NPC 2023
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As it costs a lot to open the doors at the major stadiums the PUs need to maximise the games played there. Playing the FPC game, or a Dev/U19 game as a NPC curtain-raiser makes perfect sense. You get extra people through the gate who might have to make a choice on what game to attend.
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What’s been the bigger upset ..
Northland v Ta$man or Manawatu v Auckland..?
Me thinks Manawatu v Auckland when you consider the salary cap alone .
Not to mention the bunch of no names .. -
well, i guess in the revamped NPC it is now Auckland out, Manawatu in.
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@mariner4life said in NPC 2023:
well, i guess in the revamped NPC it is now Auckland out, Manawatu in.
Top 8 teams, the rest can be in the tard division
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as long as it's on win % then i can get behind that.
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i cant argue with a "merit" based...i just ask we keep the ability to go up if a team does just click or have a generation of young stars come through school
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love it, we only had one very specific way to end up with it that needed Ta$man to win
Southland and Counties have a say
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I like the way Counties are trying to stay local.
Opinion: Why the Steelers plan is working - Counties Sports Hub
With the Counties Manukau Steelers falling to their fourth loss in five games and sitting 12th on the NPC ladder, one could question whether the Union is heading in the right direction but now is the time to have faith in the strategy. Reon Graham took over as Steelers coach in 2022 promising to...
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The NPC is certainly shaping up nicely. Obviously Wellington are going to be tough to beat, but Auckland, Canterbury and Ta$man have all shown enough to say they are going to challenge. To a lesser extent, I think the Naki, BOP and Hawke's Bay will cause issues, and I'd expect one of them at least to secure an upset in the first week of the finals.
The race for eighth is on, and in fairness Taranaki could be dragged into it if they lose to Otago tomorrow, but I think the Top 7 is the Top 7. If Otago win that, could well be a fruity battle for spots 7-10 between Otago, Harbour, Naki and Counties... with Otago playing Counties in one of the final games of the Round Robin, we could get an effective Round of 16 game.
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What a c#ck up by Sky Stadium, cited in the following article: https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2023/09/18/sideline-conversions-18-september-some-rugby-news-and-information-to-start-the-week/
If the Wellington Lions host the NPC final, Sky Stadium could be out of action for them owing to the Black Ferns playing there that weekend. It looks like the Hutt Rec could be out of action as the turf in front of the grandstand has been removed, so the final could be played at Porirua Park.
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@Canes4life said in NPC 2023:
What a c#ck up by Sky Stadium, cited in the following article: https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2023/09/18/sideline-conversions-18-september-some-rugby-news-and-information-to-start-the-week/
If the Wellington Lions host the NPC final, Sky Stadium could be out of action for them owing to the Black Ferns playing there that weekend. It looks like the Hutt Rec could be out of action as the turf in front of the grandstand has been removed, so the final could be played at Porirua Park.
Tbf, the Black Ferns have to play somewhere...
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@Canes4life I like Jerry Collins Stadium more than Sky Stadium for the NPC. Just a pity it's in Porirua.
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@Stargazer I’d prefer Hutt Rec tbh, especially if they can erect a couple stands like they did a few years back.
