Wellington Lions 2023
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To start the year, Shannon Paku has been named Interim CEO of Wellington Rugby.
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Not sure where to put this but the Wellington Under 20s have been named to play Manawatu this weekend:
Wellington Under 20 v Manawatu Under 20
NZCIS, Upper Hutt
Saturday 11th February 2023
Kick-off 12:00pm1 Senio Sanele
2 Joyner Gaualofa
3 Bradley Crichton
4 Jono Bailey
5 Matolu Petaia
6 Dominic Ropeti
7 Neru Scheck
8 Toby Crosby
9 Sam Howling
10 TJ Clarke
11 Garry Tuilekutu
12 Tofuka Paongo
13 Jack O'Brien
14 Francis Mettrick
15 Chicago Doyle
16 Lennox Easthope
17 Salesa Seumanufagai
18 Ben Kershaw
19 Leon Tuiloma
20 Jeremiah Collins
21 Stanley Solomon
22 Elijah Maene-Lokeni
23 Jackson Wright
24 Carlos Hihi
25 Logan LoveNon-Playing Reserves – Junior Paulo, Moli Taulogo, Tavis Polglase, Toby Mallon, Siale Lauaki
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Media release, for who's interested:
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Great news for the Wellington Lions, the news I was hoping for.
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@Canes4life said in Wellington Lions 2023:
Great news for the Wellington Lions, the news I was hoping for.
Excellent news. Maybe a future canes coach. Hard act to follow though in his first year. But a good test for him. Winners and winners again maybe
Paku and Ellison. I like it.
EDIT. Its also great that Ellison has been exposed to the Crusaders environment. I just hope they can get him away and back to the Canes. Its too early for next year but both teams might be looking for a new head coach next year. Canes need to try and get him in as one of the assistants. With the view of him maybe taking over eventually.
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@Winger said in Wellington Lions 2023:
@Canes4life said in Wellington Lions 2023:
Great news for the Wellington Lions, the news I was hoping for.
Excellent news. Maybe a future canes coach. Hard act to follow though in his first year. But a good test for him. Winners and winners again maybe
Paku and Ellison. I like it.
EDIT. Its also great that Ellison has been exposed to the Crusaders environment. I just hope they can get him away and back to the Canes. Its too early for next year but both teams might be looking for a new head coach next year. Canes need to try and get him in as one of the assistants. With the view of him maybe taking over eventually.
Yeah I would certainly be pleased if Ellison eventually became the Canes head coach. He's had experience in two successful environments so that can only be a good thing.
He's also young and seems to be able to connect with the players like a lot of coaches can't.
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From the below article it looks like Shields is planning to play for Wellington this year, currently in negotiation.
Shields is due back in New Zealand following the conclusion of the French Top 14 season in June and said his intention was to play NPC with Wellington. He is currently in talks with his former province.
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@Canes4life Shields, Lakai & Kirifi back row with Delany and Plumtree in reserve is very stacked for NPC.
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@foobaNZ said in Wellington Lions 2023:
@Canes4life Shields, Lakai & Kirifi back row with Delany and Plumtree in reserve is very stacked for NPC.
I would actually bring Shields off the bench, atleast to start the season. Those players that won the title last year probably deserve those starting positions first. I'm happy for Shields to earn his way back in by playing good rugby. But yeah, looking pretty heathly in that department for NPC standards.
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@Canes4life yup fair point. Not a bad group to pick from!
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Good to see the Lions have named their first couple of Shield challenges, bit of bad luck for Soth Canterbury, as they got 2nd challenge, first one is Horowhenua, so obviously the shield will be resident in Levin after that!!!
Have informed Mrs Dan a trip to Levin on July the 12th is being booked already! -
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Not sure if this has been posted already but Brad Shields has been officially signed by the Lions for the NPC this year.
Good to have Brad back on board, I don't think he will start but his experience will be priceless for the likes of Delany, Lakai etc to learn from.
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@Canes4life Cue all the fringe representative loose forwards looking elsewhere to stake their claim for higher honours
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@maxwell said in Wellington Lions 2023:
@Canes4life Cue all the fringe representative loose forwards looking elsewhere to stake their claim for higher honours
Persico on the comeback too, let's get him back onboard.
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Wellington U20 side named to take on Manawatu
Tuitupou could prob do a job too...