For 2016

Stockcar86

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="590809" data-time="1466666331">
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Yes, that's good, but they're not new to the squad. Cridge will be one option to replace Allardice. Renton will be one option to replace Stanley/O'Connor. Evans started the season at 8, so will probably get his spot back.
 
I'm trying to remember who the new recruits are (and who of them will be playing, so not Retallick) to replace some of the people who have left.
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Weber and McNicol returning

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stockcar86" data-cid="591163" data-time="1466751521">
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Weber and McNicol returning
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Uhm, yes, I already had them in my list. Just couldn't come up with more names.

Stockcar86

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="591170" data-time="1466752250">
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Uhm, yes, I already had them in my list. Just couldn't come up with more names.
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bleh, too many Friday beersies :idiot2:

Stockcar86

Mason Kean got on for the last 15 minutes of the MAC game this weekend, so hopefully will be good for NPC

? Offline

Apparently, Robbie Fruean could still be a possibility this year for HB. 
 
He's been having health problems which is why he hasn't appeared for the Crusaders in 2016.
 
His two-year contract with HB finished end of last year and is playing future is somewhat unknown.
 
The Saracens (Magpies wider-training squad) play the Manawatu Evergreens in Palmerston North this Wednesday 30th.

Nepia

No, lets not pick up Fruean. Rather a young HB player than a continually unavailable to play guy who has had one good game for the Bay and a bunch of average at best ones.
 
Hopefully we've got some good players coming through though because we're looking pretty weak depth wise at the moment.

Stargazer

Line-up for tomorrow's Saracens' game v Manawatu Evergreens:
 
<img src="http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cl_HDJlUgAAqu-p.jpg" alt="Cl_HDJlUgAAqu-p.jpg">
 
Edit:
This article contains an explanation of the selection: <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11664725'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11664725</a>
 
Edit 2:
Manawatu line-up: <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://turbosrugby.co.nz/news/197-evergreens-named-to-play-hawke-s-bay'>https://turbosrugby.co.nz/news/197-evergreens-named-to-play-hawke-s-bay</a>

? Offline

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="592577" data-time="1467089998">
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Line-up for tomorrow's Saracens' game v Manawatu Evergreens:
 
<img src="http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cl_HDJlUgAAqu-p.jpg" alt="Cl_HDJlUgAAqu-p.jpg">
 
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Midfield contenders:
Lewis Marshall, has a Magpies contract
Jonah Lowe, has a Magpies contract
Billy Ropiha, has a Magpies contract? - still a contender for Olympic sevens?
Cole Eru, last year's HB Dev team
Matthew Garland, last year's HB Dev Team 
Neria Fomai, having a good club season
Star Timu, Magpie in 2012 but playing more at fullback for his club
 
I think last four names are basically playing for one position.

? Offline

That Manawatu team has a few names I recognise.
 
Harrison Brewer is the son of 1986-1995 All Black Mike Brewer.
 
Mark Atkins and Tom Parsons both played for the Magpies.
 
Travis Taylor played HB U16 - went to CHB College
Tim Cadwallader played HB U18 - went to Lindisfarne College.

Stargazer

Apparently, the Manawatu Evergreens are leading 31-0 at half time. That's going well ... :(

Stargazer

Full time: 59-0 to Manawatu.
 
That score doesn't give me much confidence in our club rugby players. Although players like TBW, Ellery Wilson & Billy Ropiha were not playing, last year's Magpies Aoake, Long, Tangaere, Waqa, Chase, Fahamokioa & Emerson were all there.

? Offline

Well I guess the benefit of the result is that a few contenders will probably have a black line put through their name, meaning selection candidates get narrowed down. For those 15 or so that were unavailable, it was probably a good game to miss!

Higgins

I am extremely disappointed that the HBRFU logo is included alongside the name of the team in Stargazers post of 28/06/16 at 4.59pm. The Saracens Rugby Club are a completely separate organisation from the HBRFU so whoever included the HBRFU's logo can give themselves a damn good uppercut.
 
I am even more disappointed in getting such a hiding. About the only redeeming thing is there were only five players that started that appear to be even remotely likely to be in the Mitre10 Cup squad; the front row, Waqa at lock and Shannan Chase and most of those will probably not be regular starters. If that's the best we can do without our Super rugby players (the Poo were without there's as well) then we look to be in a spot of bother come the season proper and injuries kick in. Come to think of it did we not get mothered by someone else big time in a pre-season match last season as well? Thank heavens I resisited the temptation to sneak up for the match.

Stargazer

Yeah Higgins, I almost went to that game last night. Glad I decided not to go.
 
This is from the HBT:
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
 
Rugby: Flogging 'due to murky rules'
 
By Shane Hurndell
4:47 AM Thursday Jun 30, 2016
 
Take a look at the score, 59-0, ... it isn't a misprint.
 
"Yes it was a horrific and embarrassing night for us," Hawke's Bay Magpies assistant coach Danny Lee said as he reflected on the Hawke's Bay Saracens 59-0 drubbing from the Manawatu Evergreens at Palmerston North's Central Energy Trust Stadium last night.
 
"While the weather conditions were atrocious the Evergreens handled them superbly. We couldn't control the ball and gave away too many penalties," Lee lamented.
 
With 14 of the Magpies wider training group unavailable with injuries Lee fielded a young and inexperienced squad and for the majority it was a massive step up and an eye opener. Another contributing factor was the fact the match was played under the new domestic laws which will be trialled during the Mitre 10 Cup.
 
"Manawatu has played under these rules during the club rugby season. We haven't been and we were behind the eight ball from the start particularly around the tackled ball area and at the break down," Lee said.
 
"We didn't use them during the club season because there is still a lot of uncertainty surrounding their future and we couldn't get an indication from the New Zealand union how they are going to be refereed. Fortunately we've got three more pre-season games to get used to them.
 
"We're not hitting the panic buttons ... we just have to adapt as quickly as possible."
"Realistically we put a lot of young players in a tough position. But it was good for them in a different way," Lee added.
 
The Evergreens led 31-0 at halftime after scoring five tries, three of which were converted. The hosts ran in four tries, all of which were converted, during the second spell.
 
One of the highlights for the Saracens was the fact they kept the Evergreens scoreless for the entire third quarter. Another was the impact Napier Technical prop Tolu Fahamokioa and loosie Joseph Penitito provided off the subs bench.
 
Fahamokioa's defensive work matched the quality of his carries. Penitito wasn't in the squad named for the match, travelled as the 27th player and made the most of his game time.
Penitito's Napier Old Boys Marist clubmate and fellow loosie Matt Gardner was taken to Palmerston North Hospital with a suspected broken arm. Hastings Rugby and Sports lock Sanaila Waqa left the field with a sprained ankle.
 
The Magpies next pre-season fixture will be on July 30, also against Manawatu in Palmerston North. Expect numerous changes for that match and a different score.
 
- <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz/'>Hawkes Bay Today</a>
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I agree, I'm also concerned about depth. Last year, our players were dropping like flies, some of them even early in the season (Evans, to give one example). This year, we're starting with fewer Super Rugby players because more have either left or are injured than have been added to the team.
 
Last year, I think they started with a trial match in Eketahuna, probably also against Manawatu. That was maybe the game in which they got trashed.
There were also quad-trial matches in Palmerston North, in which they played 40 minutes against Manawatu and Wellington (they didn't play the third team, which may have been a second Wellington or Manawatu team). I vaguely remember them losing one and winning one, but I'm not sure, they may have lost both. I was there, but I think I have subconsciously pushed them out of my memory because I can't remember much of that night.
After that, they played the 3 Ranfurly Shield matches against Heartland teams and one pre-season game v Taranaki in which they were terrible during the first half, but managed to turn it around in the second and narrowly won the game.

? Offline

Confirmation both Andrew Horrell and Richard Buckman will not turn out for the Magpies in 2016, and that there is a question mark still with Robbie Fruean.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=11668834'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=11668834</a>

Nepia

We may as well just rope in the Hastings Boys 1st XV to play as it appears we have no one left.

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="594207" data-time="1467708619">
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We may as well just rope in the Hastings Boys 1st XV to play as it appears we have no one left.
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With Philpott as coach, Christchurch Boys 1st XV is more likely? :unsure:

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="590302" data-time="1466514102">
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Not really an exodus, but I thought this was the best place to post it.
 
Former-Hurricanes (etc) and former-Magpies Alby Mathewson and Karl Lowe have signed with Pro D2 club Provence Rugby. Their signing is under the condition that the club will stay in the Pro D2 competition and won't be relegated to the next tier down, FÃ©dÃ©rale 1.
 
Provence Rugby (formerly called Pays d'Aix) finished last during the regular 2015-2016 season - after having been promoted to Pro D2 the year before - and would normally be relegated. However, as I understand it, clubs in Pro D2 need to pass a financial audit. If they don't pass this audit, they will be relegated for financial reasons. As two clubs are relegated each year from Pro D2, Provence Rugby will be able to stay in the Pro D2 if it passes its financial audit and two other Pro D2 teams don't pass (or the teams to be promoted from FÃ©dÃ©rale 1 don't pass). The Pro D2 website already mentions that one club (Tarbes) will be relegated. Three other clubs have also not passed their financial audits and will be relegated if their appeal procedures are unsuccessful. So it seems to depend on the outcome of these procedures whether Provence Rugby will stay in the Pro D2, and thus whether Mathewson and Lowe will join the club.
 
Provence Rugby is a club that normally sits at the bottom of Pro D2 or the top of FÃ©dÃ©rale 1, so promoting and relegating regularly. Not really a great club in sporting terms, but perhaps the money is good and the Provence is - I think - an attractive province to live. Both players are over 30 after all, and have young families.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.provencerugby.com/actualite/a-la-une/effectif-20162017-les-arrivees/'>http://www.provencerugby.com/actualite/a-la-une/effectif-20162017-les-arrivees/</a>
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.provencerugby.com/actualite/a-la-une/mathewson-et-loamanu-dans-le-projet-pro-d2/'>http://www.provencerugby.com/actualite/a-la-une/mathewson-et-loamanu-dans-le-projet-pro-d2/</a>
 
PS: another former Magpie - RÃ©gis Lespinas - has also joined the club.
 
Edit: Provence Rugby plays in black or black and white. Maybe that's why they signed ;)
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Update: all three Pro D2 clubs who didn't pass their financial audits, have had their appeals upheld. This means that Provence Rugby will be relegated to FÃ©dÃ©rale 1 and that Alby Mathewson and Karl Lowe are without a contract, if they don't have any back-up plans.
It's a pity they're not midfielders, but you'd think the Magpies can use them anyway if they decide to return to the Bay?

Stargazer

Not sure where to post this, but this is from an article in the HBT (<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://nzh.tw/11682174'>Kaka smarts over silver</a>):
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
Unlike Curry, Forbes, Dickson, Mikkelson and Webber, Kaka has yet to sign a New Zealand Rugby contract through to the end of 2018.
"I just want to see how I feel after the Olympics. Going back to 15s is an option."
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I always liked Kaka at fullback for the Magpies and thought he could be a good Super Rugby player if given the opportunity. If I remember it correctly, Titch/NZRU offered him a sevens contract just when the Canes had offered him a WTG spot (but not more than that).
 
What do you guys think? If he returns to 15s, most likely via Mitre 10 Cup, could he still make it in SR? Will the HBRU be likely to give him a spot after Rio, considering Mitre10 Cup starts on 20 August? Fruean was also added after the squad naming last year ...

Stargazer

Team for tomorrow's pre-season game. Interesting to see Robbie Fruean in the reserves!
 
<img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CoeZU_wVMAA9751.jpg" alt="CoeZU_wVMAA9751.jpg">

The Silver Fern

For 2016