Magpies 2020
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@Steven-Harris I'm very surprised about Taumalolo still playing. I lost track of him since the articles in the media about him being forced to retire due to "spinal anomalies". I vaguely remember reading something since then that he continued playing somewhere else, but I can't find it anymore.
I always rated him, but you have to wonder how good he still is at 38, although I agree with @Nepia that he's probably still better than May (he always was). May is 37, so they'll lift the average age of the team considerably, especially if Dixon is still with us this season, too.
By the way, has this news been published anywhere?
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Don’t worry I was surprised as anybody else when I found out this news..
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From the article below:
The building of the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union's Community Training Centre was a key factor in the union's equity increasing by almost $500,000 last year. Speaking before tonight's annual meeting of the union in Napier finance committee chairman Craig Riddiford said the equity increased by $491,324 to $1,768,750. Riddiford and union chief executive Jay Campbell pointed out grants and donations for the centre were influential in the union's revenue increasing by $436,624 to $4,579,112 during the financial year ending on November 30. Grant income for the centre amounted to $560,000. Expenses for the centre amounted to $83,215 and this left the centre with a net surplus of $476,785. For the 21st consecutive year the union recorded a surplus. While the $14,539 surplus was $95,395 less than the previous year's it was just under the $15,000 the union was aming for.The New Zealand Rugby Union's grant to the union increased by $185,334 to $1,777,465. Campbell pointed out $90,000 of this was for the union's women's programme. "We also met a lot of the national union's key performance indicators." Total expenses for the union increased $527,674 to $4,546,711. Campbell said more money was invested into the community game for software for video analysis. Travel grants for clubs increased by $4,345 to $17,863. Rugby development expenses increased by $151,243 to $1,260,543. Campbell said Magpies assistant coach Josh Syms was doing "a fantastic job" with first XV and club coaches. Magpies scrum coach Francisco Deformes has also been doing a lot of work with promising frontrowers and the safety component of forward play.Riddiford said the union will aim for a surplus of $5,810 this year.Team expenses increased by $223,795 to $2,098,327. The union spent $1,895,047 on the Magpies last year - $209,310 more than the previous year. Expenses for the Hawke's Bay Tui women's NPC team amounted to $37,310 - $7,209 more than last year. Campbell pointed out the union had two new rep teams last year, a Saracens under-18 side and a co-ed under-15 team.NPC match income increased by $64,618 to $171,001 and Campbell said the key reason for this increase was the Magpies home semifinal against Otago. Sponsorship income for the union increased by $6,739 to $1,936,644.The union's administration expenses dropped $22,416 to $311,620.Commenting on possible mergers of provinces around the country, union chairman Brendan Mahony, said he will have more detail after his union hosts a New Zealand Rugby Union Road Show on Friday. Representatives of the Hawke's Bay, Whanganui, Manawatu, Povery Bay and East Coast unions have been invited along with delegates from New Zealand Maori Rugby. "We are not going to take any changes lying down. All this talk has galvanised the country," Mahony said. Campbell pointed out the challenges facing New Zealand Rugby aren't new with less people watching Super Rugby and Mitre 10 Cup rugby. But he said his union's focus will always be on growing the game."We experienced an increase in teenage male players last year. But nationally the numbers are going south and that has been the trend for the last 10 years."
Campbell said 11,000 fans attended Saturday night's Super Rugby match between the Hurricanes and Sunwolves in Napier. He was hopeful of being allocated another fixture in future and he had plenty of positive feedback from the Sunwolves who spent the week in Napier.Sanders also asked why clubs weren't allowed the services of their academy and Hurricanes under-20 players for pre-season fixtures. Campbell told him the Hurricanes have first pick of these players until the end of March.https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=12313459
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@Toddy We always struggle to find good props. If he can still play well (I assume he'll not be more than a bench player) and help develop younger players, I don't mind as much, especially if Ben May doesn't return. Taumalolo has played for the Magpies from 2005 to 2011. He may be Tongan qualified, but to me he's not a foreign player. He's one of us.
Edited to add that I would mind if he is effectively blocking the path of a young, local player, but I'm not sure that's the case.
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@Toddy Taumololo was with the bay for years and a stalwart of the Clive club.I have no issue with him coming back, let the local lad prove himself like Sona has and he will get his chance. You dont just hand out jerseys to players because they are locals.
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@Higgins said in Magpies 2020:
@Stargazer Will fit nicely into the Texans backline, now we just need to get the Barracuda back and even I would look good in the lineup playing alongside them.
Playing for Tech OB tomorrow in a pre-season match.
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Former otago squad member connor mcleod playing club rugby for hawkes Bay wonder if he could grab a contract this season
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McLeod just finished his studies at Otago Uni (Bcom). Last year, he was named in the NZ Universities team for a tournament in Japan, but had to pull out because he was called up by Otago as injury replacement. He was named Otago Development Back of the Year 2019. He was on the bench for Otago when they played us in the semi-final.
He was also on the bench for the Hurricanes Hunters when they beat the Crusaders dev team about a month ago.
Found his work profile from his current employer. I assume he'll be playing his club rugby for Havelock North.
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@Stargazer said in Magpies 2020:
McLeod just finished his studies at Otago Uni (Bcom). Last year, he was named in the NZ Universities team for a tournament in Japan, but had to pull out because he was called up by Otago as injury replacement. He was named Otago Development Back of the Year 2019. He was on the bench for Otago when they played us in the semi-final.
He was also on the bench for the Hurricanes Hunters when they beat the Crusaders dev team about a month ago.
Found his work profile from his current employer. I assume he'll be playing his club rugby for Havelock North.
Looks like hes playing for hastings, hes listed as being out injured for the spillane cup in one of the hbt articles.
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Hawkes Bay Magpies Instagram page saying player announcements will be made in the next few weeks. The first one is a returning former magpie any idea who??? Sona or Renton perhaps??
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@kiwimatrix Interesting. It might be someone like Joe Apikotoa, too, unfortunately.
I assume we don't need Zac Guildford, but he's also back playing club rugby for Tech.
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@Stargazer It's definitely not Sona. I spoke with him the other day about the reports he was coming back, and he said he knows nothing about it. He said he wished it was true, but it's not.
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I saw Jason Shoemark out running up this way prior to lockdown, looking fit and covered a decent amount of ground while I was in traffic
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@taniwharugby said in Magpies 2020:
I saw Jason Shoemark out running up this way prior to lockdown, looking fit and covered a decent amount of ground while I was in traffic
Seriously mods, how long do we have to wait for the down vote button.
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@Nepia think he is doing Rugby Development stuff down your way (by your way, I mean HBians that live there) anyway isnt he?
