2019 Hawke's Bay Representative Rugby
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@JC I'm afraid you're right. There are 3 of probably more reasons for the lack of depth.
Several players that played well for their 1st XV last year have left the province, including and most notably the Thompson twins who are now playing for Wellington U19 and winger Michael Naitokani, who plays for Canterbury U19.
Then there are, obviously, HB players who left their HB school 1stXV in previous years to play for 1stXVs in other provinces; they are lost to the Bay as well (Zarn Sullivan, for example, but there are more).
Also, there are several players from last year's Napier 1st XV that reached the Top 4 Final (and, I think, for Hastings 1st XV as well), who have returned to school and played for their 1st XV again this year. I can only hope that some of the current stand-outs in our 1st XVs will stay in the Bay and play for HBU19 next year.
I'm sick of us losing good players to other provinces, esp the bigger provinces that already have a bigger player pool.
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@JC Will you be at the Wellington Dev v Hawke's Bay Saracens game?
I would be very interested to hear how our TH prop Josiah Tavita-Metcalfe and right winger Tyrone Dodds-Edwards are going. So far, I have not been impressed with Ollie Sapsford for the Magpies and am wondering whether the young lad Dodds-Edwards is ready for the step up.
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@Stargazer no can’t make a game today. Chauffeuring Mrs JC.
I’m not sure what can be done about the losses to other provinces tbh. On top of the guys who are leaving for work or education I understand there is an ongoing issue with kids getting contracted while they’re still at school. They may only be getting 5 grand a year but, hey, they’re a professional rugby player. I’m not sure the HBRU can compete with the deeper pockets of the Wellington Union. It’s a shame. I’m told there are 2 guys who have been contracted by Welly who were released to play but their availability for training with the squad was very limited. So either way we lose.
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As @JC predicted, it was a tough match for the Junior Magpies. They lost 7 - 50 to Wellington U19. It was 0 - 12 at half time.
I assume Manawatu have beaten the Hurricanes Heartland U20s, so we'll end up in the Championship (lower) Division again. The Junior Magpies finished 11th and 12th a couple of times, but I hope they can do better than that. No idea of the level of the other teams though. -
@Stargazer said in 2019 Hawke's Bay Representative Rugby:
Saracens squad for today's game
So Buckley can't even make the Saracens team now??
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@Stockcar86 I vaguely remember reading that some players have chosen to take up temporary stints overseas (Portugal, Hong Kong). Not sure whether he's one of them.
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@Stargazer Looks like Wellington are making a bit of a habit about winning in extra time this week. Guessing no news from the UNder 19s is beacuse of the scoreline?
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@Higgins said in 2019 Hawke's Bay Representative Rugby:
Guys can I ask you to keep me updated with things from the Northland game as I have just been invaded by my best mate and a couple of other Tongans to watch the 'Ikale Tahi match.
8-0 to Northland with 12 gone ... but my feed keeps freezing so I might be a minute or so behind.
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15-5 after 22 minutes to the bad guys
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Dodgy reffing. Toala loses the ball in a tackle from an offside Northland player. Northland (Gregory) runs away with it, kicks, AR flags for touch, kick goes dead, but ref gives a scrum instead of a line-out. Northland scores from the scrum. 15 - 5 Northland
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Fomai looking like a mini Robbie Fruean scores in the corner.conversion misses 15-10
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with only 2 back replacements, not good. Don't really want Sapsford to see much game time
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Fakatava looking better this game. Looks like coaches instructions to distribute not try to create, and it's working well
