NPC 2025

[Steven Harris]

Former NZ U20 halfback Riley Williams has signed with Canterbury for the 2025 NPC season..

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Steven-Harris This irritates me so much. Three seasons in a row we bring in middling players from elsewhere (Thomas, Howling and now Arscott), while we lose young local talent. That's how we lost Sititi. I was hoping because Bates has worked a lot with younger players he would be keener to promote them.
Who will be the squad halfbacks with Funaki and Arscott? Is the young Aussie that trained with the Blues Luke Aiken playing in Auckland? Also I think thie years Blues u20 halfback Joel Russel is around Auckland. Maybe they rate them all ahead of Williams.
Also we still have not heard who Bates' assistants will be?

[Steven Harris]

@Daffy-Jaffy the new Auckland assistant coach is Pom Simona who is currently an assistant coach to New England head coach Ryan Martin in the MLR, Simona interviewed for an assistant role in Northland but was then lured back to Auckland
Simona played for Ponsonby back in the late 90s early 2000’s
100% on your other coms letting young talent go and bringing outsiders in
Pom orginally was at the Melbourne Rising and the Melbourne Rebels

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Steven-Harris Pom was a legend and a fantastic player for Ponies. I hope his coaching is as good. I guess as forwards or defense coach. So backs/attack coach still to come?

[Steven Harris]

@Daffy-Jaffy have’nt heard anything as yet but will hit my contact when we catch up

[Bovidae]

@Daffy-Jaffy Sam Howling is from Auckland, so a local.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Bovidae Yes true ( I knew his dad from when he played for Ponies as a kid back in the eighties) but they brought Sam back from Welly where he was playing the year before.

[Bovidae]

Some info about the Manawatū squad. They have gained and lost some players from last year.

The Post

[Steven Harris]

@Bovidae I wonder what’s happened to Tyler Laubscher ?
Man I rate this kid but seems to have more injuries than one can imagine

[Bovidae]

@Steven-Harris You probably answered your own question (re: injuries). Manawatū Rugby have club team lists on their FB page so maybe Laubscher is back playing.

[Mr Fish]

Think Lima Sopoaga is finished in Japan so could pick up an NPC contract (and wouldn't be a bad SR squaddie).

[Tim]

This might be an interesting read:

The Post

[Tim]

@Mr-Fish He posted on Twitter tonight that he is living in Hamilton.

[Mr Fish]

@Tim From Tokyo to Hamilton - it's definitely a change.

I'm sure he'd be an asset for Waikato, especially if Cruden isn't returning.

[Bovidae]

Sopoaga looked to be carrying some extra weight when he was a surprise addition to the Suburbs Presidents team last year. I'm sure Cruden said he intends to play again this year.

[Bovidae]

@Tim said in NPC 2025:

This might be an interesting read:

This was definitely interesting:

Yet, despite fears from some provincial unions about its direction, the Star-Times understands the report endorsed the NPC as the best player development option for NZ Rugby in its current structure, supporting arguments that have been made by NPC champions such as Taranaki coach Neil Barnes.

[Yeetyaah]

@Bovidae said in NPC 2025:

I'm sure Cruden said he intends to play again this year

Mate of mine spoke to him after the Chiefs game a few weeks back. He hinted he was still gonna be playing.

[Bovidae]

I see that the first Ranfurly Shield challenge is this Wed. Some SR players are straight into action. Free entry for the locals to celebrate the fully reopened Stadium Taranaki.

🚨 Ranfurly Shield Team Update
Unfortunately Obey Samate has been ruled out with injury. Jack Parker steps into the 23 jersey and will be in line to make his Yarrows Taranaki Bulls debut.

[ARHS]

Fiti Sa playing again

[Bovidae]

@ARHS said in NPC 2025:

Fiti Sa playing again

He looks to have been back in training with the Chiefs for a few weeks, but I think this will be Sa's first game of the year.