NPC 2025

[Chris]

@Landers92 said in NPC 2025:

@Chris said in NPC 2025:

Confirmed Louie Chapman signed for Canterbury and Riley Williams playing club rugby in ChCh this weekend.

The next domino to fall is Drummond to Ta$man. Source was on the money with Louie heading to the red and blacks

Yep you called it a while ago

[taniwharugby]

@Chris said in NPC 2025:

Tony Bell

Is Toby signed, or is that a typo?

[Chris]

@taniwharugby said in NPC 2025:

@Chris said in NPC 2025:

Tony Bell

Is Toby signed, or is that a typo?

Typo yes Toby has signed

[jamsb]

james lentjes assistant coach for canterbury????

[Bovidae]

[SouthernMann]

Six midfield backs in there. Hope to see Mika Muliaina get some game time

[Bovidae]

I won't bother starting a separate thread but with NPC squads starting to be named I thought I'd list my thoughts on a possible Waikato squad. I am basing this off who was involved last year, and other reports/comments about who has been signed for 2025.

Props
Ollie Norris
Mason Tupaea
Will Martin
George Dyer
Sefo Kautai
Gab Robinson

Another LH prop will be needed so either Filipo goes for an experienced player or selects another younger LH. The obvious choices for the latter would be either Breyton Legge or Liam Pratt.

Hookers
Samisoni Taukei’aho
Manaaki Boyle-Tiatia
Sean Ralph
Pita Anae-Ah Sue
Hakaraia Richards-Coxhead

I'd move on from Anae-Ah Sue but he could be back from MLR. The next option would be Richards-Coxhead, who has played well in the couple of club games I've seen him play.

Locks
Laghlan McWhannell
Josh Balme
James Tucker
Andrew Smith
Dylan Eti/Tama Hodgson

Tucker played one game for Marist but hasn't been in their team since. I hope it's not another injury. Hamilton Burr may also be back but he hasn't played yet after his ACL injury last year. He seems to be involved in the Chiefs U18/U20 coaching.

Loose forwards
Luke Jacobson
Samipeni Finau
Mitch Jacobson
Jahrome Brown
Senita Lauaki
Oli Mathis
Patrick McCurran
Tom Martin
Xavier Saifoloi
Malachi Wrampling-Alec
Adrein Collins-Wharawhara

Plenty of depth here, but I've no idea where McCurran currently is if he is playing.

Halfbacks
Cortez Ratima
Xavier Roe
Quintony Ngatai
Rui Farrant

1st 5s
Damian McKenzie
Taha Kemara
Tepaea Cook-Savage
Aaron Cruden

Midfield
Quinn Tupaea
Anton Lienert-Brown
D’Angelo Leuila
Gideon Wrampling
Bailyn Sullivan
Austin Anderson

Outside backs
Daniel Sinkinson
Liam Coombes-Fabling
Aki Tuivailala
Waisake Salabiau
Jole Naufahu (could be injured as not currently playing club rugby)
Josh Moorby

[Mr Fish]

Did someone mention a few weeks ago that Mitch Jacobson had retired or am I imagining that?

[Bovidae]

I said I was told Ayden Johnstone had retired. Mitch is playing for Hautapu.

[Duluth]

@Mr-Fish

@taniwharugby said in Final - Crusaders v Chiefs:

LJs brother had to retire from rugby due to head knocks, youdnthknk he'd be much more.self aware

[Mr Fish]

@Duluth said in NPC 2025:

@Mr-Fish

@taniwharugby said in Final - Crusaders v Chiefs:

LJs brother had to retire from rugby due to head knocks, youdnthknk he'd be much more.self aware

Ah it was Kane Jacobson being referenced.

Basically, don't be brother of an All Black and called Kane...

[Bovidae]

[Canes4life]

Not sure if it’s been mentioned anywhere but Miracle Failagi has joined the Shields Snorters for the NPC.

[Bovidae]

@Canes4life said in NPC 2025:

Not sure if it’s been mentioned anywhere but Miracle Failagi has joined the Shields Snorters for the NPC.

A 2 year deal.

[Landers92]

Canterbury have announced that Andrew Knewstubb is signed for this season

[Daffy Jaffy]

Could it be that young HB Lock Tom Allen is training with Auckland for this season? He was tagged by someone in this post on Auckland's IG -
Could this be him?

[Canes4life]

@Daffy-Jaffy said in NPC 2025:

Could it be that young HB Lock Tom Allen is training with Auckland for this season? He was tagged by someone in this post on Auckland's IG -
Could this be him?

That could be his twin brother.

[MacDazzler]

Reuben is with Manawatu this year I believe unless something has changed recently. He played a game for Freyberg a few weeks ago in the Manawatu club comp.

[Steven Harris]

Auckland have signed NZ Under 20 lock Tom Allen from Hawkes Bay
Possibly a trade situation with Zarn Sullivan heading back to the bay
Ponsonby lock Junior Ahokovi i believe is also signed
Varsity lock Tyson Lowry has been signed by Auckland on a PUD contract very much about size although there are question marks about his physicality

NZ U20 lock Josh Tengbald has also signed with Auckland but for the 2027 season , will be linking up with the Highlanders for 2026

Adrian Choat also still part of the Auckland squad
Visa issue i am hearing ( something to do with a scrape with the law a couple of years ago )

[Landers92]

And there goes the domino I was speaking of