NPC - news, injuries etc

[Chris B.]

@chchfanatic Is he a tighthead? Hope so - seems like we have a profusion of looseheads - though I'm pretty doubtful Kane Hames will be playing. I heard he was running the flag in club rugby a couple of weeks ago.

In addition to what Stargazer named, as far as I know we should have have Jed Brown, Levi Aumua, and Jone Macilai (I see he was playing for the Ta$man HP team) contending for the top XV - plus a few other squaddies from last year.

[Chris]

@chchfanatic I was going to put Gilbert in one of the wing spots but left them open as there a few contenders ?

[Stargazer]

Does anyone know whether the kick-off time for the Auckland v Bay of Plenty game on Saturday, 24 August has changed or will change? In the fixture list on the M10 Cup, Auckland Rugby and BOP websites, the k/o time is still 2.35pm, but - according to the Ta$man Mako FB page - the Ta$man v Manawatu game has been brought forward and now starts at 2.35pm as well (was 5.05pm).

So either they've also moved the Auckland v BOP game, or two games will be played at the same time.

I assume the change of time for the Ta$man game is for logistical reasons, because of the travel to Blenheim (they've changed the k/o time for both games in Blenheim). Thinking of that dreadful NZR proposal to Sky to consider not televising all games, they might not broadcast the Ta$man game.

[Duluth]

@Stargazer

Looks like the Auckland game changed

https://www.edenpark.co.nz/upcomingevents/auckland-v-bop/66

[Stargazer]

@Duluth Thanks!

[Stargazer]

Otago beat Thames Valley 41 - 21 in their first "Heartland Ranfurly Shield defence" of the 2019 season.

The next one will be against North Otago in Oamaru on Friday, 26 July.

[Stargazer]

More Manawatu Turbos' signings:

re-signed
hooker Nick Grogan
lock Fraser Stone

first contracts
flanker Rhys Pedersen
wing Adam Boult

signed from outside the province
Counties Manukau loose forward Sione Tuipulotu
Australian prop Paulo Leleisiuao

https://www.turbosrugby.co.nz/news/grogan-stone-confirm-turbos-returns

[Stargazer]

And here's the Ta$man signing of the day:

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:

And here's the Ta$man signing of the day:

They've already got enough props.

[mikedogz]

Ta$man are too strong now they need to revert back to Marlborough and Nelson bays . They have done what the Central Vikings couldn't.

They certainly have done the best out of those teams that came up from the old Second Division.

[chchfanatic]

@Chris 11 Iliesa Ratuva (former Melbourne under 20s )
14 Sam Gilbert
15 Josh Mckay

[Chris]

@chchfanatic yeah wondered if that was the young player who went to the Storm
He had a big rap at school
In Auckland

[Yeetyaah]

Has pre-season started for M10 cup teams yet?

[Stargazer]

@Yeetyaah Read back in this thread. Plenty of games have been played already.

[Stargazer]

Daily Ta$man signing

[Stargazer]

And, of course, Counties posted one, too.

[Stargazer]

Taranaki - preseason games:

[Yeetyaah]

@Stargazer Weird that they'd play a game vs Auckland in Te Awamutu.

[Bovidae]

@Yeetyaah Probably close to halfway between Auckland and New Plymouth. The Blues U18s played the Hurricanes U18s in Taupo on Sunday.

IIRC another non-Waikato preseason game was played in TA last year or the year before.

[Stargazer]

@Yeetyaah Maybe meeting each other approx. halfway to reduce travel?