The Silver Fern

@ACT-Crusader said in Poll: Super Rugby 2025 Top 6:

About a third of the way through the season now and whilst no team is mathematically out of making the top 6 (not a fan of this in an 11 team comp), there are signs that the table is starting to take shape near the top (and possibly down the bottom).

So who you got to make it to the pointy end and a shot at Super rugby glory?

6 picks and by the end of the week we’ll tally up the Fern collective wisdom and see how it stacks up come June.

Why would all teams having a mathematical chance of making the top six be a bad thing?

Takataka and McIntosh have been such a great scrummaging duo for years now.

@SouthernMann was impressed with Mika as well, thought he may have outplayed Rico in this one. Believe too that he's still eligible for New Zealand U18.

@Bovidae said in SR U20s 2025:

I think that the Barbarians are still U21. The squad looks to be a mixture of recent U20 players, some that missed out this year, and younger players who will feature next year.

Good to see Liam McIntosh back for his fourth U20's tournament, he's a great scrummager so hopefully this is a sign he's still on the radar somewhere.

@mikedogz said in Moana Pasifika 2025:

Tonga Rugby Union chief executive Aisea 'Aholelei said it was sad losing the match.

He said delayed installation of floodlights at Teufaiva Stadium caused the cancelation.

"The installation of floodlights is being delayed and there was concerns that would affect the 6pm schedule for the game kick off," he said.

Mar 5  /  Pacific

Moana Pasifika cancels Tonga game due to floodlight installation delays

Tonga Rugby Union CEO Aisea 'Aholelei said it was sad losing the match, but there were concerns the "installation of floodlights being delayed...would affect the 6pm kick off".

Glad there's a simple explanation, although disappointing, good sign that they'll be back in future.

@WoodysRFC said in Super Rugby 2025:

Over 15,000 for the Highlanders maiden home game, and just short of 16,000 for the Chiefs opening round. The Hurricanes crowd for a major fixture against the reigning champion Blues was disappointing, as it didn't look too bad from where we were sat.

Edit: should add, Crusaders opening game was just short of 15,000, and the Blues had over 25,000 for their home game.

If I'm not mistaken, the Chiefs ran an experimental "rhythm and rugby" round, which saw them raise the ticket prices significantly to cover costs, which likely explains the fairly sparse crowd.

Over 15,000 for the Highlanders maiden home game, and just short of 16,000 for the Chiefs opening round. The Hurricanes crowd for a major fixture against the reigning champion Blues was disappointing, as it didn't look too bad from where we were sat.

@Bones said in Highlanders 2025:

Hurley really is DMac MKII.

Both from Eastern Southland too.

@Bovidae said in Chiefs v Crusaders:

@gt12 said in Chiefs v Crusaders:

Whoever is in charge of coaching our lineout needs to go.

Jono Gibbes this year. Some of the lineouts went spectacularly wrong.

Let's just keep it simple as there is plenty of height in the lineout.

Funny, last years U20's lineout was shambolic.

@NTA said in Aussie Community Rugby:

Premier Rugby here in Sydney is a bit of a multi-tiered calamity, with 4 Grades and 3 Colts (U20) sides per club.... in theory.

In practice it isn't that. Clubs like Western Sydney Two Blues (formerly Parramatta Two Blues) are importing most of their First Grade squad this year it would seem. A shitload of them are Kiwis who are new to Sydney and/or Australia.

Club/provincial names taken from the WSTB Instagram account - there are other clubs listed against their profiles and I have not verified any of these:

Darius Mafileo (Manwatu)
Cody Nordstrom (Waikato)
Mio Fuimaono (Te Awamutu)
Simione Ofa (BOP, Counties, Mako)
Nic Snyman (Counties 7s)
Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong (Te Awamutu, King Country)
Liam Udy-Johns (Hawkes Bay / Southland)
Meli Sifa (Naki)
Cruise Dunster (King Country/NZ Maori)
Joseph Nansen (Papatoetoe)
Donald Brighouse (NZ U20, Otago/Naki, Moana??)

Have read that something like five Southland premier players are following Lachie Albert to Easts.

@Steven-Harris said in NPC 2025:

@taniwharugby

No great surprise once Mark Ozich pulled the pin ,I don’t think Wayne Pivac was ever in the running
he’s gonna have a job finding props given that Jordon Lay and Marcel Renata have signed with Northland word Sione Ahio is off to either Counties Manukau or Ta$man
Angus Ta’avao heading into the media world at the end of super rugby

Probably explains Hamdahn Tuipulotu's departure from the Stags then.

Right I'm in, some of the pricing is surprising, Roigard and Angus Bell are steals.

@Machpants said in Blues 2025:

@WoodysRFC said in Blues 2025:

@Machpants said in Blues 2025:

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2025:

Today the boys were presented with championship rings for the 2024 season

Utterly gopping

Na, that's cool, appeals to a younger audience too.

Younger? Those sort of shitty rings are USA from the 1830s!

Huge numbers liking this on social media, really leaning into the American Sports, which the younger generation are obsessed with.

@Machpants said in Blues 2025:

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2025:

Today the boys were presented with championship rings for the 2024 season

Utterly gopping

Na, that's cool, appeals to a younger audience too.

Launching February 7.

Nathan Williamson  /  Feb 3

Super Rugby Pacific introduces Player of the Year award for 2025 season

Feels long overdue

Second ENS, he's got a very good kicking game, and seems to be more involved when playing from 15. Think it may be his best position.

@ploughboy said in Chiefs 2025:

@Bovidae any stand outs?

Leroy Carter, looked good both on the wing and at half.

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2025:

Hohepa is still out there so Godfrey is still at 15.

Haven't seen him, quiet thirty if so.

@Bovidae said in Hurricanes 2025:

The Canes changed most of the team for the 2nd third and the fresh legs are helping. I don't think the Chiefs made any changes.

Good point, the introduction of Higgins and Proctor probably helps.