Last years team ?
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Well, after the cricket season has ended and club rugby has begun so one wonders what has happened to last years BOP team ?
From the BOPRU website here is a list of last years players.
Aidon Ross :- Playing for the Chiefs
Ajay Mua :- Currently injured but still about.
Bailey Simonsson :- Contracted to The NZ sevens team and playing in Hong Kong soon.
Chase Tiatia :- On the fringes of the Hurricanes but is not playing locally so unsure where he is.
Cullum Retallick :- Not playing but is Assistant Coach to Tauranga Sports.
Elijah Nicholas :- Playing locally for Rangiuru having shifted from Te Puna.
Henry Stowers :- Gone back to Wellington.
Hugh Blake :- Don't know.
Asaac Te Aute :- Playing locally for Rangiuru having shifted from the Mount.
James Lay :- Was playing for Bristol over the summer.
James O'Reilly :- Playing for the Hurricanes.
Jeff Thwaites :- Playing for the Chiefs.
Jessi Parette :- Don't know.
Joe Webber :- Contracted to The NZ Sevens team and playing in The Com. Games soon..
Jordan Lay :- Playing for Edinburgh over the summer.
Keepa Mewett :- Playing in Japan.
Kelly Haimona :- Playing for Wakarewarewa. Incidentally can anyone confirm that he is a half brother to Clayton McMillon ?
Lalakai Foketi :- Playing for The Waratahs.
Liam Polwart :- Playing for the Chiefs.
Liam Steel :- Don't know.
Luke Campbell :- Playing for Te Puke Sports.
Mike Delany :- Playing for the Crusaders.
Mitchel Karpik :- Playing for the Chiefs.
Monty Ioane :- Playing in France and contracted there for another couple of years.
Richard Judd :- Playing for the Hurricanes.
Seb Siataga :- Playing locally for Rotoiti after moving from the Mount.
Siegried Fisi'ihoi :- Playing in France.
Solomona Sakalia :- Don't know.
Terrence Hepetema :- Playing for the Highlanders.
Tom Fanklin :- Playing for the Highlanders.
Troy Callander :- Playing in Japan.
Tyler Ardron :- Playing for the Chiefs.
As usual there is plenty of uncertainly over who is available for next season, who is contracted and if any new people have been signed. By my calculations, of the 32 from last year that are listed on the BOPRU website :-
13 are playing in Super Rugby or are contracted to The NZ 7,s
6 are playing locally
6 are overseas
2 are gone
5 are unaccounted for.Can anyone shed anymore light on things ?
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I watched Chase Tiatia play second 5 for Hutt Old Boys -Marist against Oriental-Rongotai in Wellington last weekend. Think he might be hanging around the fringes of the Hurricanes (ie development squad player when needed) and might even have gone to the Brisbane 10s as well. Incidentally James O'Reilly also played in Tiatia's team in the game as well.
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Hugh Blake has been playing for the Scotland 7s team, at least the first four tournaments (Dubai, Cape Town, Sydney and Hamilton). He was unavailable for the following legs of the Series due to a shoulder injury.
http://www.scottishrugby.org/news/18/03/06/injuries-force-dalziel’s-hand
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@snollygoster Jesse Parete was listed for a club in Taranaki for the 2018 season a few weeks back
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Also Kelly Haimona has retired from playing and has a development role with the union.
And Tom Franklin has been signed to play overseas - I think there may be a clause for him to play for the Highlanders next season but he won't be back at the Steamers (as far as I know).
Locking stocks looking pretty light right now?
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Yep, there's been a clean out of our locking stocks which is a worry as our lineout work and general play from them last year was second to none.
However there are a few replacements still on the scene. I'm pretty sure Lars Morris from Te Puke Sports is contracted but missed last season with injury. Ardron (The Canadian) is playing creditably for the Cheifs apparently. The hard working Wardlaw from Rotoiti has been called in for injury replacement for the Cheifs also. I see also that Tim Bond (who played for us a few seasons back and played for Northland last year) is turning out for Te Puke Sports.
