Super Rugby 2022

Stargazer

Preseason game
Highlanders v Crusaders
Friday 4 February 2022
Valley Rugby Club, Weston (6km from Oamaru)

Farmlands Cup heading to Weston | Highlanders Rugby Club Limited Partnership

ploughboy

@stargazer
shit thats walking distance

Stargazer

Not sure whether this is the right place to post this.

Taranaki posted this on their social media:

Does anyone know who we need to talk to, in order to get a player signed to a Super Rugby contract? We’ve got a list of names

Someone on FB responded by mentioning a few names. Then Kylem O'Donnell (yes, the former Taranaki/Waikato/Hurricanes halfback), posted this long response.

We all know several players who we think deserve a SR contract and from my perspective, this story completely fits the Hurricanes. It makes you wonder how much talent is missed in NZ, if this is indeed true for all franchises (it might not be true).

Bovidae

Taranaki has a larger number of players in the Chiefs squad than the other 3 provinces so I don't think they can complain there.

But O'Donnell is right about the politics behind rugby selection, at all levels. The problem is that there is only a fixed amount of contracts available at the professional level. That includes coaches.

Chris

With signings being announced for NZ teams and MP.

Pretty much the squads are easy to determine.
it looks like
Crusaders 37 players locked 1 Hooker needed
Blues 38 locked in
Chiefs. 35 locked in 1 LF,HB,1 outside back to be found
Hurricanes 32 locked in need a Hooker,1 lock,1 LF,2 MF backs,1 wing,
Highlanders 37 locked in need 1 outside back.

KiwiMurph

Wasn't sure where to put this.

The Plus500 Brumbies are pleased to announce 26-year-old centre Ollie Sapsford will join the club until the end of the 2023 season.

Australian-qualified while born and raised in New Zealand, Sapsford has been playing with Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand’s National Provincial competition for the past three seasons, scoring a hat-trick of tries in their recent 40-31 victory over Manawatu.

Sapsford is comfortable in the midfield and on the wing.

Stargazer

@kiwimurph The media release doesn't mention it, but he's had a stint in AFL before playing NPC. Not sure when and where and at what level. Not surprised that he is a player ending up in Australian Super Rugby.

Nepia

@kiwimurph Didn't Sapsford play 7s for NZ, so he's not actually Australian qualified?

Stargazer

@nepia I don't think he ever made it to a tournament? He was in the squad and trained with them, but I think that's it. Not 100% sure though.

ARHS

@stargazer he has played for them. Not sure if any of the events were world circuit.

KiwiMurph

@nepia said in Super Rugby 2022:

@kiwimurph Didn't Sapsford play 7s for NZ, so he's not actually Australian qualified?

I think he played recently in those games set up against Australia prior to the Olympics (they played games against Aus over the course of a weekend at Eden Park and club grounds like Grammar TEC) but I don't think they were official so probably don't count towards eligibility.

Higgins

@arhs said in Super Rugby 2022:

@stargazer he has played for them. Not sure if any of the events were world circuit.

Can confirm he definitely played for one of the NZ Mens Teams (Black I think it might have been) in the warm up tournament played at Hataitai Park earlier this year