Auckland Rugby 2020
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Some interesting young names there in addition to the more known young names of Sullivan, Funaki and Vikena.
Felix Kalapu - 2019 Blues U20 lock
Joel Cobb - 2018 MAGs winger. RedBull Ignite 7s
Leweni Mocevakaca - 2019 Auckland U19 winger
Manu Paea - 2020 Blues U20 halfback
Terrell Peita - 2020 Blues U20 No.8
Vaiolini Ekuasi - 2020 Blues A loosie
Fatongia Paea - former Auckland U19 prop -
Probable team is shaping up:
1 Hodgman
2 Sosene
3 Ta'avao
4 Whetton
5 Scrafton
6 Gibson
7 Choat
8 Riedlinger-Kapa
9 Ruru
10 Plummer
11 Rayasi
12 Faiane
13 Tele'a
14 AJ Lam
15 Trainor16 Apisai
17 Adams
18 Renata
19 Hallam-Eames/Dalzell
20 Lot of rookies here
21 Tuistala
22 Sullivan but will they go with Hickey?
23 ManuLoose forwards lack a big ball carrier.
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@KiwiMurph said in Auckland Rugby 2020:
Joel Cobb - 2020 MAGs winger. RedBull Ignite 7s
I think Cobb has played for Ponsonby the last two seasons. NZ U20 trialist this year, IIRC.
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@Tim Re: lacking a big ball carrying looseforward. He is only 19 y/o but check out Vaiolini Ekuasi below. Terrell Peita is also a very good ball carrying 8 but also very young -
Also if its the same Sione Tuipulotu he is also a number 8 who played for Manawatu last year or he could be the former Melbourne rebels centre by the same name.
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Fatongia Paea is quite small for a Loosehead prop but crazy mobile. His best future may be at hooker -
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There must be a new jersey sponsor/supplier this year. Paladin replacing Canterbury. Looks like the hoops have gone again.
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@Daffy-Jaffy is it really so hard to jus have blue and white hoops?
I'm a traditionalist for rugby jerseys. You build recognition and consitency, and see them everywhere. That jersey looks like the Waratahs FFS.
hat tip to the iconic Waikato jersey that seemed to show up at Twickers, teh tour de France, etc...
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Looking for video to have a look at Liam Hallam-Eames, all I found was him knocking out James Tucker in 2018.
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@KiwiMurph I doubt they will use Lemalu unless injurys strike badly. There are 7 locks in the squad now, unless Tufaga has been picked as a loose forward. He plays 8 and 6 sometimes for Ponies. Hallam-Eames and Dalzell are promising pickups. Both over 2m tall and 25/24 years old so plenty of rugby left in them if we can keep them. Rare for an Auckland squad to have at least 5 2m tall locks.
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@Bovidae said in Auckland Rugby 2020:
Joe Royal was at Counties last year wasn't he?
He was. He's been playing club rugby for Ponsonby for years though
I assume some of these names are not in the full squad
There's four Hookers for instance:
Sosene
Apisai
Vikena
Royal -
Possible extended squad by position.
Loosehead Prop
Jared Adams
Fatongia Paea
Alex HodgmanTighthead Prop
Marcel Renata (covers both sides)
James Lay (covers both sides)
Marco Fepulea'i
Angus Ta'avao
Ofa Tu'ungafasiHooker
Mike Sosene
Leni Apisai
Joe Royal
Soane VikenaLock
Jack Whetton
Liam Hallam-Eames
Hamish Dalzell
Felix Kalapu
Presley Tufuga
Scott Scrafton
Patrick TuipulotuLoose Forward
Blake Gibson (7/6)
Adrian Choat (7/6)
Niko Jones (7)
Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa (6/8)
Vaiolini Ekuasi (8)
Terrell Peita (8)
Akira Ioane (8/6)
Hoskins Sotutu (8)Halfbacks
Johnathan Ruru
Danny Tuistala
Manu Paea
Taufa FunakiFirst Fives
Harry Plummer (10/12)
Simon Hickey
Zarn Sullivan (10/15)Midfield
TJ Faiane (12/13)
Inga Finau (12)
Tanielu Telea (13/wing)
Sione Tuipulotu (13/wing, photo looks like Melbourne Rebels player)
AJ Lam (13/wing)
Tumua Manu (13/wing)
Rieko Ioane (13/wing)Back Three
Salesi Rayasi (wing/15)
Leweni Mocevakaca (wing)
Joel Cobb (wing)
Jordan Trainor (15)
Caleb Clarke (wing)