BOP 2022

[Cpt Kumera]

@Stargazer matty is playing club rugby thete with his bro

[Stargazer]

@Cpt-Kumera Yeah, that's under the 2nd FB link I posted.

[Cpt Kumera]

'It was a no-brainer when Scotland suggested I spend the summer in New Zealand'

Glasgow Warriors scrum-half Jamie Dobie is “buzzing” with excitement at his move to Bay of Plenty.

[Snollygoster]

Apparently the team is announced tomorrow and I'm guessing its widely known in rugby circles who is selected. Given photos from social media and who was listed in yesterdays pre season game we could already make a guess for all its worth .

Hookers :- Ekland
Rangi
Souchon
I assume Kurty will be back and Souchon and Rangi played yesterday. Souchon has been around the team for a while and Anaru Rangi ,I'm guessing, is a new signing. Apparently he is NZ born and spent the last few years playing for The Rebels in Super rugby.

Props :- Ross
Kumeroa
Mafileo
Tosi
Thwaites
Bartlett
Hetet
Not 100% sure on this one. Thwaites and Hetet (from last year) never played yesterday being replaced by Matt Wallace. Wallace is 37 and played NPC many years ago so I'm unsure if he was just a fill-in.

Locks :- Ah Kuoi
Selby Rickett
Sangster
All playing well.

Loose Forwards :- Cane
Norris
Kapelli
Broughton
Collier
Lasaqa
Karpik
Karpik didn't play yesterday either but have been told he's been seen about so fingers crossed.

Halfbacks :- T.T.T.
Dobie
Donaldson
Dobie (the Scottish international) is a class act and will be a great acquisition.

Inside backs :- Cashmore
Trask
Hawera
Trask is now the elder statesman I guess but Cashmore looks better every time I see him play. Hawera has had stints a for Waikato, Southland and the Brumbies

Outside backs ;- Finau
Lalomilo
Narawa
Haugh
Kaka
Lasaqa
Walton
Quite a few selection unknowns here also and I'm assuming one or two additions to this area also. Joey Walton was an Australian age group player whose been playing for the Warratahs. He looked good yesterday.

Okay , has anyone got any other additions or found mistakes that I've made. Last year they announced a wider training group also who were called on for injuries. Does anyone know much about Jericho Yorke, Axil Hohneck and Seamous Bardoul ? They all played yesterday so maybe are in the team but I know little about them.

And finally does anyone know of any injuries ? Someone went off with what looked like a bad arm injury and Triple T played half a game on the wing so I'm assuming theres some.

[Stargazer]

@Snollygoster According to google, Anaru Rangi is from Upper Hutt. It may be true, because he has played club rugby for Upper Hutt Rams (team photo from 2010).

I don't know exactly when he moved to Perth, but he played for Perth Spirit first, then the Western Force (2016-2017). When the Force were cut from SR, he was one of the players to be picked up by the Rebels. The last two years, he has played in Japan for the Shining Arcs Tokyo-Bay Urayasu, but he has re-signed with the Rebels for 2023 and 2024.

Edit: his place of birth may actually be Whakatane, but I'm not sure about that. His iwi is Ngāi Tūhoe.

[Bovidae]

@Snollygoster Is the new hooker the player with long hair wearing the headgear?

Jericho Yorke is a winger/outside back who played at RBHS. He was a good player at that level and for Chiefs age-group teams.

Speaking of young wingers, I heard the CM physio say that the CM no.14 that played against BOP is only 18.

[Snollygoster]

@Bovidae Yes, thats the one. Apparently was something of a folk hero in the Rebels.

[trooa]

Yeah it's Anaru Rangi, girlfriend is from Opotiki so suits him well to play here before heading back to Melbourne. Tight 5 looks very solid, flankers look weak. Maybe they'll play Ah Kuoi at 6? Abundance of depth at 10 with very little in centres, surely one of the 3 moves to 12 or 15. Thought Reon Paul was outstanding in the club final yesterday at 12 but broke his hand early unfortunately. Axel is the Whaka captain & Seamus standout 12 at TGA Sports. Delany giving club players a shot which is what clubs generally ask for, will see if they're up to the standard.

[Snollygoster]

@trooa I tend to agree with pretty much all you say but I shouldn't pass judgement till I know who exactly who is selected.

The starting loose forwards however hopefully won't be too bad....Kapelli is a beast, Norris is pretty solid and hopefully an inform Karpik is great but depth will be an issue.

The backs are stacked with speed at least and, judging by yesterday's game, Delany has made it clear how he wants the game played. The Taranaki game (BOP racked up 50 points) was impressive with the backs running it from everywhere but to be fair Taranaki didn't look flash. The team playing against Counties didn't have it their own way however.

Like has been said here before, don't read too much into pre season games.

[bayimports]

I guess there is still time, but no surprise that BoP rugby said they would announce full squad today, but nothing online as yet lol?

I can only hope that means they are hoping for some last minute poach lol

Anyone seen the squad yet?

[bayimports]

@bayimports said in BOP 2022:

I guess there is still time, but no surprise that BoP rugby said they would announce full squad today, but nothing online as yet lol?

I can only hope that means they are hoping for some last minute poach lol

Anyone seen the squad yet?

union confirmed pushed to 4pm tomorrow

[ARHS]

2022 Bay of Plenty Steamers squad
Aidan Ross (Te Puke Sports)
Anaru Rangi (Taneatua)
Benet Kumeroa (Rangiuru)
Emoni Narawa (Tauranga Sports)
Gillies Kaka (Whakarewarewa)
Haereiti Hetet (Mount Maunganui)
Inga Finau (Arataki) – Vice Captain
Jacob Norris (Tauranga Sports)
Jamie Dobie (Mount Maunganui)
Jeff Thwaites (Te Puna)
Joey Walton (Greerton Marist)
Josh Bartlett (Tauranga Sports)
Justin Sangster (Te Puna)
Kaleb Trask (Tauranga Sports)
Kitiona Vai (Mount Maunganui)
Kohan Herbert (Mount Maunganui)
Kurt Eklund (Mount Maunganui) - Captain
Lalomilo Lalomilo (Greerton Marist)
Leroy Carter (Tauranga Sports)
Lucas Cashmore (Tauranga Sports)
Luke Donaldson (Te Puna)
Manaaki Selby-Rickit (Mount Maunganui)
Melani Nanai (Mount Maunganui)
Naitoa Ah Kuoi (Whakarewarewa)
Nic Souchon (Tauranga Sports)
Nigel Ah Wong (Te Puke Sports)
Nikora Broughton (Rangiuru)
Pasilio Tosi (Greerton Marist)
Penitoa Finau (Greerton Marist)
Roderick Solo (Mount Maunganui)
Sam Cane (Reporoa)
Taylor Haugh (Mount Maunganui)
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Whakarewarewa)
Tevita Mafileo (Tauranga Sports)
Veveni Lasaqa (Greerton Marist)
Wharenui Hawera (Judea)
Zane Kapeli (Waikite)
2022 Bay of Plenty Steamers Management Group
Head Coach: Mike Delany
Forwards Coach: Richard Watt
Scrum Coach: Pingi Tala'apitaga
Attack Coach: Damian Karauna
Skills Coach: James Porter
Manager: Wayne Brill Assistant Manager: Lisa Appert
Strength & Conditioning Trainer: Thomas Stebbing
Assistant Strength & Conditioning Trainer: Scott Joblin
Physio: Simon Robins
Assistant Physio: Brandon Olsen
Doctor: Dr Sophie Thomas
Video Analyst: Brad Morgan

[Duluth]

@ARHS

Kitiona Vai has potential. Good pickup for BOP.

One of the advantages of the NZ 7's program being based in the region

[Dice]

@Duluth said in BOP 2022:

@ARHS

Kitiona Vai has potential. Good pickup for BOP.

One of the advantages of the NZ 7's program being based in the region

His bro, Melani Nanai, is also in the team. That's a big surprise.

[Bovidae]

Solo is another sevens player (from Wellington).

[Duluth]

@Dice

Good to see him back. I wonder if it'll be the Chiefs or Moana Pasifika?

Still only 28 years old

[Canes4life]

@Bovidae bloody hell and Wellington decide to sign Milner Skudder instead. 🤦🏼‍♂️

[Cpt Kumera]

Cant wait for the npc to start
Alot of good sides

[Dice]

Found this tweet.

He still had a year left on his Worcester contract.

Only played 10 games in the last two seasons. Hopefully he's over those injuries.

[trooa]

Better than I expected, happy about lots of signings in the outside backs. Good balance of experience & youth throughout the squad.