NPC - news, injuries etc
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@Stargazer When did Taufua grow 7cm since arriving in rugby? There's no way he's the same height as Messam. Ardie must be 6 ft 7 by now.
Squire has been good as an impact player and who is Franklin?
I actually want to see him convert to 7, I think he'll go well there and increase his AB chances.
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Otago's Lee Allan is all done and dusted at age 25, due to concussion issues.
Allan makes call to give game away
Otago loose forward Lee Allan has hung up his boots, deciding to give the game away due to concussion. Allan, who played 35 games for Otago...
Otago loose forward Lee Allan has hung up his boots, deciding to give the game away due to concussion.
Allan, who played 35 games for Otago from 2012 to 2016, and two games for the Highlanders in 2014, said in the end it was not a hard decision to stop playing.
"There was just one head knock too many. It was probably getting to the stage where it was getting a bit dangerous. You’ve got to start thinking about the future," the 25-year-old said.
"I really love the game and all that. And luckily I can stay involved with the job I have here with the union although I won’t be playing."
Allan works for the Otago Rugby Football Union as a coaching development officer and it is something he was passionate about.
He picked up two head knocks in 2014 and, at the start of the 2015 season, he suffered a bad concussion in a pre-season match against the Crusaders in Timaru. That forced him out of rugby for all of that year.
He made a return last year for Otago, having started playing club rugby for Crescent in South Otago, while working on a farm in South Otago.
He then moved to Dunedin and played for Kaikorai in the later stages of the club season, being instrumental in helping the club win the banner.
Allan, who hails from Kaitangata, was then selected in the Otago Mitre 10 Cup squad but again picked up two concussionsHe suffered a concussion against Manawatu in the final round of the Mitre 10 Cup and did not play in either of the playoff games.
"It was a bit of a no-brainer to be honest. I still want to have a future and want to be able to enjoy myself. I’ve got a partner to consider and a future with her.
"It was just about how easy I was picking them [concussions] up. I never had any bad symptoms from them but they were still coming."
Allan said he would miss the playing of the game.
"I’ve had a few highlights. The biggest one is just the camaraderie, just being around the boys, helping out, being part of a team. Winning the Ranfurly Shield was a big buzz as was making my debut for Otago in Balclutha.
"And winning a Super rugby title. Even though I didn’t get to play I was part of the squad."
He would not be helping coach any side at this stage as he wanted to dedicate himself to his job with the union in which he helped sides and coaches develop their skills.
Allan and long-term partner Alyce Carson are engaged and are due to be married this time next year.
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@Nepia said in 2016 Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
@Stargazer When did Taufua grow 7cm since arriving in rugby? There's no way he's the same height as Messam. Ardie must be 6 ft 7 by now.
Squire has been good as an impact player and who is Franklin?
I actually want to see him convert to 7, I think he'll go well there and increase his AB chances.
You can edit his height on PS4.
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@Dice said in 2016 Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
@Nepia said in 2016 Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
@Stargazer When did Taufua grow 7cm since arriving in rugby? There's no way he's the same height as Messam. Ardie must be 6 ft 7 by now.
Squire has been good as an impact player and who is Franklin?
I actually want to see him convert to 7, I think he'll go well there and increase his AB chances.
You can edit his height on PS4.
Like I'd ever play with a team (Counties, Ta$man, Crusaders) that includes Taufua on it!
I might check him out as my back 7 for the next ABs I select though.
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Not a big surprise: Otago have signed that new, talented AB7s playmaker Vilimoni Koroi.
Also: Tom Donnelly will hang up his boots at the end of the French Top 14 season and has been appointed the new Otago assistant coach for 2017.
Donnelly appointed as assistant coach of Otago
Former All Black and Highlanders lock Tom Donnelly is the new assistant coach of the Otago Mitre 10 Cup side. Donnelly (35) has been appointed for...
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@Stargazer said in 2016 Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
Not a big surprise: Otago have signed that new, talented AB7s playmaker Vilimoni Koroi.
That's a very good signing if it has Highlander backing as well.
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@mikedogz said in 2016 Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
Richard Judd one of the reserve halfbacks for Counties has signed with BOP.
Good player, even if he is a Swamp Fox.
I guess he simply wants more playing time. Being behind Pulu and now Taumateine (who has also leapfrogged him at the Chiefs) was probably a big part of the move.
Even once Augie gets his AB jersey back*, Judd will still be second string at CM.*just to give Nepia a hernia
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@Crucial said in 2016 Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
@mikedogz said in 2016 Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
Richard Judd one of the reserve halfbacks for Counties has signed with BOP.
Good player, even if he is a Swamp Fox.
I guess he simply wants more playing time. Being behind Pulu and now Taumateine (who has also leapfrogged him at the Chiefs) was probably a big part of the move.
Even once Augie gets his AB jersey back*, Judd will still be second string at CM.*just to give Nepia a hernia
Damn, I wish he was still with the Chiefs now. I like Augustine, but it's always fun to have a player from Counties to play the hungus game with.
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Ta$man Mako$ snap up former Canterbury schoolboy star Will Jordan
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The 2017 Mitre10 Cup draw has been released. Otago gets the first Ranfurly Shield Challenge of the season (not including the Heartland teams).
http://files.allblacks.com/competitions/draws/2017_Mitre10Cup_Draw.pdf
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If they can shift the June Test window to July - as reports seem to indicate is getting to be a greater possibility - which will allow Super Rugby to finish end June instead of end July as now, you will be able to expand the Mitre 10 Cup to a full 13-round robin comp (as we had 2009-2010) by starting earlier and scrap the premiership and championship divisions.
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@Number-10 Hmm, I'd rather use the extra time to rest the Super Rugby players and then give them a proper preseason with their provincial team. I don't like how SR players only join the team preps for NPC in the week before the Mitre10 Cup kicks off. That's way too late.
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while I like the crossover games, if they only had 3 instead of 4, you wouldn't need that 3 games in 8 days every team gets.
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Leo Crowley is the Ta$man Mako$' new assistant rugby coach.
He will be joined by former All Blacks prop Greg Somerville as Ta$man's new set piece assistant coach and ex-Northland strength and conditioning coach James Holden. -
Chris Eves returns to Harbour.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11825544
