Auckland Rugby 2021
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@taniwharugby Here he is playing All Black sevens earlier this year -
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@daffy-jaffy am sure @Steven-Harris will know who it was (although he was the one who steered me wrong initially 😆 )
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@taniwharugby it was Kitiona Vai.
He has dyed his hair.
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Forwards
Adrian Choat
Akira Ioane
Albert Anae
Alex Hodgman
Angus Ta’avao
Blake Gibson
Felix Kalapu
Hamdahn Tuipulotu
Hamish Dalzell
Jamie Lane
Jordan Lay
Kitiona Vai
Leni Apisai
Marcel Renata
Niko Jones
Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Patrick Tuipulotu
Robbie Abel
Scott Scrafton
Sione Tuipulotu
Soane Vikena
Terrell Peita
Vaiolini Ekuasi
Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa
Backs
AJ Lam
Bryce Heem
Caleb Clarke
Corey Evans
Dan Hollinshead
Harry Plummer
Jonathan Ruru
Jordan Trainor
Rieko Ioane
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Salesi Rayasi
Sam Wye
Solomone Kata
Taufa Funaki
Zarn Sullivan
Unavailable due to Injury (for season)
James Lay
Joel Cobb
Simon Hickey
An experienced and talented group of Aucklanders assembled for the 2021 NPC.
Harry Plummer named 2021 Auckland Captain. Several former Auckland Rugby players return to New Zealand to play...
The 2021 Auckland Bunnings Warehouse NPC squad has been assembled, with a mixture of young talent, international stars and returning world-class players as the Blue and White Hoops search for their 18th Domestic Title. 27 of the 39 players will re-join the Auckland campaign from last season which saw Auckland finish top of the Premiership competition heading into the Finals. A COVID interrupted 2020 has seen several former Auckland Rugby players return from their overseas contracts to play for their home province once again. Jordan Lay will return home after a stint in the United Kingdom with Bristol Bears and Ospreys. The King’s College old boy represented Manu Samoa at the 2019 World Cup and will return to join some former teammates in the 2021 season. Lay’s experience up-front and scrummaging talents will be added to the likes of long-time Auckland teammates, Marcel Renata and Robbie Abel, Samoan international, Albert Anae and All Black, Alex Hodgman. Bryce Heem is also set to return to the NPC. Heem came back to New Zealand after seasons in the UK and France, before joining the Blues for their successful Super Rugby Trans- Ta$man campaign. Heem is joined by 15 other Blues teammates who recently brought a Super Rugby title back to the Auckland region for the first time in 19 years. The inclusion of Harry Plummer and Zarn Sullivan will be welcomed in the Auckland camp after both players were integral parts of the Blues Trans- Ta$man title run. Sullivan will be coming off a promising 2020 NPC and 2021 Super Rugby season and will be looking to express his talents for his Auckland side this year. Harry Plummer will be presented the captaincy of the Auckland team this year after the departure of TJ Faiane to Japan and the re-appointment of Angus Ta’avao to the All Blacks. The addition of former Warriors and Kiwis Captain, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will be a highly anticipated return once the Otahuhu College old boy takes the field in the Blue and White Hoops. The NRL Premiership winner and Dally M medallist will bring a first-class level of experience and attacking prowess when he links up with his Auckland teammates. Along with Tuivasa-Sheck, The Auckland Rugby coaching staff have added another former Warriors teammate and Auckland schoolboy to the 2021 unit. Dual Rugby League international, Solomone Kata will add his physicality and offensive flare when he returns to his home province of Auckland to play in this year’s campaign. The Sacred Heart College old boy has had an illustrious Rugby League career before switching from the 13-man game to join the ACT Brumbies in the 2020 Super Rugby Australia season. Vaiolini Ekuasi and Corey Evans will only but add to an impressive breakout year for the two under-21 internationals. Both players are coming off impressive Goodyear Club Rugby seasons which cemented their selection in the 2021 New Zealand Under-21 side. Evans and Ekuasi have been signed by their home union and will no doubt, play a role in the 2021 season and future of the Auckland Rugby Union. The NPC competition will roll through with the Premiership-Championship format. Auckland will play host to Canterbury, Bay of Plenty, Manawatu, Southland, Hawkes Bay while on the road to Ta$man, Wellington, Otago, Counties Manukau, and Waikato. Head Coach, Alama Ieremia is pleased to welcome back a large group of his 2020 squad while also keen to see the new additions joining the 2021 campaign. “Firstly, congratulations to all the players who have made the squad this year. It will a special moment for some players and their families who have been named in the squad for the first time. “ “As a coaching and management group, we are extremely excited about this group of players. From the young talent who have come through our Auckland Rugby Academy program to the players who are returning from overseas to play for their home province, they all have a desire to do well for Auckland”. The Blue and White Hoops begin their season with a Canterbury double-header with the Auckland Storm at Eden Park this Saturday. -
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@kiwimurph awesome Jordan lay and dan Hollinshead
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@kiwimurph said in Auckland Rugby 2021:
no Manu Paea or Grindley?
Sam Wye chosen instead of Manu Paea?
Grindlay went home to Taranaki
I saw someone mention that Paea has not played in the preseason and might be injured
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A message sent to me from a contact , he’s a hard out Auckland supporter ..
Meihana Grindlay told by Auckland that they want to spend 18 months to 2 years longer developing him before playing at NPC. Has signed with the Chiefs and Taranaki for 2 years. While Auckland sign and bring in Solomons Kata
What the F..K..! -
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@steven-harris said in Auckland Rugby 2021:
A message sent to me from a contact , he’s a hard out Auckland supporter ..
Meihana Grindlay told by Auckland that they want to spend 18 months to 2 years longer developing him before playing at NPC. Has signed with the Chiefs and Taranaki for 2 years.
Surely not a full Chiefs contract?
Grindlay is still a work in progress. At schoolboy level he could use his size and power to run over people but there wasn't much subtlety to his game. So, like Kata.
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@steven-harris said in Auckland Rugby 2021:
A message sent to me from a contact , he’s a hard out Auckland supporter ..
Meihana Grindlay told by Auckland that they want to spend 18 months to 2 years longer developing him before playing at NPC. Has signed with the Chiefs and Taranaki for 2 years. While Auckland sign and bring in Solomons Kata
What the F..K..!Didn't you say recently you've known Ieremia for a long time? One of the biggest criticisms of him has been that he is reluctant to give younger players a chance. It'd be interesting to know Ieremia's reasoning
With the Hookers picked I'm a little concerned the Alama won't be picking Vikena very often
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By position:
Prop
Hodgman
Jordan Lay
Anae
Renata
H Tuipulotu
Ta'avao
Tu'ungufasiHooker
Vikena
Apisai
AbelLock
Scrafton
Kalapu
Lane
DalzellLoose Forward
Choat
Gibson
Reidlinger-Kapa
S Tuipulotu
Vai
Jones
Ekuasi
Peita
IoaneHalfback
Ruru
Funaki
WyeFirst Five
Plummer (c)
HollinsheadMidfield
Evans
Heem
KataWing
Rayasi
Lam
Clarke
Tuivasa-SheckFullback
Sullivan
Trainor -
