Magpies 2021
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@higgins Here's some of what I've been able to find and had written down about them over the past few months:
6 Tupou Ma'afu Afungia, was born in Nuku`alofa and went to Tonga College 'Atele, then - I assume he was offered a scholarship - Westlake Boys. He's a lock/loosie who already played for the Hawke's Bay Saracens, last year. I don't know how he ended up in the Bay.
16 Gene Symington, former Lindisfarne prop, transformed into a hooker while playing in/for Manawatu. Played 2 games for the Turbos in 2018 and 3 games in 2020 (all as a sub). Returned to the Bay, late last year.
17 Dom Devine - more info in this article:
Rugby: Prop's fun approach contagious at NOBM
Magpies hooker Jacob Devery to play second five-eighth for club.
18 Jayden Walker - very talented young prop from the same Napier Boys 1st XV squad as the Thompson twins that made the Top 4 final in 2018; he's a year younger than the twins and his last year at NBHS was 2019. He didn't initially make the NZ Schools' team in 2019 and was named in the NZ Maori U18 squad instead, but I vaguely remember him being called into the NZ Schools' or NZ Schools' Barbarians team late, due to injury. He was part of this year's Hurricanes U20 squad. Academy player.19 Nathan Tweedy seems to be someone who moves around. What I could find about him is that he went to St Peter's School (Cambridge); after his final year (2014) he moved to Manawatu. He made the Hurricanes U20 in 2015. At some stage he moved to Hawke's Bay, played club rugby and made the Hawke's Bay Saracens squad (and played for them). Not sure when, but he played (semi)professionally in Hong Kong (Hong Kong Scottish), but returned because of COVID. He played for Norths in Wellington, last year. And now he's back in Hawke's Bay.
19 Hugh Taylor - Couldn't find much about him, but he attended Wairoa College and made the Hawke's Bay U16 Development team in 2017 and Hawke's Bay U18 team in 2019. I think he's an Academy player.
21 Jonty Stewart - captained the Feilding HS 1st XV in 2020 and received a rugby scholarship from Hawke's Bay, according to this article. I assume that's why he's in our Academy squad. He's a fullback, who was in the Hurricanes U20 squad, but hardly got game time.
22 Andrew Hayward - was part of the Hastings Boys 1st XV that became Top 4 champions in 2019. I think he's in his first year out of school and he's in the Academy squad. I assume he'll play for this year's U19s team. Talented outside back.
23 Tianua Poto - one of the older players (27) in this line-up. He's been around for a while in club rugby. A first five-eight/fullback and good goal kicker. Plays for Clive and has played in Ireland.
More info in this article: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/rugby-tianua-poto-will-step-up-in-falcons-absence/K44ZMGOA7AQ7TV7YSRL2TF3ZX4/24 Jay Tuivaiti - comes from Auckland (Waitemata), where he was part of the 2016 Auckland Colts squad. See also this post from @Steven-Harris:
@steven-harris said in 2021 Hawke's Bay club rugby:
A player who has transferred to the Hawkes Bay from Auckland this season is Jay Tuivaiti ,younger brother of former North Harbour no 8 Jim who now plays in Italy.
A real athlete at 6”4,plays 6 or 8 equally well,and has brilliant skills in the air and is a devastating ball carrier ..he was on Auckland’s radar 2 x seasons ago and highly rated by some very good rugby people .
I tried to get him up to Northland, but he broke his ankle leading up to the start of the 2019 Mitre 10 cup season and was in rehab throughout most of 2020
He’s one to watch ,not sure which club he has linked up with
27 Xavier McCorkindale - 19 years old, so I assume this is his first year out of school; I think he initially attended Wairoa College, but then moved to Napier Boys. He played for the 3rd XV in 2017, captained the 2nd XV team in 2018. I can only assume he was part of the 1st XV later. Can't find much more about him.Francisco Deformes has been with the team for a few years now. He's from Chile originally and is the scrum coach.
@DrivingMaul did this interview with him, last year. -
About one of the HB Saracens players:
Wind the clock back to the Hawke's Bay Saracens rugby team's 62-19 win over Wairarapa Bush in Masterton on Queen's Birthday. One of the first names Magpies head coach Mark Ozich mentioned when quizzed on the Saracens standouts was 19-year-old Napier Technical No 8 Xavier McCorkindale. Despite only weighing 87kgs, McCorkindale (pictured above, photo JT Photography) produced a gutsy 20 minutes off the subs bench at lock and scored a try. "There was a shortage of locks. I made the most of it and I couldn't drop lip for not getting to play in my regular position," McCorkindale explained. "It was a different level but enjoyable," McCorkindale recalled. A third-year Davcon Construction building apprentice who hails from Wairoa, McCorkindale, left Wairoa College for his Year 12 and 13 studies at Napier Boys' High School but couldn't progress beyond the 2nd XV. "I've found the love for playing again this year. Everything just seems to be working and hopefully, I can gain Magpies selection within the next two years. Hopefully, I can get up to 95kgs to boost my chances," McCorkindale said.Magpies forwards coach Josh Syms labelled McCorkindale as "a prospect for the future who just needs a bit more size." "With his form in club rugby he was hard to ignore. He has been with us for a couple of weeks and his training ethic is outstanding. He is a really hungry driven man," Syms said. -
@stargazer A lock who needs size! Finally we’re going to get a regular Canes starter.
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@stargazer Finally some forwards.
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Important announcement tomorrow!
hbmagpies
Player Signings - Folau Fakatava
Unfortunately due to the injury Folau sustained against the Crusaders back in April, it is unlikely that he will be playing for the Magpies this year. Stay tuned for tomorrow, where we will be announcing a new half back joining the Magpies squad. -
@stargazer , any thoughts yourself on who. It might be ..?,wonder if Syms and Ozich are looking towards ..can think of a couple of halfbacks they be looking at ..one playing in the MRL at the minute .
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@steven-harris In the MLR, I can only see two possible returnees: Danny Tusitala and Andy Ellis. Maybe Ozich knows Tusitala.
I can see other options: if he wants to move SR franchises, Ere Enari may be keen to move NPC teams as well. Not sure if Luke Campbell is still signed with BOP, but if the Canes want to move him into the catchment (assuming he's staying), he may be send to us.
And there are other possible returnees. I don't know what his contract status is in France, but if he comes back, Michael Ruru could be an option. Hopefully, it's not his brother.
Announced as leaving his Japanese club is Richard Judd.
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@stargazer Judd would be a good fit ..
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@stargazer Ere Enari is your man 99.9% sure
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@stargazer Richard Judd has close connections to my recently retired Club Coach down here who has recently moved to the Bay to establish a new business. Have lost his phone number so unable to give him a call to suss out if it is a possibility.
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@steven-harris He's best mates with Caleb Makene, so there's a connection.
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@stargazer I'm hoping it's Enari
I think he would be a very good buy. Does his core role very well, and behind what I think will be a very good forward pack he'd go well. -
@billsy111 said in Magpies 2021:
@stargazer I'm hoping it's Enari
I think he would be a very good buy. Does his core role very well, and behind what I think will be a very good forward pack he'd go well.Would be good to kick start his career as he'd be getting good gametime.
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