Waikato 2020

Thought it's about time to make a Waikato thread though they aren't as many Waikato supporters on here as other provinces.

Just rolling the speculation of signings.

Roe is playing club rugby in Hamilton so assuming he's gonna be in the squad.
Patrick Osbourne as reported by @OleOleOle

I was thinking about a potential squad today. There are a few players from last season's squad who have left or retired, some haven't been seen in club rugby (based on the team lists), while who knows about the injury status of other players.

Out from 2019 - Toby Smith, Taleni Seu, Antonio Shalfoon, Jack Stratton, Carlos Price, Raniera Takarangi, Sevu Reece, Tyler Campbell.
Injury status unknown - Laghlan McWhannell, James Tucker, Solomon Alaimalo.
Retired from rep rugby - Dwayne Sweeney?
Unknown - Sekope Lopeti-Moli, Sam Cooper, Manawa Veitayaki, Api Naikatini, Jahrome Brown.

I haven't seen any club rugby so there will be players I have overlooked.

Props
Ayden Johnstone
Ollie Norris
Rob Cobb
Josh Iosefa-Scott
Plus 2 others (George Dyer as TH, the 3rd LH prop could be Vincent Green but he is in his first year out of school so too early)
Sefo Kautai has returned from Japan but is a TH. Stanley Paese is another young TH prop.

Hookers
Samisoni Taukei'aho
Anton Milnes
A.N. Other (Haereiti Hetet)

Locks (This will depend on the availability of Tucker and McWhannell).
Hamilton Burr
Tim Bond
James Thompson
Adam Thomson
Samipeni Finau

Two converted 6s in this group. Shneil Singh could be in the mix but there is a real lack of experience.

Loose forwards
Luke Jacobson
Mitch Jacobson
Liam Messam
Simon Parker
Murray Iti
Hugo Nankivell
Jeriah Mua

I'd like to see Quade Tapsell given an opportunity.

Halfbacks (All 3 from last year have departed)
Xavier Roe
Quintony Ngatai
Cortez-Lee Ratima

1st 5s
Fletcher Smith
Rivez Reihana
Coby Miln

Midfield
Anton Lienert-Brown
Quinn Tupaea
Bailyn Sullivan
Louis Rogers
Jordan Bunce

Outside Backs
Patrick Osborne
Solomon Alaimalo
Declan O'Donnell
Brandon Mudzekenyedzi
Newton Tudreu
Valance Te Whare/Gideon Wrampling
Damian McKenzie
Matty Landsdown

@Bovidae All 3 halfbacks? I'm sure Price still lives in Hamilton. Strange. There's a bunch of names in there that I've never heard.

@Yeetyaah Someone said that Price is back in BOP. He isn't playing Waikato club rugby.

After checking Dr. Google, other players selected for Waikato in the CCC earlier in the year were:

Tom Martin (based in Wellington)
Kieran Westlake (no.8)
Mateo Taiseni (hooker)
Vainikolo Halafihi (loose forward)
Liam Coombes-Fabling (wing/fullback)
Tepaea Cook-Savage (1st 5/fullback)
Paula Mahe (outside back)

@Yeetyaah said in Waikato 2020:

There's a bunch of names in there that I've never heard.

I am basing this on who was in the 2019 squad and have added a few players from previous NZ U20s and Waikato U19s.

@Bovidae Adam Thomson has signed for Waikato, another loosie option. (Still wish he stayed with Otago)

@NateHill74 That's right. Forgot about him....for good reason.

Thomson will be used as a lock so our props better get used to no pushing.

@Bovidae Tudreu is with the Turbo. Gideon Wrampling could be worth a look...

@OleOleOle

Tudreu was amongst the top try-scorers so must have only played the early part of the club season with Marist.

I've seen a little bit of Wrampling for the NZ Schools and St Paul's last year. He is a midfielder but is playing on the wing for HOB. He has size and speed.

Anyone else in with a chance?

@Bovidae yes, he left a couple of weeks ago...its a shame because he is a real threat with ball in hand. Te Whare is good. Not sure of many other signings at this point.....halfback is still a concern!

@Bovidae where did Tyler Campbell go?

@Yeetyaah I don't know, but he wasn't in the Waikato team that played in the CCC and I haven't seen his name listed in club rugby. I'm assuming he has left the province.

@Bovidae what's CCC?

Chiefs Country Centurion Cup.

The Centurion Cup will see Chiefs Country Provincial Unions Bay of Plenty, Counties Manukau, Taranaki and Waikato play a quadrangular competition in Hamilton, as curtain raisers to the Gallagher Chiefs home matches at FMG Stadium Waikato.

Waikato beat BOP in the final before the Chiefs vs Brumbies game.

@Yeetyaah said in Waikato 2020:

@Bovidae where did Tyler Campbell go?

He was in the China Lions squad for Rapid Rugby. So maybe he's moved to BOP?
He's from the Gold Coast, isn't he? So another possibility is that he's gone back to Aussie?
Or injured again.

@Stargazer I did wonder if Campbell had returned to Aust. We'll see if he turns up in the BOP squad.

@Yeetyaah

Here is the Waikato team that played BOP. I included some players based on their selection in this team. Exclude Stevenson as some Chiefs players were released to play for each of the 4 provinces.

1. Rob Cobb

2. Anton Milnes

3. George Dyer

4. Hamilton Burr

5. Samipeni Finau

6. Tom Martin (Captain)

7. Hugo Nankivell

8. Kieran Westlake

9. Xavier Roe

10. Rivez Reihana

11. Bailyn Sullivan

12. Louis Rogers

13. Brandon Maudzekenyedzi

14. Shaun Stevenson

15. Liam Coombes-Fabling

16. Mateo Taiseni

17. Ollie Norris

18. Manawa Veitayaki

19. Adam Thomson

20. Vainikolo Halafihi

21. Jeriah Mua

22. Simon Parker

23. Tepaea Cook Savage

24. Paula Mahe

25. Cortez Ratima

26. Coby Miln

Other players used in the Counties game were:
Josh Balme (lock)
Haereiti Hetet (prop) - has been playing hooker for Oto

@Stargazer. Has moved to Queensland. he's playing club rugby in Brisbane this year

Looking at his latest instagram story, Fletcher Smith will play for Waikato.

The big question will be if Smith has a SR contract beyond this year?

He seems to be on the outer at the Canes so maybe the Chiefs are interested with 2 positions to fill at 1st 5.

@Bovidae hasn't played the house down at the Canes but I'd be okay with him at the Chiefs tbh.