Some updated North Harbour news that I had passed on

Cam Christie out for the season broken bone in his thumb
Signed
Tom Savage
Patrick Pellegrini
Julian Savea
Luke Donaldson (half back) possibly ex Canterbury
Murphy Taramai (bit of blast from the past ) will be 33 in August

Others I know of that have been signed
Tristan Cook
Jack Lee
Felix Kalapu
Mahonri Ngakuru
Sione Mafilio
Kade Banks
Sofai Maka
Jed Melvin
Karl Ruzich
Bryn Gordon

No real surprises there. Salakia-Loto might be the most notable omission, he was good last year.

Not sure if this has been mentioned but both Josh Fusitua & Josh Beehre have been added to the All Black training camp .
Got this from a reasonably reliable source

@MiketheSnow said in European Club Rugby:

@MN5 said in European Club Rugby:

@MiketheSnow said in European Club Rugby:

@Bones said in European Club Rugby:

Russell is a genius and a reckless knob head.

Only saw the highlights but is good goal kicking and an intercept enough to justify him being the B&I Lions 10?

Remember you're hardly the most impartial fellow when it comes to discussing Russell 😉

I was the one supporting his decision to pass

Yes, and I just about choked in shock when I saw that

Mick Ennis, who is the national expert on Nathan's groin

Frank Vaenuku and Gibson Popoalii are two others I would be happy to see signed for Chiefs, with ALB on sabbatical

@Catogrande said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:

@MiketheSnow said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:

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Not far off my Test side

I’m happy with that team, especially given the unavailability of some guys but going forward I think the front row will change with maybe only Genge keeping his spot. I’d like to see a little more physicality in the back row and the 9 and 15 will be different.

a lot of hard running but not a huge amount of playmaking in that midfield.

@handa457 said in Highlanders 2026:

@Mr-Fish probably other thing that's interesting is that Saula Ma'au isn't the selection frame either. He made All Blacks XV last year. And aside from 2 - 3 miserable games mid season made a good comeback towards the end of the year.

With George Dyer heading overseas my assumption is he's have been first in line due to injury to be called into the squad. However given he's not in the camp you'd have to assume someone else is.

It’s just a smaller contingent at camp, nothing outrageous in terms on numbers. They will have both Lomax and Tosi there.

@hikastags said in WR U20 Championship 2025:

Pakuranga Rugby Club announced on their facebook page that Randall Baker (injury reserve) will be going on tour.

Wonder who he's going in place of.

Radio silence about the U20s. It could be a big loss if it's one of the locks.

@sparky said in Thirty years ago today......:

Jonah Lomu became Jonah The Great.

Jeez he was starting to look frail by then.

Typically humble, self effacing interview from Jonah. Absolute legend.

Worth noting that if Mike Catt hadn't been in position to help him regain his footing ( and get trampled in the process ) he might have fallen short of the line considering Will Carling did pretty well to actually ankle tap him.

Have never heard Tony Underwood interviewed so have no idea what he's like but it almost upsets me that Jonah did that to a couple of good roosters like Carling and Catt.

Almost.

Hearing some whispers that Moana have reached out to Ben Lam. To my understanding he is off contract at the moment. Would be a decent replacement for Taumoefolau

The kick didn't even seem to hit him flush, so weird to think someone might flop in mma. Like if that's your attitude surely you're fucked before you're even in the cage. Ref must have had enough doubt to make it a no-contest rather than dq. Great call.

@ACT-Crusader said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

It’s only flawed if you don’t have the players to execute it. Crotty, ALB and SBW all had good passing games but more importantly used angles to create opportunities and space.

Jordie and Ioane are quite different and that’s one of the reasons things aren’t humming.

I think we have players currently running around that have been and could be ABs that possess the skill sets to use what ball the forwards provide to create and exploit space in the wider channels.

It would help if we didn't stand so flat as well

Great team win

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@Canes4life heard this was true and he is enroute back to Canes

@NTA said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:

@sparky said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:

@Smudge Was the ICC Chairman man of the match or something?

It's like something the dictator of a small country would post on social media.

He looks like a young, Indian version of John Howard.

He has twice the forehead John Howard has

Very touching how Ardie reached out when he was at his lowest point. The players really had his back, Gilbert Enokas statement too was an incredible endorsement.

@Bovidae said in Māori All Blacks 2025:

Another loose forward to add to the mix is Jacob Norris.

I know he's been in the squad before but given the available loosies and locks, I imagine he'll miss out on this selection.