Ah Kiong)Westlake Boys':
Tupou Ma’afu Afungia (Tonga born) -
Result: Hawke's Bay Academy 29 - 12 Wellington Academy (HT: 19 - 12)
Our points differential is better than Manawatu's, so this should mean that we've won this mini-competition.
It wouldn't surprise me at all if Wellington - despite being convincingly beaten by both other provinces - still manages to get the largest number of players in the Hurricanes U20 squad. Because that's how the Hurricanes roll ...
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Not necessarily as a lot of them would be aware of the Wellington favour when it comes to Hurricanes selection so have probably already got commitment understanding with other Super Rugby outfits by now. At least Kings and St Kents can't get their hands on any of this lot!
I am sitting here wearing my Magpies Polo shirt in support of the guys so needless to say I'm thrilled at this result. I'm assuming the 12 points conceded all came from long range against the run of play penalties? -
@higgins It will be interesting to see what Cooper Flanders is going to do when he leaves school. He's one of the few players in the Academy squad, who is still at school (I think Bethel Lutele-Malasia is, too). I really hope the HBRU will be able to lock him in for the next few years, so others can't poach him. With his brother and MMT certain starters for the next few years at 6 and 8 (unless one or both them manages to get picked up by the ABs), he might want to consider a switch to openside, or at least increase his utility value? I expect big things from this lad, but it really has to be for the Magpies.
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@stargazer Can he play 7? All our loosies seem to be 8s these days so if could successfully convert to openside it would help.
On another note, I can't believe that in the two Canes squads this week there's only 5 Magpies. 5 Magpies from 46 players. That's such B/S that even @Canes4life wouldn't be able to put up one of his usual heroic defences of the organisation.
@Number-10 Does the lack of Magpies/Hawkes Bay representation in the Canes ever get discussed at the AGMs and other meetings you attend?
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@nepia I have no idea whether Cooper can play 7; I was just wondering whether it would be a good idea for him to develop into a 7, or at least a backrow utility who can play 7 (like Evans).
I suspect there are already a few provinces lining up to poach him and he might be tempted, if he thinks he won't get a starting spot in the Magpies squad because Devan and MMT are already claiming that 8 and 6 jersey.
I'd like to see them all starting for the Magpies, one day (if they're not in the ABs), but that's only possible if one of them moves to 7.
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@nepia lol there are plenty of Wellington players scattered around other franchises that didn’t pick up Canes contracts and probably deserved them aswell. You don’t see me harping on about it, it’s just the way it is.
Yes the Hurricanes have made some selection cock ups over the past few years (Blackwell / Prinsep), but there have certainly been players who have decided to represent other franchises by choice. Case and point - Folau Fakatava.
Anyway this discussion is like flogging a dead horse and you don’t even support the Canes. 😂
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@canes4life said in 2021 Hawke's Bay Representative Rugby:
@nepia lol there are plenty of Wellington players scattered around other franchises that didn’t pick up Canes contracts and probably deserved them aswell. You don’t see me harping on about it, it’s just the way it is.
Yes the Hurricanes have made some selection cock ups over the past few years (Blackwell / Prinsep), but there have certainly been players who have decided to represent other franchises by choice. Case and point - Folau Fakatava.
Anyway this discussion is like flogging a dead horse and you don’t even support the Canes. 😂
Of course you don't harp on about it, the Canes and the development team are filled with Wellington players. Why would you harp on about the Canes constantly picking Wellington players?
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@nepia said in 2021 Hawke's Bay Representative Rugby:
@stargazer Can he play 7? All our loosies seem to be 8s these days so if could successfully convert to openside it would help.
On another note, I can't believe that in the two Canes squads this week there's only 5 Magpies. 5 Magpies from 46 players. That's such B/S that even @Canes4life wouldn't be able to put up one of his usual heroic defences of the organisation.
@Number-10 Does the lack of Magpies/Hawkes Bay representation in the Canes ever get discussed at the AGMs and other meetings you attend?
No mention at the recent AGM. I can recall it coming up once during Richard Hunt's Chairmanship (2002-2010). The answer was that even though it was frustrating Hawke's Bay still had to live and work with Wellington and the Hurricanes.
Although in those days Wellington and the Hurricanes were one entity, they are, in theory, separate organisations now, certainly at executive level.
