Hawke's Bay rugby 2018
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@number-10 said in Hawke's Bay rugby 2018:
Mitre 10 crossover matches for 2018:
Hawke's Bay to play:
Home
Counties Manukau
North HarbourAway
Canterbury
Ta$manInteresting to see who picked who.
It was Counties that picked us; Auckland had already picked Southland and surprisingly, Wellington - who was the first to make a choice - didn't go for the weakest team but for neighbour Manawatu.
HBRU picked Harbour, after Southland had picked Counties (which the HBRU couldn't pick anyway). It's interesting how apparently Counties and Harbour are seen as weaker sides than lower ranked Auckland and Wellington (the latter I can understand).
Canterbury picked us, damn it! Why couldn't they pick Southland for a massacre?
HBRU picked Ta$man out of Ta$man and Wellington. I'd probably have done that, too, based on the 2017 season.
These cross-over selections also mean that the Magpies won't play Wellington, Taranaki and Auckland in 2018.
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@number-10 Don't agree, I'm sick of the Cantabs putting 50+ on us like the last few years. I'll be happy to take them on once I'm confident that we actually have a team (including coaches) that can be remotely competitive. The last two years have been so dreadful that I don't have that confidence. Hopefully, a new coach, a few better, new signings and no injury list from here to Tokyo will change that.
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@stargazer What new coach? I am guessing that Mr. Philpott must be a Life Member of the HBRFU given his seemingly unimpeachable hold on the position despite the overwhelming pleas for a change for the last three or four years.
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The most interesting bits from the article below:
The redevelopment of the playing arena at major Hawke's Bay sports stadium McLean Park won't be done before early winter .. Napier City Council chief executive Wayne Jack confirmed yesterday the work, which was initially scheduled to start immediately after the end of the Mitre 10 interprovincial rugby competition last month, will now not start until after the Super Rugby match between the Hurricanes and South African side the Sharks on April 6. .. It could impact on early games in Hawke's Bay's 2018 rugby campaign, but it could be met by avoiding having home games for the Magpies in the opening rounds. Hawke's Bay Rugby Union spokesman Jay Campbell said the New Zealand Rugby Union drawmakers had asked for the Magpies' first two matches to be away games.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=11944836
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I'm confused. The best time for growth and settling in of new plantings you would think would be over the warmer months hence no real reason that I cannot see for it to be delayed. It is not as if Napier does not have an alternative venue for Plunket Shield Cricket anyway, just over the road at Nelson Park (which already has been approved as suitable to conduct first class cricket matches) that the Central Districts Cricket Association could use if needs be.
How hard can it possibly be to "source a supply of sand"? I am also surprised the tender documents for the job did not stipulate the timeframe the work should be carried out hence only those able to meet that should have been considered, assuming they met all other criteria like proven experience and expertise etc.
The drop in pitches availability should not come into it given McLean Park is not really essential in terms of hosting four day first class cricket in the Bay. It's all a mystery to me as to why things have happened like they have. -
@higgins How long has this been going on now? The drainage problem has been an issue for years, hasn't it? I can understand delays due to the grass not growing well due to the weather in Auckland, but moving sand? It makes you wonder whether this redevelopment has been managed properly.
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I hope this new pitch does not behave like we have seen at the ground the Rebels play at which is appalling, and Suncorp in Brisbane which is not much better come scum time.
As a matter of interest here is an interesting piece about those new fangled grounds that are a mixture of artificial and natural grass, think the Dunedin ground is one example in NZ.
What intrigues me is what happens come time to mow the natural grass as the artificial stuff won't regrow! -
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That's where some difficulty might come in as McLean Park is a dual purpose ground with the grass height needed for cricket markedly different to that ideally suited for rugby. It might look a bit strange with the two differing heights during rugby unless the natural grass is a far greater percentage of the two.
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Posted on HBRU Facebook (28/11/2017)
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From today's HBRU newsletter:
New Head Coach has busy off season ahead
*The 2017 rugby season on all levels may have just come to an end but although the Hawke’s Bay Magpies won’t take the field until late July next year, that doesn’t mean it’s quiet at rugby HQ.
There’s a new coach at the helm in Mark Ozich and he’s got a pretty long do to list pre-and post-Christmas.
It reads a bit like this…
Finish all player reviews
Re-sign existing players
Appoint a new forward coach
Identify potential player recruitment options
When Mark was appointed as assistant coach earlier this year, following a successful coaching stint with Hastings Boys High School First Fifteen, he didn’t expect to be in the hot seat as a replacement to Craig Philpott by November.“It has happened quicker than I thought. It’s not ideal (to go to head coach so quickly) but it’s a great opportunity and I’m excited by what lies ahead.
“I’m focussed on player retention at the moment, signing the likes of Brad Weber, Gareth Evans, Sam McNicol and Ash Dixon. Following that we can look at what we’ve got and what our shortcomings are in player talent pool at club rugby.
“I’m really interested in what potential talent is out there at club level that may have been overlooked, hidden or new to the province.
“We’ve also provided our reviews to the players and it’s now time to sit down with them and talk about the reviews and the areas they need to work on.
As a team Mark has identified the contact/collision area as something that needs to improve in 2018.
“We’ve got to really improve in the collision area whether that’s tackling or the ball carry to get us over the gain line. It’s a not negotiable area to improve on and that will be a focus in early 2018.”
Mark says lock is a position that needs to be bolstered. The Magpies have a couple of Super Rugby players in the locking department and a couple of other candidates but he says it’s not an area that they can afford to not up skill nor bulk up moving forward as these guys are crucial in winning us ball and dominating collisions.
Mark says the appointment of a forward coach is also a priority and the recruitment process will look both within and outside of the region.
“We’re going to open it up to all-comers. We will shortlist and then put potential candidates in front of a panel.
The summer Sevens season is now getting into full swing and Mark is providing some supporting to new head coach Ellery Wilson. The side has some young talent and Mark’s keen to see how they go in the abridged version of the game and how they could possibly step up to 15s.
“It’s an exciting new era at Hawke’s Bay rugby, we’ve got some new coaches and early next year we will also have a new chief executive.*
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Jarvy Aoake wrote this under a photo he posted on instagram:
jarvyaoake: Ending 2017 with my 2 favs that are always there for me. Bring on 2k18 with a New year, new home, new club, new job and new challenges #2k18 #fitfam #familygoals #rugbylife #hbsummer17
Kendra Cocksedge, who works as a rugby development officer for NZR (based in Chch) replied:
kenjee09: @jarvyaoake welcome aboard I bet ur excited about it!! We have heaps of fun!
Another post also referred to women's rugby, so it looks like Aoake has found a job at NZR, possibly as a (women's) rugby development officer? He was already a rugby development officer for HBRU. It will be interesting where he will be based and which club he's referring to. Looks like we may need another back-up prop, unless Edmonds is able to play again (which I really hope).
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Good news and bad news.
Good news:
Latest update is Trent Boswell-Wakefield should be back in time for start of club season.Bad news:
Tim Farrell has had to have shoulder surgery and will be out for about six months.He is eligible for the Under 20's again this year but the surgery/rehab would seem to rule him out. Hopefully will be fit for Mitre 10 Cup.
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@number-10 said in Hawke's Bay rugby 2018:
Good news and bad news.
Good news:
> Latest update is Trent Boswell-Wakefield should be back in time for start of club season.Bad news:
Tim Farrell has had to have shoulder surgery and will be out for about six months.He is eligible for the Under 20's again this year but the surgery/rehab would seem to rule him out. Hopefully will be fit for Mitre 10 Cup.
So basically he comes back as soon as Philpott leaves - unsurprising.
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@number-10 said in Hawke's Bay rugby 2018:
Good news and bad news.
Good news:
Latest update is Trent Boswell-Wakefield should be back in time for start of club season.Bad news:
Tim Farrell has had to have shoulder surgery and will be out for about six months.He is eligible for the Under 20's again this year but the surgery/rehab would seem to rule him out. Hopefully will be fit for Mitre 10 Cup.
We'll have to wait and see whether TBW is still good enough to make the Magpies, but he has a whole club rugby season to get back into it. I guess a lot will also depend on who the next assistant coach will be. I hope they can find a good one.
The news about Farrell is more significant and I feel really sorry for the guy. Missed most of the 2017 JWC, and now possibly the 2018 JWC. I hope he heals faster than expected and can still make the squad, but that seems unlikely. Will keep my fingers crossed for him, and indeed hope he'll have a great Mitre 10 Cup season. That lad has talent.
https://www.facebook.com/hbmagpies/photos/a.140806072626809.14411.117428694964547/1916310351743030/?type=3&permPage=1
