New Zealand Rugby Team Watch

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ can't do much about his height (175cm according to his bio) but he'd have to bulk up from his currently-listed 75kg. For comparison Sevu Reece is listed as 179cm & 98kg.

 

[Sully]

Finn Hurley is an absolute freak. Surely a future All Black.

International rugby has filled its quota of Finn's at this time, please return at a later date.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Soon to be former NZHurld Rugby writer Chris Rattue is on the Bin Beaugan bandwagon:

Chris Rattue: Why Beauden Barrett's All Blacks time is up

OPINION: The All Blacks should future-proof by moving on from Barrett at fullback.

www.nzherald.co.nz

Stay tuned for the follow-up article Why Beaugan Must Start At 10 v France...

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ or maybe 9...

 

[Dan54]

Anyway, a little early in season but tickets are going on sale for a Ranfurly Shield 9against Thames Valley) game that is to be held at Manaia (the bread capital of NZ). a town of 1000 residents just 18kms up the road from where I live. I have to decide whether I get general admission for $15, bit tempted to go all in for full thing with food, drinks, grandstand seats, car parks for $150.
I guessibg I going to be out of pocket by $150 somehow!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ is that before or after the King Country match at the upgraded Yarrow Stadium in mid-June?

 

[Dan54]

^ is that before or after the King Country match at the upgraded Yarrow Stadium in mid-June?

After mate, it's in July, day of 3rd test against French, so if things go according to plan, will be down at Wellington week before at French test.
Then on the 19th I will go to Shield game and then get home well in time for 3rd test on tv.
I probably shoot up to Yarrowsfor shield challenge against King Country as well, I believe that a mid week game so I will have to have a day off work.

Oh no that's right I retired I won't get docked a days pay for that!!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

NZR adding an U18 team to cater for the ~30% of U18's who're registered with Clubs.

To be selected after a National U18 quadrangular tournament that will include NZ Schools & what looks like a team drawn from the Super Rugby academies, for a two-match series v Australian U18.

 

[zer0]

Yeah that's cool and all but just make an equivalent U85kg competition, you cowards. Where else am I to regularly see wingers lay out props and locks run circles around midfielders.

E.g., teams representing:
Based upper North Island
Cringe lower North Island
Cantabistan
NSFW
The Communists
Some hodgepodge Polynesian team/South Auckland XV

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Ruben Love has signed on for three more seasons (2026-28) with NZR & Hurricanes.

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

Pretty sure @Dan54 will be stoked.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

"All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has changed his tune over player eligibility and has thrown his support behind New Zealand Rugby's policy of not selecting players based overseas."

Scott Robertson changes mind on All Blacks eligibility, backs NZ Rugby's stance

Scott Robertson has thrown his support behind NZ Rugby's stance of not selecting players based overseas.

www.rnz.co.nz

 

[Dan54]

Ruben Love has signed on for three more seasons (2026-28) with NZR & Hurricanes.

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

Pretty sure @Dan54 will be stoked.

I am mate! I stoked when any players resign with NZR, and especially with Canes.
Funny thing is I even happy when I hear of players staying in Aussie too, just seems right to an old fella like me!

 

[Dan54]

"All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has changed his tune over player eligibility and has thrown his support behind New Zealand Rugby's policy of not selecting players based overseas."

Scott Robertson changes mind on All Blacks eligibility, backs NZ Rugby's stance

Scott Robertson has thrown his support behind NZ Rugby's stance of not selecting players based overseas.

www.rnz.co.nz

Show if you keep hitting over the head, eventually it sinks in! It ain't changing sunshine, you took the jobs that had rules etc, so f***en live with it.
(Or step aside and let JJ do the job)

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

I am mate! I stoked when any players resign with NZR, and especially with Canes.
Funny thing is I even happy when I hear of players staying in Aussie too, just seems right to an old fella like me!

Resign or re-sign. Big difference

 

[Dan54]

Resign or re-sign. Big difference

Fair enough mate, but I reckon it's just a -

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Marc Hinton, who tends to be right more often than wrong when it comes to stuff like this, reports that sky are offering $85Mn p.a. for the 2026-30 rights cycle which is a major reduction from the current ~111Mn p.a.

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

Comments wrt NPC/ Farah Palmer Cup are at odds from reporting over several years indicating that Farah Palmer Cup in particular is drawing in subscribers: perhaps they've reached market saturation point?

 

[Dismal Pillock]

ffs just merge the NPC and Soup franchises and be done with it. Rock and roll aint no riddle mang

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

NPC Unions are non-profit orgs whereas NZR's stated goal is for all Super Rugby franchises to be at least partly privately owned & very much for profit. Not sure how you'd go about merging them or even why given NZR's community game/ professional game model & governance structures.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

NPC Unions are non-profit orgs

Well, if it costs $5 mill a season to broadcast their games then someone's living in cloud cuckoo land.