NPC 2023

[Chris]

@Chris-B

hopefully he gets game time in his proper position of Centre he isn't really a wing.

[Chris B.]

@Chris said in NPC 2023:

@Chris-B

hopefully he gets game time in his proper position of Centre he isn't really a wing.

I'm waiting to see our squad for the year and then who gets picked for the ABs.

I'm thinking most likely our first choice midfield and wings will be 11. Springer, 12. Aumua, 13. Nankivell, 14. Tavatavanawai - not sure whether we'll have Fetuli Paea or not - he may already be in Italy.

Then there's Dave Havili, Big Leicester and Will Jordan - can't imagine we'll have Will. (Don't think we'll have Sevu Reece). In the same iffy AB boat, Finlay Christie, Ethan Blackadder and Shannon Frizell - we won't have Lomax!

If a couple of ferners were picking the AB RWC squad, I'd be able to do another music medley as we marched to the title!

[Tim]

@Chris-B said in NPC 2023:

Nankivell

Won't be available. URC starts in September.

[Chris B.]

@Tim Google tells me you're right. I thought he must be hanging round till after RWC since he's in the NZ XV.

Gualter probably will get plenty of time at centre then.

[Stargazer]

[Crazy Horse]

@FakatavaABXV said in NPC 2023:

@Chris-B was very impressed by him when he got some game time with the Crusaders this year

I can't say I was 'very impressed' by him. His time was too limited, but he held his own. The jury is still out for me.

[Bovidae]

Mentioned in the Highlanders thread. Neither Alaimalo brother. Ben Strang has moved from Manawatū.

Edit: Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa has been loaned from Otago. I hadn't noticed Shneil Singh amongst the locks. He's a player who must have been close to Waikato squads in the past. I'll be interested in seeing how he goes.

[frugby]

Strang is a curious one... I'd expect him to be three in the pecking order there.

[Bovidae]

@frugby said in NPC 2023:

Strang is a curious one... I'd expect him to be three in the pecking order there.

Strang isn't very old himself but suggests that Manawatū will be relying on even younger hookers (Tuputupu and Bason) as Bryn Gordon moved to NH.

[Yeetyaah]

@Bovidae also noticed Singh, I remember reading an article about him a few years back about how he could be the first Indian All Black. He played in Japan for Toyota for a few seasons I think.

[Bovidae]

@Yeetyaah

Shneil Singh could be New Zealand’s first Indian 'All Black in the making' | News from St Paul’s Collegiate School

New Zealand’s first Indian 'All Black in the making' couldn't be more Kiwi after growing up on a farm in Waikato. Shneil Singh was one of eight Waikato juniors called into Craig Philpott’s first New Zealand under-20s squad, the Baby Blacks, this week. International recognition comes as no surprise...

More recently he was playing for Fraser Tech when in Waikato club rugby.

[frugby]

@Bovidae Yep... funnily enough I actually think he would stand a better chance in Otago, where Jackson is always injured and coming off a lengthy one + the club hookers not all that flash... of course, Strang himself clearly not that sharp according to coaches.

[Stargazer]

His third team?

[Stargazer]

Rogers is taking a few players from the MLR to Manawatū. Here's another one, a South African lock.

[Kruse]

@Stargazer That photo... poor fluffybunny.

[Kruse]

@Stargazer Atlanta, Palmerston North... same shit.

[mikedogz]

2023 PIC Steelers squad

Props: Suetena Asomua (Karaka), Lionel Evans (Patumahoe), Kauvaka Kaivelata (Pukekohe), Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Ardmore Marist), Salesi Tuifua (Karaka), Keran van Staden (Pukekohe).

Hookers: Palu Ale (Patumahoe), Ioane Moananu (Manurewa), Zuriel Togiatama (Papakura), Ian West-Stevens (Pukekohe).

Locks: William Furniss (Patumahoe), Jadin Kingi (Pukekohe), Alex McRobbie (Bombay), James Thompson (Patumahoe), Jimmy Tupou (Patumahoe).

Loose forwards: Samuel Slade (Pukekohe), Adam Brash (Bombay), Thor Manase (Manurewa), Alamanda Motuga (Papakura), Leo Ngatai-Tafau (Pukekohe), Dalton Papali’i (Patumahoe), Sean Reidy (Patumahoe), Hoskins Sotutu (Papakura), Ryan Stewart (Patumahoe), Viliami Taulani (Manurewa), Sam Tuifua (Karaka), Maama Vaipulu (Pukekohe).

Halfbacks: Cohen Brady-Leathem (Patumahoe), Liam Daniela (Patumahoe), Kanavale Helu (Pukekohe), Cam Roigard (Onewhero).

First-fives: Riley Hohepa (Patumahoe), Jamie King (Pukekohe), Josh Penney (Karaka).

Midfield backs: AJ Alatimu (Ardmore Marist), Alex Eruera (Patumahoe), Nikolai Foliaki (Karaka), Nua Soti (Patumahoe), Larenz Tupaea-Thomsen (Manurewa).

Wingers: Esau Filimoehala (Karaka), Joshua Gray (Patumahoe), Blake Makiri (Manurewa), Peniasi Malimali (Karaka), Sione Molia (Karaka), Solomone Naiduki (Manurewa), Toni Pulu (Bombay), Rodney Tongotea (Karaka).

Fullbacks: Etene Nanai-Seturo (Karaka), Tevita Ofa (Manurewa), Ahsee Tuala (Manurewa).

Coaching & Management
Coach – Reon Graham
Assistant Coach – Jimmy Maher
Assistant Coach – Paul Wheeler
Scrum Coach – Pauliasi Manu
Head of S&C – Jed Knox
Analyst – Leaha Dickey
Physio – Jarrod Stevenson
Doctor – Sanjeev Krishna
Manager – Craig Notman
Manager – Dale Tucker

[mikedogz]

Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union

2023 PIC Steelers squad confirmed

[mikedogz]

• 14 first time steelers out of club rugby

• Jimmy Tupou, Viliami Taulani and Toni Pulu have come back to the union

• Sione Molia playing 15's for us this year

• Maama Vaipulu was retired but going for another season

• Former Waikato lock James Thompson

[Tim]

From earlier this year about Blues U20 prop Salesi Tuifua:

Salesi Tuifua Secures CMRFU Contract

Pakuranga United Rugby Club would like to congratulate Salesi Tuifua on his 2023 contract with Counties Manukau. The...

Pakuranga United Rugby Club would like to congratulate Salesi Tuifua on his 2023 contract with Counties Manukau.

The premier front rower joined the club while still at St Peters, playing premier rugby while in his final year of high school. A member of the Pakuranga Academy, Tuifua was a member of the Blues Under 20s in 2022.

Director of Rugby Grant ‘Boof’ Henson said his resilience and development has been impressive.

“Sale is a special talent. He’s shown a lot of resilience the past two years, so making Auckland Bs in 2022 was a great reward as is picking up this contract.”

“There was overseas interest in Sale, but he wanted to crack the professional pathway in New Zealand – he wasn’t interested in taking the easy route and now he has his foot in the door which we’re really proud of,” said Boof.

While his provincial union development contract sees him move club affiliations to Counties Manukau, Boof said it is important for the club to celebrate success.

“It’s incredibly important for us as a club to be able to provide pathways for our players, regardless of where those pathways lead. While it would be great to have Sale still playing here at the Ranga, this is an awesome step for him in his rugby journey and one we support and back fully,” said Boof.

Damn, he played prems club rugby while at high school.