Highlanders 2024
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As suggested in an earlier Paul Cully tweet, the two school imports who have signed with Southland are Tayne Harvey and Josh Augustine.
I was reading this article which also outlines other school rugby players who have signed with Southland's academy.
RUGBY SOUTHLAND ACADEMY 2024
YEAR 1
Gregor Rutledge, JJ Fisher, Justin Shaw, TJ Gallen, Jerome Buckley Fa’atoia, Tayne Harvey, Josh Augustine, Louis Lepionka, Henry Scott, Wyndham Patuawa.YEAR 2
Rico Fisher, Caleb Williams, Hunter Fahey, Sione Baker.YEAR 3
Liam McIntosh, Billy Andrew, Hunter Areaiiti Burgess, Jackson Bevin, Kaea Nikora Balloch.RUGBY SOUTHLAND ACADEMY DEVELOPMENT GROUP 2024
Keflar Morrison, Josh Evans, Sean Howlett, Ryley MacRae, Jordan O’Connell, Rico Muliaina, Preston Evans, Hoani Nikora Wilson, Thomas Jennings, Jake Evans, Jayden Broome, Thomas Spain, Noah Sutton, Mika Muliaina.
Rugby Southland signs New Zealand secondary schools midfielder
“We are grateful they have given us the opportunity to take their game to the next level, so we’ve just got to deliver on that.”
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We need some more training photos! I suspect all the guys from the high performance group would have been on there. Plus may be one or two from around the country
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Aussie media is saying Hugh Renton is negotiating with the St George Dragons. That'll be a fascinating move. I reckon he'd either be an 80 minute prop or a lock in league. From a Landers perspective would be sad to see him go, but awesome to watch.
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Was just going to paste the same, don’t blame him if he can make a big enough name for himself without looking at the higher honours, go make some money
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It would be a hell of a punt for St Geoege to move in on a guy who has never played league before for a mid-season switch. Luckily for the Landers loosie is an area we are well loaded up
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He wants to play fullback, which was the motivation to move south. Also had discussions with the Crusaders.
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The big issue with our competition is there are too many good players in the better squads holding tackle bags on game days. It says a lot for their systems that they'd rather be paid to watch than play. From a Highlander's perspective we only have ourselves to blame. Players are more likely to maintain their worth not playing for a good team than getting smoked with the Landers. Then the more we lose the harder it is to recruit. It is a ghastly cycle. While the franchise's are their own entities, NZR's goal should be to have the best seven or eight players in each position getting regular gametime.
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One of the best examples of how unattractive we were for a number of years was our post Lima Sopoaga recruitment at 10. We had the best halfback NZ has ever produced. All we could land was a procession of some of NZ's most average first fives, with the best being a midget with a high school level kicking game. Mitch Hunt was a great team man and once hit a stunning drop goal. It is just he is the classic case study to show our complete inability to recruit.
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@SouthernMann In fairness 10 was probably one position we did actually land some players who were in theory quite good... none of them ever quite delivered granted, partially due to ability, but also due to the shambles surrounding.
Also speaks to the lack of 10 depth in general. Recruiting in the outside backs and midfield has been difficult... Nareki the only top end player we have signed in that department since 2017 IMO.
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I see that Will Stodart has been promoted to the main squad on a full contract as lock cover.
And four NDC players have been named.
EXPERIENCE KEY FOR DEVELOPING NEXT GENERATION | Highlanders Rugby Club Limited Partnership
The Highlanders are proud to announce their four National Development Contract (NDC) players for 2024. These players will train full time with the Super Rugby Squad and experience professional rugby during the pre-season before settling into an individualised part-time programme for the duration of...
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
@SouthernMann In fairness 10 was probably one position we did actually land some players who were in theory quite good... none of them ever quite delivered granted, partially due to ability, but also due to the shambles surrounding.
Also speaks to the lack of 10 depth in general. Recruiting in the outside backs and midfield has been difficult... Nareki the only top end player we have signed in that department since 2017 IMO.
We were desperate enough to bring Marty Banks back, twice. We ran through Gatland, Banks, Ioane, Hunt, Gilbert and Burns. None of which, apart from a brief period of Ioane, stamped their mark on the team. The reason I cited first five was because we had the best nine this country has ever produced. Could not lure anyone to play alongside him. The other positions were flow ons. Nareki was signed out of high school, he was a punt like Koroi and others. He just came good.
Stoked to see Stodart get the injury replacement spot. He is a top prospect. I'm really interested to see the development of A-One Lolofie.
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@cgrant said in Highlanders 2024:
Reuben Palmer is a beefy lock, a rare sight in NZ. In a few years, his association with Fabian Holland could be very interesting.
And I don't think it is a huge concern that he is on the shorter side as a lock. Especially if we are running a pack in a few years with the like of Oli Haig and Will Stodart in the mix. Both big loosies and lineout options. The only question is whether we will have the mobility.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
@cgrant said in Highlanders 2024:
Reuben Palmer is a beefy lock, a rare sight in NZ. In a few years, his association with Fabian Holland could be very interesting.
And I don't think it is a huge concern that he is on the shorter side as a lock. Especially if we are running a pack in a few years with the like of Oli Haig and Will Stodart in the mix. Both big loosies and lineout options. The only question is whether we will have the mobility.
If a few of those guys in the junior program work out, you could have some real weapons.
I don't know much about Kyan Rangitutia but he has plenty of size and scope for an outside back.
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I don't know much about Kyan Rangitutia but he has plenty of size and scope for an outside back.
I haven't seen him play but I know he is out of St Johns College Hamilton last year, first year Uni down your way, made the NZ U18 Barbarians. The name stood out because he came through my club Te Rapa as a junior and his dad coached and brother played with my son.
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@gt12 said in Highlanders 2024:
I don't know much about Kyan Rangitutia but he has plenty of size and scope for an outside back.
He went to St John's. Still young enough to play for the U20s for the next few seasons.
The funny thing about Palmer is that he sometimes played prop for TBC. As you can imagine his height meant be really struggled despite the bulk. His younger brother is a decent size too.
Kyan Rangitutia on Hudl