BOP 2022
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Well, in the absence of anyone else I thought I would start a BOP tread for all its worth. I'd be interested to know what everyone thinks about the coming season and if anyone knows of any signings etc. But firstly...
Coach :- It was no surprise to see that Daryl Gibson has gone given last years underwhelming season. The only real question is if he was "pushed" or whether he "walked" or whether the official line is correct. Delany's promotion could be seen as a surprise when you consider that he has never been a head coach of any team (correct me if I'm wrong there ) and, as far as I'm aware, the job was never advertised. He has however been in the system for a long time so I'm hoping that the transition isn't too brutal. I wonder if the likes of Glen Jackson or Marty Burke have been earmarked for future rolls and whether they have even been approached ?
Game schedule :- I'm guessing you've all seen the schedule which has some big changes...No Rotorua games and no night games. I can't say I'll miss freezing nights in Rotorua and Tauranga is a far more welcoming venue. Three games in eight days against Hawkes Bay, Northland and Waikato will be brutal (especially at the end of the season ). As usual no direct Shield challengers but I think there is a small chance that if NH beats HB and defend it against Counties, we get the next challenge. There's probably other permutations but I haven't looked closely.
Players :- There has been an exodus of several senior players from the roster (Black, Douglas, Harris, Scott-Young, Van Den Hoven, Campbell, Wainui are a few that I can recall) so I'm expecting many new signings. I have no idea of any new names playing locally or even who is injured or who is playing Super Rugby. I'm sure someone here will know.
Anyway, its probably far to early to be thinking about the NPC (I'm more looking forward to The Blackcaps in England right now) ....and I really should get back to work.
Comments ?
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@Snollygoster I don't have many thoughts right now - have just scanned the fixture list for the first time. Surprised it is all Tauranga, I don't mind a trip to Rotorua (except for those cold nights)
Worth noting that we are in a conference with
Waikato, Hawke's Bay, Wellington, Otago, Southland, Counties
and we need to finish top 4 to make a quarter-final.
We get cross over games with Taranaki, Auckland, Harbour, Northland and so avoid Tasman, Canterbury & Manawatu.
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@Snollygoster Any word on Eklund staying with BOP?
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@Tim I have no idea. Sorry.
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Not sure whether you guys have seen this.
Delays push Rotorua International Stadium out of NPC Home game window
With delays experienced due to COVID, the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union is sadly unable to host Steamers or Volcanix matches at Rotorua International Stadium in 2022.
Steve Watane, spokesperson for the Rotorua Lakes Council, says, "We have experienced a series of delays with contractors undertaking the much needed resurfacing project of the no.1 playing field.”
"Initially, we hoped to have the new field operational by September. Unfortunately, further delays have meant we cannot use the field until the 1st of November."
The delay has seen not only the re-location of Bunnings NPC matches, but also rugby league, football, and other events. -
@Tim all blacks
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@muddyriver Speculation or inside word?
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@KiwiPie I think you'll find Connor McLoud ex Hawkes Bay halfback is in Steamers territory for the season. Can't blame him really, he'd be behind Weber, Fakatava, and Enari.
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Pretty sure ive heard jacob norris is in the bay
See a few players playing hamilton university
Josh bartlett. Nikora broughton and veveni lasaqa but should be back
3 bop young boys playing for greerton getting good game time
Chase might be playing for another bay. But hope things change -
@Tim pure speculation
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@Cpt-Kumera What's the whisper with Chase.
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Our fijian winger onisi ratave who been playing with drua signed 2 year contract with benetton
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You might finally see Ah Kuoi and Selby-Rickit playing.
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@Cpt-Kumera bugger. He had spiders on him every game last season
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@Cpt-Kumera said in BOP 2022:
Our fijian winger onisi ratave who been playing with drua signed 2 year contract with benetton
Had a feeling he would be signed elsewhere. Shame
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@KiwiPie Has Chase signed with someone else?
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Just checked the team lists and there is a "Jacob Norris " playing for Tauranga Sports. Could be a handy acquisition if its the same one...
Jacob Norris
Originally from the Waikato, Jacob went down to the Crusader Academy in Nelson in 2018.
Also a "Connor McLeod" is playing for Judea But are unsure if its the one in question.
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Be good to see ngatoa play for the bay this year hoped hopefully
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Good to see sam and aidan in all blacks
Think im hearing mitch karpick might be back for the bop
Hopefully hes been awesome for us -
@Cpt-Kumera Is it true Chase Tiatia has signed with Hawkes Bay?
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@Billsy111 hoping he stays with bop. But hb was in the mix
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This post is deleted! -
@Cpt-Kumera good to see leroy carter make wc 7s bit of a bugger probs wont play npc though
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I see we have also signed Luke Donaldson
Rest of squad announced July 25
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I heard today that "a BOP team" will be playing in a preseason game in the Chiefs Centurion Cup held in Te Kuiti on Saturday 23rd July (I assume against all the other Chiefs Unions) and then one pre-season game on Saturday 30th July away in Takapuna (Game of Three Halves vs Northland and North Harbour).
Also theres some NPC players training on the BOP Rugby facebook page. How many faces can anyone recognise ?
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The Chiefs Country Centurion Cup is a quadrangular 1-day tournament. Last year it was played early (March) at the Hautapu Rugby Club. I went along to watch, and from memory they played 20-min halves. The winners play winners, and the losers play the losers from the first games.
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@Snollygoster 1. James Dobie from Glasgow, halfback. 2. Nikora Broughton. 3. Benot Kumeroa with TTT, Kapeli, Herbert, Lasaqa. Ham Marist shirt, maybe Quade Tapsell? 4. Kapeli 5. Herbert with maybe Van Den Hoven in the background?
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@Snollygoster Taylor Haugh & Gillies Kaka in latest video.
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@trooa Well spotted. Just had a squiz at last years team list and I'm guessing we could almost name the team now bar for a few gaps. Does anyone know what has happened to Vella, Skipworth Garland, Vaipulu and Thwaites ?
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@Snollygoster Vaipulu is up in Northland.
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@Snollygoster Skipwith-Garland has gone back to Australia. He's playing for Easts (Tigers) in Queensland.
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@Stargazer matty is playing club rugby thete with his bro
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@Cpt-Kumera Yeah, that's under the 2nd FB link I posted.
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'It was a no-brainer when Scotland suggested I spend the summer in New Zealand'
Glasgow Warriors scrum-half Jamie Dobie is “buzzing” with excitement at his move to Bay of Plenty.
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Apparently the team is announced tomorrow and I'm guessing its widely known in rugby circles who is selected. Given photos from social media and who was listed in yesterdays pre season game we could already make a guess for all its worth .
Hookers :- Ekland
Rangi
Souchon
I assume Kurty will be back and Souchon and Rangi played yesterday. Souchon has been around the team for a while and Anaru Rangi ,I'm guessing, is a new signing. Apparently he is NZ born and spent the last few years playing for The Rebels in Super rugby.Props :- Ross
Kumeroa
Mafileo
Tosi
Thwaites
Bartlett
Hetet
Not 100% sure on this one. Thwaites and Hetet (from last year) never played yesterday being replaced by Matt Wallace. Wallace is 37 and played NPC many years ago so I'm unsure if he was just a fill-in.Locks :- Ah Kuoi
Selby Rickett
Sangster
All playing well.Loose Forwards :- Cane
Norris
Kapelli
Broughton
Collier
Lasaqa
Karpik
Karpik didn't play yesterday either but have been told he's been seen about so fingers crossed.Halfbacks :- T.T.T.
Dobie
Donaldson
Dobie (the Scottish international) is a class act and will be a great acquisition.Inside backs :- Cashmore
Trask
Hawera
Trask is now the elder statesman I guess but Cashmore looks better every time I see him play. Hawera has had stints a for Waikato, Southland and the BrumbiesOutside backs ;- Finau
Lalomilo
Narawa
Haugh
Kaka
Lasaqa
Walton
Quite a few selection unknowns here also and I'm assuming one or two additions to this area also. Joey Walton was an Australian age group player whose been playing for the Warratahs. He looked good yesterday.Okay , has anyone got any other additions or found mistakes that I've made. Last year they announced a wider training group also who were called on for injuries. Does anyone know much about Jericho Yorke, Axil Hohneck and Seamous Bardoul ? They all played yesterday so maybe are in the team but I know little about them.
And finally does anyone know of any injuries ? Someone went off with what looked like a bad arm injury and Triple T played half a game on the wing so I'm assuming theres some.
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@Snollygoster According to google, Anaru Rangi is from Upper Hutt. It may be true, because he has played club rugby for Upper Hutt Rams (team photo from 2010).
I don't know exactly when he moved to Perth, but he played for Perth Spirit first, then the Western Force (2016-2017). When the Force were cut from SR, he was one of the players to be picked up by the Rebels. The last two years, he has played in Japan for the Shining Arcs Tokyo-Bay Urayasu, but he has re-signed with the Rebels for 2023 and 2024.
Edit: his place of birth may actually be Whakatane, but I'm not sure about that. His iwi is Ngāi Tūhoe.
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@Snollygoster Is the new hooker the player with long hair wearing the headgear?
Jericho Yorke is a winger/outside back who played at RBHS. He was a good player at that level and for Chiefs age-group teams.
Speaking of young wingers, I heard the CM physio say that the CM no.14 that played against BOP is only 18.
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@Bovidae Yes, thats the one. Apparently was something of a folk hero in the Rebels.
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Yeah it's Anaru Rangi, girlfriend is from Opotiki so suits him well to play here before heading back to Melbourne. Tight 5 looks very solid, flankers look weak. Maybe they'll play Ah Kuoi at 6? Abundance of depth at 10 with very little in centres, surely one of the 3 moves to 12 or 15. Thought Reon Paul was outstanding in the club final yesterday at 12 but broke his hand early unfortunately. Axel is the Whaka captain & Seamus standout 12 at TGA Sports. Delany giving club players a shot which is what clubs generally ask for, will see if they're up to the standard.
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