@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.

@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.

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??

@Stargazer Interesting, looks like a few clubs have strengthened up a bit, should be plenty of depth for the magpies this year.I cant see Josh Kaifas name anywhere he must have left.

@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.

@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.

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

@Stargazer Looks like a few new fringe players fighting for magpies spots.Te Rangi Fraser ex Bop,Levi Harmon ex Wellington and Joe Apikotoa was named as well.

Anybody go out to todays trial against Auckland contenders?A 35 7 win good result for the magpies wider training squad.

I see ex Samoan sevens and 15s rep,Alatasi Tupou is playing sevens for MAC at the moment. Im not sure if hes moved to the bay or just playing sevens,anybody heard any gains and losses from the club teams???

Terrible terrible game of rugby.I think Hawkes Bay needs to invest in a couple of speedy outside backs,too forward oriented, imo.

@Higgins said in 2019 Hawke's Bay Representative Rugby:

There are a few names that are unknown to me. In the starting lineup numbers 4, 7, 9, 14 & 15 fall into this boat. Anyone willing to help others also struggling to identify these guys become more familiar weith them would be appreciated.

Watson and Quickfall,were club players from North Harbour who joined MAC,but then defected to Tech or Pirates, cant remember which one,halfway through the season .