NPC - news, injuries etc
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It's great to see that you can still work your way through the club system and then rep system to become a provincial head coach. Half the role is to oversea community/ rugby so he is a great choice and better than a coach that is a big name but not local.
How many other Provinces have coaches that worked their way up from the local club level?
🔴⚪️⚫️ ANNOUNCEMENT
Long-serving Patumahoe coach Reon Graham has been appointed as the new Director of Rugby at Counties Manukau Rugby and PIC Steelers coach for the next two years. Graham takes over from Tai Lavea, who resigned at the conclusion of this year’s Bunnings Warehouse National Provincial Championship to take up an offer to coach in Japan.
The appointment of Graham comes on the back of a terrific resume – winning three McNamara Cups as a coach and having coached Counties Manukau representative sides at every level possible. He has been a very successful sevens coach and led Counties Manukau to national titles in 2016 and 2017 as well as a runner-up finish in 2018.
Graham’s links to the community game and to Counties Manukau are very strong – he was a title-winning player with the all-conquering Manurewa club through the 1990s and also played for Patumahoe, where he would go on to become the club’s most successful coach in history.
His family has close ties to the Pukekohe club, and he is widely respected across the region – ranking as the McNamara Cup’s best coach in a poll of his fellow coaches earlier this year.
“I am delighted to announce Reon as the next coach of the PIC Steelers and to be our Director of Rugby,” Counties Manukau Rugby chief executive Aaron Lawton said. “Reon has fashioned a superb record in coaching and has really been building all these years for this opportunity. He comes with glowing endorsements from those that have played under him and is someone I have come to admire since taking on my role here at the Union.
“He bleeds red, white and black and is very passionate about rugby across the region. He has some great ideas and I think he will have a profound impact on rugby in Counties Manukau.” Graham was delighted to be the successful applicant in what was a very strong list.
“It is an absolute privilege to get the opportunity – I have been involved in rugby in the region since I started playing junior rugby at four years old,” Graham said. “I played for as long as I could, I watched the Steelers on the bank in their glory years and have been fortunate enough to get involved in coaching within the Union. “I look forward to making a strong connection with our community and to make people proud of the PIC Steelers.”
Graham does not officially start with the Union until March but will begin on a part-time basis immediately. He will resign as coach of Patumahoe to take up this opportunity. His first job will be to confirm a coaching and management structure around him, which will be announced in the coming weeks.
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Confirmed.
New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has confirmed Waikato will host defending Bunnings Warehouse NPC Premiership champions Ta$man Mako at their home ground FMG Stadium Waikato this Saturday 20 November at 7.05PM.
This is following Government’s announcement that parts of the Waikato region will move down to Alert Level 2 from midnight Tuesday (16 November). The Waikato team relocated to Bay of Plenty earlier in the season due to COVID-19 restrictions in the Waikato region and will return to Hamilton ahead of this weekend’s match.Steve Lancaster General Manager of Community Rugby said, “All teams have been impacted this season with varying levels of uncertainty and challenges. The Waikato squad has spent the past six weeks away from home so it is great they’re able to return to their home ground for the Bunnings Warehouse NPC Premiership final.”
The Bunnings Warehouse NPC Premiership final between Waikato and Ta$man will operate under Ministry of Health Alert Level 2 guidelines, with limited bubbles allocated by Waikato Rugby Union.
BUNNINGS NPC FINALS
Championship Final
Taranaki v Otago
Saturday 20 November, 2.05pm
TET Stadium & Events Centre, InglewoodPremiership Final
Waikato v Ta$man
Saturday 20 November, 7.05pm
FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton -
Waikato held their virtual Rugby Awards Evening last night.
Gallagher 2021 Waikato Rugby Awards Evening
Waikato Rugby Union celebrated their end of season awards last night (Friday 10 th December) with a virtual prize...
The main winners were:
Kukri Representative Coach of the Year
Finalists: Ross Filipo, James Semple
Winner: Ross FilipoHendl & Murray Representative Team of the Year
Finalists: Waikato FPC, Waikato NPC
Winner: Waikato FPCRoomMate Cabins Emerging Men’s Player of the Year
Finalists: George Dyer, D’Angelo Leuila, Gideon Wrampling
Winner: D’Angelo LeuilaUniversity of Waikato Emerging Women’s Player of the Year
Finalists: K’Lee Begbie, Claudia Hobbs, Gabby Wainohu
Winner: K’Lee BegbieWaikato Draught Bunnings NPC Player of the Year
Finalists: Samipeni Finau, Mitch Jacobson, James Tucker
Winner: Mitch JacobsonWaitomo Group Farah Palmer Cup Player of the Year
Finalists: Victoria Edmonds, Grace Houpapa-Barrett, Kelsey Teneti
Winner: Kelsey TenetiAaron Hopa Memorial Trophy
Recipient: Rupeni TamaniGallagher Sportsperson of the Year
Finalists: Stacey Fluhler, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Quinn Tupaea
Winner: Stacey Fluhler -
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