Auckland Rugby 2021

Stargazer

@duluth I see Lisati Milo-Harris is now playing in Auckland (Grammar TEC). And another Milo-Harris at fullback. Brother? Are they originally from Auckland, or moving around?

Also a Jamie Spowart at fullback for Pakuranga. Is that the (ex) Ta$man player?

Noticing a former Hawke's Bay Tui - Anna Powdrell - in the Ponsonby Fillies team. Probably moved to Auckland to attend Uni. Another one, Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, in her second year out of school, playing for College Rifles.

I see both Curtis sisters (Canterbury) are playing for College Rifles, too. Planning an FPC move?

Bovidae

@stargazer said in Auckland Rugby 2021:

@duluth I see Lisati Milo-Harris is now playing in Auckland (Grammar TEC). And another Milo-Harris at fullback. Brother? Are they originally from Auckland, or moving around?

He is from Auckland and educated there. Milo-Harris was playing for Taranaki and the Chiefs Dev team only a few weeks ago.

Duluth

@stargazer said in Auckland Rugby 2021:

@duluth I see Lisati Milo-Harris is now playing in Auckland (Grammar TEC). And another Milo-Harris at fullback. Brother? Are they originally from Auckland, or moving around?

Lisati played for Auckland a few years ago but only got one start. Him and Plummer were the 9/10 combo that came through at the same time at Grammar TEC

Tim

Nogusta

@stargazer said in Auckland Rugby 2021:

@duluth I see Lisati Milo-Harris is now playing in Auckland (Grammar TEC). And another Milo-Harris at fullback. Brother? Are they originally from Auckland, or moving around?

Also a Jamie Spowart at fullback for Pakuranga. Is that the (ex) Ta$man player?

Pretty sure those Milo Harris boys are the sons of Richie Harris - who by the way has joined the Counties Manukau coaching staff this year - who by the way have signed Hoskins Sotutu!

Yea Jamie Spowart 2018 NZU20s, Ta$man. Botany Downs & Kings College educated so back in his hometown. Very fast and skilfull but perhaps could've done with a few extra kgs on his frame. I really rated him.

Bovidae

I had to laugh at Nigel Yalden talking up Ieremia, who was in the crowd watching the Blues-Crusaders U20 game. It would have been better not to say too much after the recent publicity surrounding the Auckland NPC team.

Kirwan

@nogusta said in Auckland Rugby 2021:

@stargazer said in Auckland Rugby 2021:

@duluth I see Lisati Milo-Harris is now playing in Auckland (Grammar TEC). And another Milo-Harris at fullback. Brother? Are they originally from Auckland, or moving around?

Also a Jamie Spowart at fullback for Pakuranga. Is that the (ex) Ta$man player?

Pretty sure those Milo Harris boys are the sons of Richie Harris - who by the way has joined the Counties Manukau coaching staff this year - who by the way have signed Hoskins Sotutu!

Yea Jamie Spowart 2018 NZU20s, Ta$man. Botany Downs & Kings College educated so back in his hometown. Very fast and skilfull but perhaps could've done with a few extra kgs on his frame. I really rated him.

Need an extra option rather than "like". Perhaps, "thanks for posting, but goddammit all to hell".

Tim

Interesting that Paul Feeney is coaching the Barbarians U20 team ...

Tim

Tim

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Tim

Confirms some things posted here.

Auckland exodus begins: All Blacks star joins rival team

Sotutu is unlikely to be the last high-profile name leaving Auckland before the 2021 provincial season, with All Blacks prop Ofa Tuungafasi understood to have approached Northland.

Fellow All Blacks Caleb Clarke, Akira Ioane and flanker Blake Gibson were also understood to be among others weighing their futures with Auckland. Ioane is thought to have told Blues teammates he could represent Northland, as his grandfather on his mother's side lives in Kaikohe.

Dice

I can see Gibson going to Counties too. Tai Lavea had him at St Kents.

Auckland hanging onto Alama is going to cause us to suffer in the short and long term.

I'm guessing more will leave next year. There will definitely be guys who wanted to leave this year but they're still under contract.

Chris

@dice said in Auckland Rugby 2021:

I can see Gibson going to Counties too. Tai Lavea had him at St Kents.

Auckland hanging onto Alama is going to cause us to suffer in the short and long term.

I'm guessing more will leave next year. There will definitely be guys who wanted to leave this year but they're still under contract.

Tanielu Teleʻa also signed for Counties

Tim

Tim

There's an Amasio Valence at 9 for Waitemata this weekend. Is it his son?

Tim

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Tim

Duluth

Sport, Rugby

Huge boost for Auckland Rugby amid 'crisis'

Auckland Rugby saw a healthy rise in club team numbers - but challenges remain.

Auckland Rugby is celebrating a healthy rise in club team numbers, especially at junior level which has enjoyed a 10 per cent growth on 2019 pre-Covid levels.

This year there are 69 more junior club teams compared with 2019, with 12 new school teams - a 12 per cent increase on 2019.

Auckland senior club levels remain steady.

Duluth

@tim said in Auckland Rugby 2021:

He's been groomed for a while now. No idea if he's good or not.

Hopefully Auckland had a good chat to their players before appointing Bates. Plenty of them have been exposed to him with Auckland B, Blues age group teams etc. Can't have another coach driving players away.

I'm assuming (hoping) Ieremia will be gone next year and Bates will take over. It'll be interesting to watch how often Bates or Ieremia talks to the media, who's doing all the talking at half time etc etc

I'm guessing he keeps his role at the Blues too? Halangahu & Afeaki are coaching Harbour and have roles with the Blues. That seems like an improvement from the days when Feeney had to quit his Auckland job to be a 3rd coach at the Blues

Bovidae

@duluth Bates was also part of the NH coaching setup in the past wasn't he? U19 coach? I don't think either he or Ieremia are very articulate or polished in front of the camera.

The Silver Fern

Auckland Rugby 2021

Huge boost for Auckland Rugby amid 'crisis'