Ravouvou signed from 7s/Auckland, will provide some x factor to our backline. Joe Johnston & Abe Papalii in the flankers.

Eves, McHugh, Vella, Polwart, Ainley, Wardlaw, White, Papali'i, Ravouvou all likely or definitely out. Matenga, Mua, Robertson, Lalomilo players don't know about but haven't seen in club rugby. Gonna presume/hope all our Super players are returning but I haven't been checking other unions signings.
Props- Geldenhuys, Ross, Mafileo, Thwaites. Jordan Lay is back, Benot Kumeroa Toni Toia others in club I can think of.
Hookers-Eklund Harris, Vella? Nic Souchon signed from Canterbury.
Locks- Carroll, van den Hoven. Club- Mewett, Leaupepe, Morrice all back playing & Maloney-Fiaola probably the other one close.
Flankers- Blake, Johnston, Karpik. Club- Dickson is playing for Rangiuru, Herbert from 20s, Te Whetu Rangi impressive for TGA but they will likely wait another year, Budd finally given an opportunity? Don't know much here.
Halfback- Carter, TTT in. Mcgarvey-Black vs Campbell for a contract maybe?
10- Hollinshead, Trask. Hopefully Black. Biddle played 10 last few weeks?
Centres- Skipwith Garland, Tiatia. Thompson rumours? Don't know much here aswell & may not sign anymore like last year. Club-Bardoul, Tuhakaraina, Filemone.
Wings- Fuatai, Webber, Collier. Club- Ware most likely but Curry and Warbrick also playing from 7s for Mount, Barnett.
Fullback- Forbes, Narawa. Can't see any other signings here, good depth with Tiatia/Trask options.

Thought Groundwater ran good straight lines but Dargaville passing skill was well below par and kept stuffing up their flow of attack with passes behind the man. Too many times the attack was moving sideways and nobody was straightening making it easy for Northland to just drift. Northland's physicality and line speed on defence was pretty impressive, couldn't fault either teams effort just a shitload of inaccuracy. Fair play to Witcombe making the call after 30mins his TH wasn't cutting it and bringing Rinakama on, no scrum pressure after that.

Simmonson could barely start for the BOP 19's last year let alone been ready for M10 Cup. Trained 7's all year, only played about 3 club games so coaches probably still view him as not at the required level yet. Can't see him getting ahead of that back 3 unless they get injured. Garland has been in exceptional form, no injuries this year and will be one to watch. Fuatai has come up from Otago, brought in to replace Monty, similar builds and players. Te Aute at halfback now, in and out of squad when needed as they as they only have 2 in squad. Same with Nicholas in back 3 I'm presuming, not sure whether that's because both chose to go back to their whanau club for 125th year and play Division 1 this year.

Bay Times report

Squad named Tuesday hence they played under Wasps banner today. Team looked good today, B Team against Wellington was competitive, thought Collier played particularly well. Half against Counties & likely top team next week was Ross Harris Thwaites Wardlaw Carroll Blake Karpik Papalii Judd Hollinshead Fuatai Garland Webber Narawa Tiatia. 34-0 win, defence brilliant. Three tries through defensive pressure forcing silly passes on their own goal line for intercepts. Tiatia was exceptional, talk huge could always hear him barking & menacing on attack. Papalii definitely what we needed with his big abrasive style. Everybody played well in second half except Webber, dropped a few balls & looked rusty.

Should be hearing his intentions for next year soon now that their school season has been completed.

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

It's time for Southland to drop to Heartland Rugby

Anyone from Whanganui on here know whether the union is actively challenging NZRU for a promotion relegation game?

On the lock position- Keep an eye out for Kane Leaupepe in the Steamers. Had an impressive first start last week, tall body but has a bit of beef as well which Plumtree is clearly after. Was in Wellington squad in 2016 before moving up to BOP.

@Tim Sheesh yupp, forgot the captain.

PS looking forward to the Volcanix this year. They're star studded with the addition of Williams, Willison, Pouri-Lane, Paul (& her sister), Blyde, Robins-Reti and Brazier. Bit gutted FPC players have been taken out of club rugby now, the last match between Rangataua and Rangiuru was top notch and the final would have been epic.

@Cpt-Kumera Yupp same as Kapeli with Tonga so likely both are back.
Thanks for the Price and Parkinson suggestions @Snollygoster , I haven't watched the Mount at all as their results haven't been great. Any idea on their performances compared to the other possibilities in their position?
With Franklin added, definitely strong crop of locks. Mewett was captain couple of years ago so likely a case of whether he wants the contract or not. Morrice the unlucky one again unless they view Carroll as a 6 this year.

@ploughboy Yeah looking for his older brother Ajay who was in the squad last year.

@Stargazer Te Puke

@Tim Sheesh yupp, forgot the captain.

Eves, McHugh, Vella, Polwart, Ainley, Wardlaw, White, Papali'i, Ravouvou all likely or definitely out. Matenga, Mua, Robertson, Lalomilo players don't know about but haven't seen in club rugby. Gonna presume/hope all our Super players are returning but I haven't been checking other unions signings.
Props- Geldenhuys, Ross, Mafileo, Thwaites. Jordan Lay is back, Benot Kumeroa Toni Toia others in club I can think of.
Hookers-Eklund Harris, Vella? Nic Souchon signed from Canterbury.
Locks- Carroll, van den Hoven. Club- Mewett, Leaupepe, Morrice all back playing & Maloney-Fiaola probably the other one close.
Flankers- Blake, Johnston, Karpik. Club- Dickson is playing for Rangiuru, Herbert from 20s, Te Whetu Rangi impressive for TGA but they will likely wait another year, Budd finally given an opportunity? Don't know much here.
Halfback- Carter, TTT in. Mcgarvey-Black vs Campbell for a contract maybe?
10- Hollinshead, Trask. Hopefully Black. Biddle played 10 last few weeks?
Centres- Skipwith Garland, Tiatia. Thompson rumours? Don't know much here aswell & may not sign anymore like last year. Club-Bardoul, Tuhakaraina, Filemone.
Wings- Fuatai, Webber, Collier. Club- Ware most likely but Curry and Warbrick also playing from 7s for Mount, Barnett.
Fullback- Forbes, Narawa. Can't see any other signings here, good depth with Tiatia/Trask options.

@KiwiPie Ross Harris Thwaites Wardlaw Carroll Blake Karpik Papalii Judd Hollinshead Fuatai Garland Webber Narawa Tiatia started last week when they beat Counties 34-0. Be surprised if they change anything. Ainley didn't play last week so not sure where he is in the pecking order.

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

Cheers. I guess Ainley is too long in the tooth these days. Papali'i is an ex-leaguie? Seems to be a big unit too. Any good?

Didn't play last week so not sure where he stands in the pecking order, probably brought in to provide some experience to a group of inexperienced locks. Wardlaw/Caroll played last year and will get the first opportunity I reckon, Van De Hoven new & White unknown, looks to be out of the Harlequins/NZRU partnership.
Papali'i huuuuuge, big ball carrier which brings a better balance to Steamers loose trio they didn't have last year. Fitness is a work in progress, I'd say he plays 60 then Mua comes on for him.

@mofitzy_ Ross Harris Thwaites Wardlaw Carroll Blake Karpik Papalii Judd Hollinshead Fuatai Garland Webber Narawa Tiatia the starting 15 from last pre-season game & likely for this week based on 34-0 win.

Team looks a lot stronger and more balanced than last year. Must have signed Vella/Eklund thinking Harris was going to be with the AB's, tough slog for the other 3 as they'll try give Harris as much time as possible.
Interested to see how Archie White goes, presuming that is part of the NZ Rugby/Harlequins relationship.