Magpies - 2019 Mitre 10 Cup
-
This is the announcement by O'Neills:
We are delighted to announce a four year partnership with Hawkes Bay Magpies - one of the most recognisable rugby brands in New Zealand with a fiercely loyal fanbase. O'Neills are bringing state of the art playing kit for Hawkes Bay rugby and supporters gear that fans want to wear. The Magpies will debut the new O’Neills playing kit in the 2019 Mitre 10 Cup. We are all Magpies Now! #oneills #oneills100years #thechoiceofchampions #rugby #rugbynz #newzealand #mitre10cup #magpies #hbmagpies #weareallmagpiesnowSo a four-year partnership.
-
-
-
@Number-10 Sounds like he had recently been some kind of midseason replacement for Verona in Italy.
Il Verona Rugby presenta il nuovo arrivo Sam Ulufonua
Arrivata da Hawkes's Bay in Nuova Zelanda l’ultimo giocatore ingaggiato dal Verona Rugby in questo mercato di metà stagione. Il Verona...
-
-
@Stargazer That answers the U20s question.
-
@Nepia It doesn't anwer the question clearly, though. What kind of visa issue? Considering he's a professional rugby player, he must at least have a work visa now (maybe the Talent (Arts, Culture, Sports) Work Visa). A visa to enter Argentina? Can't imagine they wouldn't let him in for the JWC.
I'd love to hear an explanation.
-
Sam McNicol to play again this year, hopefully, starting with club rugby.
Is still currently signed to the Chiefs.
-
Yay good news, and even playing club rugby for the good guys when he comes back
-
I wonder whether the HBRU is going to announce this officially?
wfc_axemen: Our club would like to congratulate @ollie_sapsford for signing with @hbmagpies he will be a great part of your team. Ollie has been an absolute professional and role model for all. Making him an important part of our club for the past few years. Ollie can often be found on Hataitai Park working on his tan or in the hair care aisle at your local super market. From everyone at the club we wish you all the best on your next chapter and hope to see you in an Axemen jersey again in the future! #WellingtonAxemen #GiveEmTheAxe -
There are two ways to look at this. He never made the Wellington Lions squad but has always been involved with the Hurricanes since he arrived in Wellington about three years ago, playing fairly frequently for the Development Team. The fact that he continues to be seIected for that team perhaps indicates he just might be a plant up to the Bay at the request of the WRFU. I hear he was rated very highly by the expert panel when he attended the International Rugby Academy of New Zealand (IRANZ). He is more the dependable solid won't make many mistakes type of player rather than one that will score a brilliant runaway tray from his own goaline beating innumerable players on the way. Kind of the Jason Shoemark sort of player now that I come to think of it.
The HBRFU tend not to trumpet player signings the way some other provices do. Who knows who they may also have up their sleeves all signed and sealed but keeping it undwer wraps as is ther standard modus operandi. As Stargazer knows it is difficult to get their Mitre10 Cup lineups each week and player signings tend to follow the same pathway. -
If the HBRU has signed him, I hope it's only a development contract. I hate it when players from outside the Bay without any experience in NPC (or higher) are signed on full contracts, while local players have to prove themselves in club rugby first.
Also, the last thing I want is another TJ Vaega, Sasa Tofilau and other one- or two year- signings from other provinces that didn't perform.
-
From the article that I posted in the club rugby thread:
Magpies head coach Mark Ozich was pleased to hear Latu was back in the Bay. "There is still space in our squad for a midfielder as well as utility space on the wing. "There is a lot of good young talent chasing those spots but the fact Penikolo has been there and done that puts him in good space." -
About McClutchie not making the NZ U20s:
Kereru-Symes, Flanders and Toala were all members of the national title-winning Hastings Boys' High School 1st XV in 2017. A fourth member of that team, Magpies first five-eighth Lincoln McClutchie, missed selection for the Oceania Championship where the Baby Blacks will chase a fifth consecutive title. "A lack of versatility may have cost Lincoln a spot. Craig has gone with one specialist first five-eighth in Waikato's Rivez Reihana and there are a couple of versatile players who can play that role," Ozich said. "I have already spoken to Lincoln and he has taken his feedback on board. He needs to lengthen his exiting kicks, hang his re-start kick offs more and increase his physicality on defence. Other than that he drives a good game."https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=12220323
-
Some bits and pieces from today's HBT article about the weekend's club rugby:
Most significant:
Magpies first five-eighth Lincoln McClutchie, who has been called into the Highlanders squad as injury cover.Trial with Warriors ...
Auto Super Shoppe Hastings Rugby and Sports second five-eighth Neria Fomai scored a hat-trick in the first 25 minutes of this Elwood Park encounter. The former Southland Stags midfield back is displaying the benefits of his summer trials with the Warriors NRL club in Auckland and will be a serious contender for a Magpies Mitre 10 Cup squad berth this season.Has he played at first-five eight before? His versatility may prove to be valuable in the future:
... Hurricanes squad member Danny Toala, who had stints at first five-eighth and fullback, also impressed in the winning backline ...
