Super Rugby Aupiki 2023
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@Crucial said in Super Rugby Aupiki 2023:
@Bovidae said in Super Rugby Aupiki 2023:
I would hope Willison isn't going to be used on the wing. If the Chiefs needed a winger they should have asked for Teneti.
Looking at the squad list now (only three midfielders) makes me still wonder if Willison is going to get a run in the centres.
Lots of possibilities. IIRC Daals also spent some time in the midfield last year.
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The Hurricanes have announced that 2022 Manawatū Cyclones Head Coach, Fusi Feaunati and Director of Rugby at Te Awamutu Sports, Travis Church will complete the Hurricanes Poua coaching team ahead of the 2023 SKY Super Rugby Aupiki season.
The experienced duo will take on assistant coaching roles, linking up with Head Coach, Victoria Grant, to provide valuable knowledge and guidance to the squad.
Backs Coach, Feaunati, returns to the Poua for his second season. Well known for his work with the Manawatū contingent, guiding the Manawatū Cyclones in the Farah Palmer Cup for the past seven years, he said he was excited for the 2023 Super Rugby Aupiki season.After an extensive recruitment process, former NZU19 prop Travis Church joins the Poua as the teams’ Forwards Coach, focussing on set-piece and the breakdown.
The current Director of Rugby at Te Awamutu Sports and former teammate of Hurricanes Set-Piece Coach Jamie MacIntosh, Church makes his first foray into Super Rugby, having previously spent time as a Black Ferns Hub Resource Coach and age group Rep Coach with Waikato Rugby. -
https://instagram.com/stories/lukac1/3030989231675020485?igshid=NjcyZGVjMzk=
Vid will only be up for 24 hours as it's an Instagram story, but Ruby Tui is present with Chiefs Manawa today.
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@Higgins said in Super Rugby Aupiki 2023:
@Crucial Unusual for an inhouse practice game to take place on the Sunday of a long weekend. Always risky stopping your car in Upper Hutt, hopefully you got of there with the car still 100% intact!
Local privilege.
Great time for a practice game considering that the comp is semi pro. Gives time for recovery and analysis sessions.
Phoenix women training on adjoining pitch.
The new sports centre at Trentham is world class. All weather pitches. 360 video etc
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@Bovidae said in Super Rugby Aupiki 2023:
@Crucial said in Super Rugby Aupiki 2023:
Looks to be in-house practice game for the Chiefs Manawa today.
They also played a mens team looking at the photos.
I was guessing from the photos at Waikato Stadium. They were only there for a formal welcome but played a game against Fraser Tech at Hautapu.
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@mikedogz said in Super Rugby Aupiki 2023:
I saw those interviews and story on the news last night.
Firstly, good on those that spoke up. They did so honestly and openly and aren't letting NZR dictate the narrative here.
It is a big pity that no comment was obtained from NZR. It would have been the usual platitudes but at least they should have been called to answer to the public as to why they aren't moving as fast as they need to.I previously acknowledged the issues that the women's game has in moving from amateur to semi pro/pro, especially in finding a balance due to there not being enough to sustain long periods away from jobs/family but potentially too much to not be unviable and unattractive.
It appears that the new breed of players coming through are looking for more and would be happy to sort out the rest of the year themselves. They will adjust their commitments around rugby. These players are the future and we can't lose them to Japan and the UK
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@Crucial On the page "Legend of Marty Banks" were a lot more comments than appear in that story. For example, from a former NZ7s development player, who was expected to turn up at every training without getting paid. She had a really tough time when she got injurend and wasn't offered a NZ 7s contract. She eventually left for Japan and had earned enough playing professional sevens after 3 years to buy a home in NZ, something she could have never afforded if she had stayed in NZ.
Also from another player who sometimes arrived at training late due having to juggle several jobs to survive and was treated like she was lazy. She was rewarded with non-selection.
Unfortunately, all these comments were in the instagram "stories", so they have disappeared.
Someone wrote in the comments on FB (I haven't checked whether it is true) is that Fijiana Drua has lost their entire backline to earn more $$. I think most went to Aussie Super-W teams; and also to league, like NZ players. There is a lot more money in Super-W and NRLW.
There's a whole contigent of NZ players - including FPC players - at the North Sydney Bears and Canterbury Bulldogs. This is going to hurt the FPC. -
@Bovidae said in Super Rugby Aupiki 2023:
I am assuming that the player who turned down contracts with two teams does not have a NZR contract, as that would given them some financial stability.
There are quite a few dual code players around that this could apply to.
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@Stargazer said in Super Rugby Aupiki 2023:
@Crucial On the page "Legend of Marty Banks" were a lot more comments than appear in that story. For example, from a former NZ7s development player, who was expected to turn up at every training without getting paid. She had a really tough time when she got injurend and wasn't offered a NZ 7s contract. She eventually left for Japan and had earned enough playing professional sevens after 3 years to buy a home in NZ, something she could have never afforded if she had stayed in NZ.
Also from another player who sometimes arrived at training late due having to juggle several jobs to survive and was treated like she was lazy. She was rewarded with non-selection.
Unfortunately, all these comments were in the instagram "stories", so they have disappeared.
Someone wrote in the comments on FB (I haven't checked whether it is true) is that Fijiana Drua has lost their entire backline to earn more $$. I think most went to Aussie Super-W teams; and also to league, like NZ players. There is a lot more money in Super-W and NRLW.
There's a whole contigent of NZ players - including FPC players - at the North Sydney Bears and Canterbury Bulldogs. This is going to hurt the FPC.I take some of these individual stories with a pinch of salt as there are always disgruntled players that feel that they don't get the same chances as others.
What is clear though is that the chances for these players to get disgruntled are increased when the opportunities are low.
A common thing in the 7s in both genders has been that players that are interested get told that if they are serious they should move to BOP and join in to see where it goes. Others do this off their own back. The reality is that unless you have backed this up with an academy selection you are on a hiding to nothing.
The pool of players at the 'top' is also small enough that favourites or known players are carried around by coaches.
One of the reasons Wayne Smith did well is that he came in completely clean and judged players solely on ability. -
@Crucial Olive is now listed in the Chiefs Manawa squad profiles (ignore the details).
The Chiefs Manawa Squad | Meet the Chiefs Rugby Players
Explore the Chiefs Manawa squad. Meet the players representing Chiefs Rugby in the Sky Super Rugby Aupiki competition this season.
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On the topic of whether the effort is really being made for this comp by all...we have discussed the decision by Matatu to hold their games in a backwater ground but Hurricanes with the season opener take the game to Levin on a shitty pitch surrounded by an old running track. If anything will scream 'average' at punters it will be that.
Hurricanes announce new Assistant Coaches for Super Rugby Aupiki
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