NPC - news, injuries etc

Stargazer

This was posted on Twitter by the Rugby Round Up. @Tim, I understand from one of your previous posts that the Auckland number is wrong. Should be one less Blues player as their total is given as 39?

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Bovidae

Who is the Waikato player at the Canes? Are they counting Toby Smith, who hasn't played for Waikato since moving to Aust? So the number should be 7 and all at the Chiefs.

That table shows why Canterbury is so strong because even without their ABs the majority of their team still has Super rugby experience. At the other end is Southland with Waikato next.

Stargazer

@bovidae Just looked at the Canes squad again, and I think it can only be Toby Smith. Maybe he has signed with Waikato? After all, with Uhila gone, they need a replacement, too?

Bovidae

@stargazer

They have a young LH (Ayden Johnstone) who I'd prefer they develop. But he could be coming home.

For the purpose of that table, we'll claim Henry Speight too!

Stargazer

Just remembered that the Blues have already signed Kirckpatrick as a replacement for Black, so their total of 39 should be correct. But he's from Wellington, so not sure who Auckland's 15th player at the Blues is.

Edit: I think there are mistakes in that chart. I think there are 5 Northland players in the Blues squad, 8 N Harbour players, and indeed only 14 Aucklanders.

Duluth

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

Just remembered that the Blues have already signed Kirckpatrick as a replacement for Black, so their total of 39 should be correct. But he's from Wellington, so not sure who Auckland's 15th player at the Blues is.

There seems to be a screw up in the Auckland numbers. Auckland has 18 SR players and 14 at the Blues according to the Auckland website (that count includes Ruru)

ARHS

I did a quick count that might miss loan players or recent transfers like Ruru (?) :
NL 10, NH 12, Akl 17, CM 12, Wk 7, BOP 8, Tar 17, HB 12, Man 8, Wel 23, Tas 19, Can 27, Ot 14, Sth 4 O/S 1

That makes 39 from Blues area, Chiefs 44, Hurricanes 43, Crusaders 46, Highlanders 18. So average per union is Blues 13, Chiefs 11, Hurricanes 14, Crusaders 23 and Highlanders 9. Makes sense for job security to be in Crusaders area and definitely not in Chiefs with 13 players from outside the franchise, despite 4 unions to choose from.

Stargazer

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

This was posted on Twitter by the Rugby Round Up. @Tim, I understand from one of your previous posts that the Auckland number is wrong. Should be one less Blues player as their total is given as 39?

Okay, I admit it, I'm a nerd. I have checked this chart.

Errors:

Northland have 5 players in the Blues and a total of 10 players in Super Rugby.
North Harbour have 8 players in the Blues and a total of 12 players in Super Rugby.
Auckland have 14 players in the Blues and a total of 18 players in Super Rugby (Ruru and Kirkpatrick included)
Waikato only have 6 players in the Chiefs, because Liam Messam is not playing NPC. But Toby Smith is correctly included in the Waikato squad (source: Hurricanes media release). Total players in Super Rugby: 7
Taranaki have 3 players in the Crusaders and a total of 17 in Super Rugby players
Canterbury has 19 players in the Crusaders (not 20) and a total of 27 in Super Rugby (I think the maker of the chart may have missed that Scott Barrett is now contracted to Taranaki).
Otago has only 1 player in the Blues and has a total of 13 players in Super Rugby (I think Ruru has been included twice).

All other numbers are correct, including the 39 players in the Blues squad, and the 38 in all other squads.

Bones

@stargazer Is Sopoaga no longer a Wellington player?

Stargazer

@bones He hasn't been for a few years. He's contracted to Southland.

Bones

@stargazer Oh duh, cheers.

SouthernMann

The ODT reckons Otago is losing a couple of its stars Otago halfback Jono Ruru has played his last game for Otago, and has signed with the Auckland union.
The energetic halfback may be followed out the door by promising flanker Dillon Hunt, who is thought to be heading to North Harbour.

Ruru, who is in Canada with the New Zealand Maori side, has signed a two-year deal with the Auckland union.

This follows his signing by the Blues franchise last month.

His agent, Henry Bates, said once the Blues came knocking with a pretty good opportunity, Auckland then also presented a proposal shortly afterwards.

He said the offer from Auckland was too hard to turn down and Ruru had decided to head north.

As a draft player, it was wiser for Ruru to sign with Auckland as it would make it easier for the Blues to sign him and other franchises could not get their hands on him next year.

Ruru (24) had no ties to Dunedin and had family and his partner in Auckland.

Otago Rugby Football Union general manager Richard Kinley said although no union wanted to lose players it was understandable Ruru wanted to move on for another opportunity.

Ruru had come south in the middle of the club season last year from Hawkes Bay when injuries had opened up a vacancy in the No9 jersey for Otago.

He had played just one game for Hawkes Bay and was the fourth-choice player in the position for the Magpies.

But he had impressed for Otago and his combative style and good running game had found a home at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Otago has signed halfback Josh Renton for next year.

Hunt is believed to be heading back to North Harbour and his departure will be a big blow to the union.

Hunt (22) has had a rapid rise this year and was picked to play against the All Blacks for the Barbarians at Twickenham. He had an outstanding rookie year for the Highlanders this season, called in as injury cover as other flankers went down.

Strangely, Hunt has been selected in a back reserve’s jersey for tomorrow’s game and is bound to get some game time.

Kinley said the union was still talking to Hunt and working through the process.Hunt’s partner is believed to be working in Auckland and Hunt has just about completed his surveying degree.

He has played just 13 games for Otago since making his debut last year and went to school on the North Shore at Westlake Boys’ High School.

Meanwhile, loosehead prop Craig Millar is exploring options in Japan although there is a chance he could come back and play for Otago.

The loosehead prop missed out on a Highlanders contract this week and there is a possibility he could end up playing for the Sunwolves.

Bates said that might be tied in with also getting a deal with a Japanese club.

Millar (27) played just two games for the Highlanders this year but impressed for Otago this season.

With the Highlanders aggressively pursuing tighthead props Tyrel Lomax and Kalolo Tuiloma, the squeeze went on the loosehead props.

Loosehead prop Aki Seiuli has signed for the Otago union for the next two years.

Nepia

Ruru had come south in the middle of the club season last year from Hawkes Bay when injuries had opened up a vacancy in the No9 jersey for Otago.

He had played just one game for Hawkes Bay and was the fourth-choice player in the position for the Magpies.

Philpott and Bishop: "It's ok, we have Chris Eaton, how about you and your brother go and have Super careers playing for other provinces and clubs."

Bovidae

I'm looking forward to the parade in Napier when Eaton leaves.

Steven Harris

@southernmann Great intel,Ruru will be a great acquisition to Auckland with the emergence of Nico Costa who should have been the starting halfback for Auckland from the beginning of the season,should be a good battle for the number 1 position.

In regards to Dillion Hunt,it makes perfect sense that he returns to Harbour given he is from the region and will be joining a team on the rise.

Also wondering if Auckland had signed Isaac Salmon from Ta$man given he has signed with the Blues and the fact the Blue & whites are very weak at tight head.

Don't really now much about Salmon,but you have got to say,it's probably the most out of left field selection of all the squads.