NZ Domestic comps

[waiopehu oldboy]

NZ Rugby award winners for 2023​

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe

Volunteer: Allen Grainger (Waikato)

Club: Auckland University

Community impact: Steven Li (Asian non-contact programme)

Age-grade player: Harry Godfrey (Hawke’s Bay)


Heartland player: Siu Kakala (South Canterbury)

NPC player: Etene Nanai-Seturo (Counties Manukau)

Farah Palmer Cup player: Krysten Cottrell (Hawke’s Bay)

National men’s coach: Neil Barnes (Taranaki)

National women’s coach: Rawinia Everitt (Northland)

New Zealand coach: Cory Sweeney (Black Ferns Sevens)

Super Rugby Pacific player: Scott Barrett (Crusaders)

Super Rugby Aupiki player: Lucy Jenkins (Matatū)

Tom French Memorial Māori player: Aaron Smith (Ngāti Kahungunu, Manawatū)

Richard Crawshaw Memorial NZ men’s sevens player: Akuila Rokolisoa


NZ women’s sevens player: Stacey Waaka

Black Ferns player: Liana Mikaele-Tu’u

All Blacks player: Ardie Savea

National men’s team: South Canterbury

National women’s team: Auckland Storm

New Zealand team: All Blacks sevens

Kelvin R Tremain Memorial player of the year: Ardie Savea

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Sky have dumped both Grassroots & Mainfreight Rugby which provided coverage of club & Heartland footy, respectively

Hopefully backers can be found to keep one or both going even if it ends up on a streaming platform (looking at you, NZR) rather than FTA & subscriber TV as was the case.

 

[Dan54]

Well with the NPC suggesting they maybe talking to FTA going forward in the announcement of new sponsor (I should of posted it here), I think something may happen. But I also like NZR site doing something, although all club stuff streamed here anyway.

 

[Dan54]

Real interested to read that Gallagher Insurance are to be partners of the NPC comp in a 3 year deal. Seems the comp still being sponsored by Bunnings (and be called that), but Gallagher have come in with the NPC provinces and they setting up own marketing etc, even got to point of talking maybe taking the comp to tv in seperate deal. The Gallagher Ins is the one from Gallagher Prem in NH and all teams will have their logo on jersey etc. They reckon there a few more parties they talking to, and seem to be almost setting up similar to Super rugby commission, kind of lead on after the NZR report that suggested NPC needed to be trimmed. I like it a lot, a real lot.
NPC baby the way forward!!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

....although all club stuff streamed here anyway.

Well if they're already streaming club there's no real reason to not keep things rolling with Heartland after the club season is over. Hell, if they do that I might even sign up for it.

 

[Dan54]

Don't know if it them streaming the club rugby mate, just know it's streamed, maybe the Naki union doing it here etc. But you right I would like it and heartland on NZR app. Not sure why you or any rugby fan haven't signed, it free, has a few semi interesting things on it.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

This is concerning:

"The South Canterbury Rugby Union has withdrawn from its Ranfurly Shield challenge against Hawke’s Bay in Napier in July citing financial constraints."

I guess it counts as a default/ successful Shield defence?

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

This OTOH is becoming farcical:

"The New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association has threatened to break away from NZ Rugby in a dramatic escalation of their fight over the current governance model of the game in [NZ]"

NZ pro rugby players' association threatens to split from NZ Rugby

A disagreement over a "not fit for purpose" governance model has led to an ultimatum to NZ Rugby from the players' association.

www.1news.co.nz

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Invercargill City Council have pulled the plug on Rugby Park as of next year. Not sure where that leaves the Stags venue-wise? Maybe the SRU faction that wants to drop from NPC to Heartland might get their way...

 

[zer0]

Southland Boys.

 

[Dan54]

Not sure what other venues are in the area WOB, must be some other reasonable parks.

 

[Dan54]

And just s reminder, of course there are no big matches to speak of this weekend, as there is being some space left for the Crowley Cup match on Saturday!! Game at Okiawa, Kaponga have to make the long road trip of about 10km, so how they travel (jetlags etc) will obviously have an effective on the result! I know I should start a match thread, but will resist the temptation!!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Pleased to report that Grassroots has survived (albeit sans Mainfreight*) on sky & TVNZ Duke FTA. Hoping that's an omen for Heartland coverage in a month or two.

*Edit: also sans the legendary Wet & Forget Replay but at least Kamo & Mason are still there

 

[Dan54]

Well just for those hanging out for result!
Yes Kaponga still holds the Crowley Cup! Just got back an hour or so back remembering what rugby(and sport in general) is about. 2 teams giving it everything (well up to about 15 minutes to go), a ref who laughed to me (when having a beer with us) he knows missed a couple of things,
And most of all a load of people at a little country club, enjoying a game of rugby, and best of all enjoying each other's company afterwards in clubrooms!

 

[Dan54]

@waiopehu oldboy, I reckon my prediction from last year has got legs. I reckoned Dane Coles would have a run for the mighty Nua this season.
Well guess who was hooker for Paraparaumu aginst Athletic at Playford Park on Saturday?
Yep Colesy, they reckon he (and everyone) had a ball, both during game and after in clubrooms!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Now he's saying "I'm done"

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

But if 'nua were to suffer a few injuries...

 

[Dan54]

Just read that myself WOB, oh well was a good hope anyway .

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Shield retained:

Hawke’s Bay 80 (Matt Protheroe 2, Danny Toala 2, Kere Penetito 2, Joel Hintz, Freedom Vahaakolo, Ben O’Donnell, Tim Farrell, Mei Manase, Sam Wye tries; Harry Godfrey 10 conversions) Whanganui 5 (Kamipeli Latu try). Halftime: 45-0.

Yes that's Brumbies & Aus 7's Ben O'D & ex-Wales Matt Protheroe.

Ranfurly Shield holders go on try-scoring romp: A dozen will be fine, thank you

The new back-three all scored tries in the first half.

www.nzherald.co.nz

 

[Wilson]

Looks like there's going to be quite a few Aussies popping up in the NPC this season:

The Post

www.thepost.co.nz

North Habour:
Tane Edmed
Ben Grant
Daniel Halangahu (Coach)

Southland:
Jake Strachan
Lachie Albert
Byron Smith

Hawke's Bay:
Ben O'Donnell
Lukas Ripley
Brock James (Coach)

Auckland:
Tuaina Taii Tualima
Ola Tauelangi

Manawatu:
George Blake
Lachlan Shaw

Counties Manukau:
Sateki Latu

Northland:
Richie Asiata

Otago:
Lachlan McCaffrey (Defense Coach)

This has definitely picked up over recent years, I wonder if we might soon see some changes/tightening around the rules, I'm not sure how much appetite there will be from NZRU for foreign players to take up more places.

 

[Dan54]

Kick off Friday night. Yehaa, my favourite rugby comp!!! Only trouble is the Naki at home, and probably going to be a stretch going up. Usually go with Mrs Dan, but she chose to fall over while tramping up the mountain last week and broke ankle. So she layed up and requiring me to play nurse . Better be ok at home for next few games!