Hawke's Bay rugby 2018
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From today's HBRU newsletter:
New Head Coach has busy off season ahead
*The 2017 rugby season on all levels may have just come to an end but although the Hawke’s Bay Magpies won’t take the field until late July next year, that doesn’t mean it’s quiet at rugby HQ.
There’s a new coach at the helm in Mark Ozich and he’s got a pretty long do to list pre-and post-Christmas.
It reads a bit like this…
Finish all player reviews
Re-sign existing players
Appoint a new forward coach
Identify potential player recruitment options
When Mark was appointed as assistant coach earlier this year, following a successful coaching stint with Hastings Boys High School First Fifteen, he didn’t expect to be in the hot seat as a replacement to Craig Philpott by November.“It has happened quicker than I thought. It’s not ideal (to go to head coach so quickly) but it’s a great opportunity and I’m excited by what lies ahead.
“I’m focussed on player retention at the moment, signing the likes of Brad Weber, Gareth Evans, Sam McNicol and Ash Dixon. Following that we can look at what we’ve got and what our shortcomings are in player talent pool at club rugby.
“I’m really interested in what potential talent is out there at club level that may have been overlooked, hidden or new to the province.
“We’ve also provided our reviews to the players and it’s now time to sit down with them and talk about the reviews and the areas they need to work on.
As a team Mark has identified the contact/collision area as something that needs to improve in 2018.
“We’ve got to really improve in the collision area whether that’s tackling or the ball carry to get us over the gain line. It’s a not negotiable area to improve on and that will be a focus in early 2018.”
Mark says lock is a position that needs to be bolstered. The Magpies have a couple of Super Rugby players in the locking department and a couple of other candidates but he says it’s not an area that they can afford to not up skill nor bulk up moving forward as these guys are crucial in winning us ball and dominating collisions.
Mark says the appointment of a forward coach is also a priority and the recruitment process will look both within and outside of the region.
“We’re going to open it up to all-comers. We will shortlist and then put potential candidates in front of a panel.
The summer Sevens season is now getting into full swing and Mark is providing some supporting to new head coach Ellery Wilson. The side has some young talent and Mark’s keen to see how they go in the abridged version of the game and how they could possibly step up to 15s.
“It’s an exciting new era at Hawke’s Bay rugby, we’ve got some new coaches and early next year we will also have a new chief executive.*
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Jarvy Aoake wrote this under a photo he posted on instagram:
jarvyaoake: Ending 2017 with my 2 favs that are always there for me. Bring on 2k18 with a New year, new home, new club, new job and new challenges #2k18 #fitfam #familygoals #rugbylife #hbsummer17
Kendra Cocksedge, who works as a rugby development officer for NZR (based in Chch) replied:
kenjee09: @jarvyaoake welcome aboard I bet ur excited about it!! We have heaps of fun!
Another post also referred to women's rugby, so it looks like Aoake has found a job at NZR, possibly as a (women's) rugby development officer? He was already a rugby development officer for HBRU. It will be interesting where he will be based and which club he's referring to. Looks like we may need another back-up prop, unless Edmonds is able to play again (which I really hope).
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Good news and bad news.
Good news:
Latest update is Trent Boswell-Wakefield should be back in time for start of club season.Bad news:
Tim Farrell has had to have shoulder surgery and will be out for about six months.He is eligible for the Under 20's again this year but the surgery/rehab would seem to rule him out. Hopefully will be fit for Mitre 10 Cup.
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@number-10 said in Hawke's Bay rugby 2018:
Good news and bad news.
Good news:
> Latest update is Trent Boswell-Wakefield should be back in time for start of club season.Bad news:
Tim Farrell has had to have shoulder surgery and will be out for about six months.He is eligible for the Under 20's again this year but the surgery/rehab would seem to rule him out. Hopefully will be fit for Mitre 10 Cup.
So basically he comes back as soon as Philpott leaves - unsurprising.
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@number-10 said in Hawke's Bay rugby 2018:
Good news and bad news.
Good news:
Latest update is Trent Boswell-Wakefield should be back in time for start of club season.Bad news:
Tim Farrell has had to have shoulder surgery and will be out for about six months.He is eligible for the Under 20's again this year but the surgery/rehab would seem to rule him out. Hopefully will be fit for Mitre 10 Cup.
We'll have to wait and see whether TBW is still good enough to make the Magpies, but he has a whole club rugby season to get back into it. I guess a lot will also depend on who the next assistant coach will be. I hope they can find a good one.
The news about Farrell is more significant and I feel really sorry for the guy. Missed most of the 2017 JWC, and now possibly the 2018 JWC. I hope he heals faster than expected and can still make the squad, but that seems unlikely. Will keep my fingers crossed for him, and indeed hope he'll have a great Mitre 10 Cup season. That lad has talent.
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Jorian Tangaere has had to stop playing rugby due to losing sight in one of his eyes. The last few months he's been training hard for the waka ama nationals and with success, winning a gold medal in the adaptive men's W1 500m final and silver in the adaptive men's W1 250m final last weekend. That has earned him a ticket to the world championships in Tahiti in July. He has also qualified with Wairarapa club's premier men's six-man crew. This article is worth reading.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11979884
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Thanks, @chainsaw. Great to see West finally in the right jersey. Now we can only hope that he can stay ahead of JG-B in the pecking order and will be BB's back-up - and that he, Gareth Evans and Jonah Lowe will get sufficient game time this season.
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@number-10 Is that certain? I haven't seen an official announcement that he's going overseas. They could re-sign him?
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@stargazer said in Hawke's Bay rugby 2018:
Thanks, @chainsaw. Great to see West finally in the right jersey. Now we can only hope that he can stay ahead of JG-B in the pecking order and will be BB's back-up - and that he, Gareth Evans and Jonah Lowe will get sufficient game time this season.
Yeah that's interesting, JGB had a pretty good npc, but I've always thought West had some x-factor, and of course has also had some good npc seasons.
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Fears Hawke's Bay Magpies No 8 Gareth Evans may be playing his Mitre 10 Cup rugby for another province this year have been alleviated. New Magpies head coach Mark Ozich confirmed last night new Hurricane Evans will be turning out for the Bay again this season."Jonah will be back with us again as will Ben. Ihaia has some offshore options to ponder but if he stays in New Zealand after the Super season he will be back with us," Ozich said. Ozich pointed out Magpies loosie Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, who was a world champion Baby Black last year, has secured a Highlanders contract. He said the Magpies were close to securing the services of 2016-17 captain and long-serving Highlanders hooker Ash Dixon. Former All Black halfback Brad Weber and fellow Chiefs, lock Michael Allardice and outside back Sam McNicol, will be back with the Magpies this season.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11985671
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That actually looks like a decent nucleus of a team ....
Good that MMT has got a Highlanders contract now, was that confirmed when squads were named or is it a recent development (memory like a goldfish). Anyway, another Magpie who needs to go to a franchise not the Canes to get recognition.
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@nepia He was not initially named in the squad, but was called up to join them for preseason as injury cover (for James Lentjes?). They said at the time they wanted to take a good look at him, because other loosies in the squad could cover 6 and 7, but they wanted someone who could also cover 8. I guess they liked what they saw!
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@stargazer said in Hawke's Bay rugby 2018:
@number-10 Is that certain? I haven't seen an official announcement that he's going overseas. They could re-sign him?
Did you also notice the absence of any reference to Ruchard Buckman in the interview with Mark Ozich?
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We have a new assistant (forwards) coach: Josh Syms
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11989213
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New CEO: Jay Campbell. Internal promotion.
The union's commercial manager since 2008, Campbell, 46, replaces Mike Bishop, who had the role for 12 years, and will switch offices on February 26. Bishop leaves on February 23.
"We're going to have a very inexperienced but exciting young side. We've got two inexperienced, but highly motivated coaches in Mark [Ozich] and Josh [Syms] who are both hungry for success.While the Magpies haven't got a challenge against holders Taranaki in the draft Mitre 10 Cup draw, which isn't expect to be finalised until the end of next month, Campbell is hopeful it won't be too long before the log o wood returns to the Bay. Following the resignation of four board members last year Campbell said he has enjoyed working with a new enthusiastic group of board members. Among his immediate priorities will be the appointment of a new commercial manager, a new academy manager following the resignation of Joe Payton, a new finance manager following the departure of Jo Bayliss and two new rugby development officers as Magpies centenarian Chris Eaton is playing overseas and Magpies prop Jarvy Aoake has transferred to Waikato to work for New Zealand Rugby.Union chairman Brendan Mahony said his board conducted an extensive and robust search and interview process before deciding Campbell was the best candidate to lead the province forward.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11991492
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According to this article in the HBT, Trinity Spooner-Neera has returned to the Bay. I assume he will play his club rugby for Havelock North.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11991209
