NPC - news, injuries etc
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@kiwiwomble said in NPC - news, injuries etc:
@taniwharugby said in NPC - news, injuries etc:
Nabbed from FB, RS permutations
looking forward to that Otago v Naki game
Why does it ignore the North Otago challenge
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Hey look Ta$man might get a challenge (a certain poster can stop whinging now
)And they would get to play the lowly Canterbury.
My tipped path would be HB to Waikato to Canterbury to CM who then have to defend in the last week to their bogey team BOP.
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@stargazer said in NPC - news, injuries etc:
lol they get Marty and we get Daryl ..you Hawkes supporters like rubbing it in dont you
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Snippets from an article in the NZH (pay-walled):
Wallabies centurion Sekope Kepu has opened up on the challenges behind his abrupt exit from London Irish and confirmed he could complete a surprise full-circle journey by playing for Counties Manukau in this year's national provincial competition.
Having returned to Auckland, where he spent 18 years before moving to Sydney and playing 110 tests for the Wallabies, the Herald understands Moana Pasifika have also expressed interest in signing Kepu, the three-time World Cup veteran.The former Waratahs Super Rugby champion initially planned to see out the season with London Irish, only to encounter visa issues with entering New Zealand. As an Australian citizen he had to apply for a single-entry spouse/partner visa and, as such, could not enter New Zealand alone.
"We never planned to move back to New Zealand," Kepu told the Herald. "We'd set up camp in Australia which is home for us. The kids were born there and we settled in quite well.
"Unfortunately with the Covid situation and the uncertainty of travel we made the decision to move back to Auckland to be closer to both our parents.Kepu is technically contracted to London Irish until June 30 but is then expected to play for Counties Manukau in the national provincial competition that begins on August 6. He would be the latest big-name signing for the Pukekohe-based union, with Blues No 8 Hoskins Sotutu switching from Auckland to join fellow All Blacks loose forward Dalton Papalii. Last year former All Blacks captain Kieran Read returned to his roots to pull on the Counties colours too.
Born in Sydney to Tongan parents, Kepu moved to New Zealand aged three and grew up in Glen Innes. He spent three years playing No 8 for the Wesley College first XV before former All Blacks scrum coach Mike Cron transformed him into a front-rower.
Straight out of school Kepu played for Counties between 2005-07 and was also selected in the New Zealand under 17s, 19s, 21s and in the Chiefs wider training squad, before breaking his collarbone and taking the leap of faith to join the Waratahs.
Depending how the provincial season goes, he could be back playing Super Rugby next year in Moana Pasifika's debut season.
"I'd love to be part of that. Nothing is set in stone ...
Unexpected move to NZ: Wallabies centurion eyes return to Kiwi team
"The plan was never to come back here but slowly things are looking brighter."
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@nepia said in NPC - news, injuries etc:
@stargazer How on earth did Kepu never get citizenship?
You've got to apply, simple. It's not automatic, like residency. Same in Oz, but there you're pretty unlikely to get it!
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Posted here because of implications for the Southland Stags:
The injury woes just keep stacking up for Southland Stags coach Dale MacLeod in the lead up to the 2021 National Provincial Championship.
Former Otago midfielder Matt Whaanga, who has thrown his lot in with Southland this year, has broken his cheekbone. He is expected to undergo surgery next week to get a plate inserted.... However until the swelling goes down, and he undergoes surgery, MacLeod said they would be unsure what the injury will mean for the Stags.
The Stags coach expected Whaanga could potentially make a return in late July ahead of the Stags competition opener against Otago on August 7.
However, MacLeod said if the injury prevented him from doing little conditioning work it would be a tough ask chucking him straight into NPC level with little preparation.Woodlands introduced Stags loose forward Charles Aliamalo off the bench in the second half as he got through 40 minutes.
Aliamalo has returned from Italy where he was linked with the Zebre club.Star also handed its man-of-the-match honour to a new player to the club in the form of centre Jaylen Tuapola.
Tuapola is a former Hurricanes age-group player who is now having a crack playing in Southland. -
Reforging the Steelers is currently being streamed on Youtube. Interesting insight into the province:
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@stargazer said in NPC - news, injuries etc:
always liked him when he was with the Landers but was never given many chances and didn;t really kick on, good to see him back in NZ
