@Toddy Taumololo was with the bay for years and a stalwart of the Clive club.I have no issue with him coming back, let the local lad prove himself like Sona has and he will get his chance. You dont just hand out jerseys to players because they are locals.

A wins a win I suppose ,a good forward effort.I don't think Southland's much good though and we will need to get the backs more involved if we are to compete against better teams.

@Stargazer Sapsford played yesterday, so he may be still in the mix.

@steven-harris said in Hawke's Bay rugby 2018:

Caught up with Mark Ozick and Josh Syms at Waitemata Park in Auckland yesterday,they were watching the Waka Nathan challenge cup which is to anyone outside of Auckland a preseason rally day were all the Auckland Club teams are on show,
A couple of players they were looking at were Siosiua (Josh) Kaifa a very rugged open side flanker who has appeared on a handful of times for Auckland and Sebastian Visinia younger brother of Lolagi Visinia,Sebastian is a very tall rangy midfielder.
Talking to both coaches they are looking for more gainline physicality which was a real issue for them in 2017.
Sam Ulufonua the Lock from ponsonby in Auckland has been signed but only on a PD contract,I stand to be corrected but it’s something similar to player development contract for younger players.
Gone from 2017 are both Vaega brothers and Hugh Renton ironically the younger of the Vaega brothers was running around for Gramnar Tech and I believe Cardiff is running around for Karaka in the Counties Manukau region.

Both coaches seem to have a very good senergy with each other.
Auckland can never seem to select the right talent but man alive there is some talented rugby players running around at many of there clubs, I guess it’s all about having the ability to select that talent.
Even Southland have signed the 3 Costa brothers from Eden Rugby in Auckland,

Kaifa while he looked a bit off the pace fitness wise,had very good size,is very physical,good over the ball and very accurate on the tackle will be a very good acquisition to the Bay.

Thanks for the updates.

@Stargazer said in Magpies 2020:

@Jonty-lean

McLeod just finished his studies at Otago Uni (Bcom). Last year, he was named in the NZ Universities team for a tournament in Japan, but had to pull out because he was called up by Otago as injury replacement. He was named Otago Development Back of the Year 2019. He was on the bench for Otago when they played us in the semi-final.

He was also on the bench for the Hurricanes Hunters when they beat the Crusaders dev team about a month ago.

Found his work profile from his current employer. I assume he'll be playing his club rugby for Havelock North.

Looks like hes playing for hastings, hes listed as being out injured for the spillane cup in one of the hbt articles.

@stargazer Somebody wrote on Instagram it was Will Tremain with the serious injury.

Hawkes Bay Magpies Instagram page saying player announcements will be made in the next few weeks. The first one is a returning former magpie any idea who??? Sona or Renton perhaps??

@Nepia Yeah hes signed a 2 year deal.Theres an article in Hawkes bay today which also mentions Pasquale Dunn has gone back to Auckland and obviously Falcon is unavailable with injury. Ben Smith a north harbour sevens rep and Antonio Mikaele Tu,u are both playing club rugby in the bay and trying to get a magpies spot.

@Stargazer Yeah locks are in short supply at the moment unless someone came back from during covid maybe. A lot probably depends on how long the management have known that Falcon and Allerdice wouldn't be there this season. If they have known for a while then we may have players lined up but if they just found out recently we could struggle to find decent replacements at short notice.

@Number-10 said in 2019 club rugby:

Yep, no sign of Karl Lowe. He was helping out the Hastings BHS first XV last year. Maybe he's doing the same again this year?

No sign of Kianu Kereru-Symes for Tamatea, either.

That Clive team list of 22 contains only five players that played in last year's Maddison Trophy final - Rana Huata, Lucas Goodin, Bronson Hokianga, Eti Collins, Jesse Tuhua.

According to the paper Kereru-Symes played for MAC yesterday and Tim Farrell made his first appearance for 18 months.

@Stargazer Herman put up a post farewelling him at the airport.

Looks like Latrell Smiler AhKiong is off to Waikato

@Nepia Awful game just nothing went right, have to bounce back next week.

@Stargazer Surely this is last chance for McNicol if he doesn't last most of this season they have to cut him loose.

@Stargazer said in Magpies 2020:

The Magpies 2020 Mitre 10 Cup squad is:

Joe Apikotoa, Kurt Baker, Geoff Cridge, Jacob Devery, Ash Dixon (captain), Mason Emerson, Bryn Evans, Gareth Evans, Folau Fakatava, Devan Flanders, Neria Fomai, Solomone Funaki, Joel Hintz, Stracey Ili, Josh Kaifa, Kianu Kereru-Symes, Jason Long, Jonah Lowe, Caleb Makene, Iakopo Mapu, Elijah Martin, Lincoln McClutchie, Connor McLeod, Sam McNicol, Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, Brendon O'Connor, Tom Parsons, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Ollie Sapsford, Sona Taumalolo, Danny Toala, Will Tremain, Anzelo Tuitavuki, Lolagi Visinia, Sebastian Visinia, Namatahi Waa, Isaia Walker-Leawere and Brad Weber.

https://cdn.hbapp.co.nz/news/plenty-of-depth-in-magpies-mitre-10-cup-rugby-squad

A fairly predictable squad in the end,not so sure I like the cocky attitude of the reporter,I hope the players aren't thinking they are sure things to win it.Whats everyones predicted best 23???

@Stargazer said in Magpies 2020:

Confirmed: Elijah Martin.

Didn't get game time, last year (he didn't have a full contract), but with Allardice gone, he will probably play, this year. Obviously, depending on who they're going to replace Allardice with.

Edited to add that - according to an article from last year in the HBT - he's not very tall for a lock: 1.92m.

If hes the replacement for Allardice,its pretty underwhelming to be honest, in the Funaki and Wa'a category for mine.I hope we don't need to use him much.

@Stargazer Yeah locks are in short supply at the moment unless someone came back from during covid maybe. A lot probably depends on how long the management have known that Falcon and Allerdice wouldn't be there this season. If they have known for a while then we may have players lined up but if they just found out recently we could struggle to find decent replacements at short notice.

@Stargazer First five and lock depth are a worry.
Not sure they have locals that can cover it,perhaps they will give locals a chance in the 2 trial games but may have to recruit from outside if nobody suitable steps up.I have a feeling they may run with Illi as backup five eight.

@Higgins Its weird they didn't change the name like the hastings clubs did when they merged.Why wouldn't they call it Napier rugby and sports club or something similar???

@Stargazer We might get a better guide tomorrow in the Taradale Marist game of how Wa'as going.