Waikato 2023

[Bovidae]

@SouthernMann said in Waikato 2023:

Haven't you signed Josh Ioane?

I've no idea. I only mentioned that he would be a good pickup if staying in NZ. We'll see in a couple of weeks.

[SouthernMann]

The ODT article after the Otago NPC side was named stated he is going to Waikato.

[Bovidae]

@SouthernMann OK, I hadn't seen that, only that Ioane wasn't returning to Otago.

Is there a link?

[SouthernMann]

"He adds experience to a young backline after stalwart Josh Ioane signed with Waikato and Vilimoni Koroi is exploring new opportunities."

Jul 3, 2023

Naholo to ‘add massively’ to Otago squad

The chant for Waisake Naholo will ring out around Forsyth Barr Stadium once again. The former Highlanders winger, who scored a team-record 45...

[Bovidae]

That article is paywalled, but I assume you've quoted the relevant info.

The Waikato Times doesn't cover any local rugby.

[mikedogz]

This is the B team?

2023 NEW ZEALAND HARLEQUINS XV SQUAD

Vincent Green ( Melville )

Jonas Pomare ( Fraser Tech )

Manahi Goulton (Te Awamutu Sports)

Stanly Paese (Hautapu)

Teha Rehara ( Hautapu )

Kaleb Saxon ( Hautapu )

Sean Ralph ( Te Awamutu Sports )

Luke White ( Melville )

Zinzan Hansen ( The University of Waikato )

Josh Coffin ( Te Awamutu Sports )

Jake Russ ( Te Awamutu Sports )

Dave Morris ( Hautapu )

Xavier Saifoloi ( The University of Waikato )

Tevita Taukeiaho ( Te Awamutu Sports )

Senita Lauaki ( Hautapu )

Rhys Dickinson ( Matamata )

Keaton Neals ( Marist )

Logan Allen ( Matamata )

Jack Harding ( The University of Waikato )

Sam Toa ( Te Awamutu Sports )

Levi Reweti ( The University of Waikato )

Guy Landsdown ( Fraser Tech )

Westyn Cobb ( Te Awamutu Sports )

Shauncy Waho ( Te Awamutu Sports )

Quintin Hill ( Hautapu )

Josh Calvert (Fraser Tech)

Jackson Neels ( Leamington )

Latrell Smiler-Ah-Kong (Te Awamutu Sports )

[Bovidae]

From the players I am familiar with it looks to be mainly development/younger players.

Who are they playing?

[mikedogz]

Thames Valley and King Country. Not sure if equivalent team or pre Season for Heartland. Counties B. I found the team on the mooloo site and the draw on the harlequins site.

They might be part of the competition run by the northern regions: https://www.sporty.co.nz/northernregionrep/

[Bovidae]

Last year the Chiefs Cup was played before the NPC squad was announced so a lot of U20 players and wider training squad players were involved in those pre-season games. That isn't the situation this year.

AFAIK Waikato didn't have a B team in 2022, or at least I never saw a team/fixture list.

[Bovidae]

So we've got two halfbacks. Hopefully Roe is fit again.

[Bovidae]

I would think Tucker will be looking overseas soon unless he picks up a SR contract.

[Bovidae]

2023 Waikato National Provincial Championship Squad Announced

Waikato Rugby are pleased to annouce their initial 33-man Bunnings Warehouse National Provincial Championship (NPC)...

2023 Waikato Bunnings Warehouse National Provincial Championship Squad
Pita Anae-Ah Sue (9) Hautapu
Hamilton Burr (38) Hautapu
Tepaea Cook-Savage (13) Fraser Tech
Liam Coombes-Fabling (32) Fraser Tech
Mosese Dawai (24) Otorohanga
George Dyer (22) Fraser Tech
Samipeni Finau (28) Hamilton Old Boys
Josh Ioane ( ) United Matamata Sports
Luke Jacobson (28) Hautapu
Mitch Jacobson (72) Hautapu – Co-Captain
Ayden Johnstone (40) Hautapu – Co-Captain
Taha Kemara (5) Te Awamutu Sports
D’Angelo Leuila (21) Fraser Tech
Anton Lienert-Brown (22) University
Rhys Marshall (14)
Patrick McCurran (9) Fraser Tech
Damian McKenzie (37) University
Laghlan McWhannell (30) Hautapu
Cody Nordstrom ( ) Te Awamutu Sports
Ollie Norris (40) Hautapu
Simon Parker (11) Hautapu
Cortez Ratima (31) Otorohanga
Te Rama Reuben (6) University
Gabe Robinson ( ) Hamilton Marist
Xavier Roe (26) Hamilton Old Boys
Daniel Sinkinson (12) Melville
Bailyn Sullivan (55) Hamilton Marist
Samisoni Taukei’aho (44) Fraser Tech
James Tucker (59) Hamilton Marist
Solomone Tukuafu (3) Hamilton Old Boys
Mason Tupaea ( ) Hamilton Marist
Quinn Tupaea (32) Hamilton Old Boys
Gideon Wrampling (18) Hamilton Old Boys

[Bovidae]

So they've promoted two young props (Tupaea and Robinson) and Nordstrom, but not too many other new faces.

I would think that the NZ Harlequins XV squad will provide the backup pool of players.

[Bovidae]

Last year 38 players were named, compared to only 33 this year so it will be interesting to see which other players are involved in the pre-season games. There will be cover for the ABs and only two halfbacks are listed.

I wonder what Sefo Kautai is up to? I am happy to invest in youth and local players.

[ARHS]

@Bovidae wow strong squad. Look forward to seeing it perform

[OleOleOle]

The squad seems light at lock, especially with McWhannell unavailable for the first couple of rounds. Burr is the obvious option but isn't the tallest lock around. Maybe Parker will cover at lock....

[Bovidae]

@OleOleOle Agree. One of the things I noticed as well. Burr has played a lot at lock for Waikato.

It will be interesting to see who is used at lock on Sat. Last year Andrew Smith and Zinzan Hansen played at the Chiefs Centurions Cup. The former is really a 6, and still very young. Hansen is also U20 but has height.

The locks in the NZ Harlequins squad are Hansen, Luke White and Josh Coffin. Coffin has some first class experience so might be the obvious choice.

Tom Martin hasn't made the squad and wasn't in the Marist teams during the latter stages of the club season, so may be injured again.

[WillieTheWaiter]

@Bovidae

@Bovidae said in Waikato 2023:

I would think Tucker will be looking overseas soon unless he picks up a SR contract.

both his bros are over in the states so might end up that way.. but was saying that agents etc are all pretty focused on world cup and guys there and what they're doing after so not getting loads of attention

[Bovidae]

From the Stuff article:

Waikato coach Ross Filipo said he would run his three All Blacks in the opening game alongside many of the province’s academy and wider-group players, before putting out a mostly contracted squad in the second match.

“We think it’s going to be a great opportunity for those younger guys to be on the pitch with some of our All Blacks,” he said, of what he hopes will be the last time he sees the trio this year, despite the boost they could provide during the provincial season.

I wouldn't be surprised if Finau played at lock to accommodate some of the loose forwards. He actually played at no.8 in this fixture last year. It sounds like Quinn Tupaea is ready to go too.

[Bovidae]

From memory these were the teams that started each game:

(vs Counties Manukau)
Mason Tupaea
Sean Ralph
Sosaia Folau - a new name for me
Andrew Smith
Zinzan Hansen
Samipeni Finau
Senita Lauaki
Luke Jacobson

Te Aonui Wharawhara-Muriwai
Dominic Clapcott
Waisake Salibiau
Austin Anderson
Tana Tuhakaraina
Cody Nordstrom
Jole Naufahu

(vs Taranaki)
Ayden Johnstone
Pita Anae-Ah Sue
Solomone Tukuafu
Hamilton Burr
Tai Cribb
Xavier Saifoloi
Simon Parker
Te Rama Reuben

Cortez Ratima
Josh Ioane
Daniel Sinkinson
Gideon Wrampling
Quinn Tupaea
Cody Nordstrom
Tepaea Cook-Savage

The lineout had some issues in both games, a combination of overthrows from the hookers and getting picked off at the front. Not having any of the main locks didn't help.

Roe is still not available for a few weeks.