NPC - news, injuries etc

[Bovidae]

I didn't think he would be a starter but a squad member maybe.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/114362301/zac-guildford-not-wanted-by-waikato-as-he-considers-walking-away-from-elite-rugby

[OleOleOle]

@Bovidae I agree, he has a lot to offer....shame, I think Waikato will miss him. It will be interestering to see how Strawbridge goes, he's had a lot of influence in the background in recent times.

[Yeetyaah]

@Bovidae You watched him in action this year? If so is he any good? He's starting for Fraser Tech tomorrow and I'm heading down so see what happens.

[Bovidae]

@Yeetyaah Nope. I'm sure he has been playing well at that level.

I haven't seen any club rugby this year. IIRC Guildford was playing fullback earlier in the club season and then moved to centre. Bunce may have been injured.

If Reece makes the RWC squad Strawbridge will be looking for another outside back.

[Stargazer]

Ta$man Mako have signed Scarlets' halfback Declan Smith. Does anyone know this player? He is 21 years old (22 in September) and played for Wales U20 in 2016.

.

[Stargazer]

Result of today's preseason game:

Taranaki beat the Manawatu Evergreens 33-12.

[Stargazer]

Preseason game:

Canterbury v Ta$man
Saturday, 27 July 2019
Kick-off 1.30pm
Hanmer Springs Domain

[mikedogz]

I wouldn't mind Guildford going up the expressway to play for Counties. He could end up at Thames Valley or King Country.

[Tim]

Eleventh hour bid: Otago in talks with former All Black Adam Thomson over unlikely hometown return

Two weeks after reports emerged suggesting that former All Blacks loose forward Adam Thomson was set to sign a deal with North Harbour ahead of the upcoming Mitre 10 Cup campaign, Otago have voiced their interest in pursuing the 37-year-old.

[Daffy Jaffy]

Yarrow Taranaki Bulls Mitre 10 Cup squad; (forwards) Mitch Brown (c), Reuben O'Neill, Chris Gawler, Jared Proffit, Asaeli Sorovaki, Donald Brighouse, Kyle Stewart, Ricky Riccitelli, Bradley Slater, Scott Mellow, Tupou Vaa'i, Leighton Price, Josh Lord, Jesse Parete, Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Tom Florence, Kaylum Boshier, Lachlan Boshier, Pita Gus Sowakula, (backs) Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Lisati Milo-Harris, Warwick Lahmert, Xavier Roe, Stephen Perofeta, Teihorangi Walden (vc), Regan Verney, Sean Wainui, Lukas Halls, Kiniviliame Naholo, Waisake Naholo, Jackson Ormond, Jayson Potroz, Brayton Northcott-Hill.

[Chris]

No Mataele I thought he was due back for the M10

[Yeetyaah]

Verney moved again.

[Bovidae]

Is Reuben O'Neill fit to play now?

And no surprise, Fin Hoeata isn't.

[Stargazer]

@Chris Still injured, or maybe he's moved to another province? (I think his partner played for the Canterbury women's squad, last year.)

[Dice]

On paper, that Naki team should be good enough to win the Championship.

[Stargazer]

@Dice I hope not!

[taniwharugby]

@Dice squad doesnt look significantly different to last year, so will come down to coaching and early season confidence (and a bit of luck helps too)

Although I guess Waisake more likely to be playing for them this season...he should carve up at this level.

[Stargazer]

@taniwharugby I can imagine one Naholo on the left wing and another on the right wing. The third Naholo didn't make the squad.

[Bovidae]

Less experienced and missing a couple of key players from recent seasons - Ta'avao and MMac. Edit: add in Tamanivalu.

Taranaki had a lot of injuries last year which meant many of their "name" players hardly took the field.

[Dice]

@taniwharugby Yeah, they didn't look that well coached last season. I think they had a pretty bad injury toll last season though? If they're relatively healthy, they should be contending for the title.