The Magpies will play South Canterbury and Poverty Bay in the two Heartland Ranfurly Shield challenges.
Wednesday, 29 June 2022: South Canterbury (2021 Meads Cup winners)
Saturday, 30 July 2022: Poverty Bay
Article:
Poverty Bay and South Canterbury shield challenges accepted
@stargazer Too scared to play their neighbours down below? Up the Bush!
@machpants said in Magpies 2022:
@stargazer Too scared to play their neighbours down below? Up the Bush!
Not scared, you shouldn't have joined with Wairarapa, who worked with Wellington to steal the Shield from us after The Battle of Solway. We have elephant memories in the Bay.
@machpants Meads Cup winners are compulsory, and it wasn't Wai-Bush's turn from the Hurricanes' Heartland teams/neighbouring teams.
The last five Heartland challenges the Magpies accepted were:
9 July 2015: Wairarapa-Bush
16 July 2015: Horowhenua-Kapiti
23 July 2015: Mid-Canterbury
30 June 2021: North Otago
24 July 2021: Ngati Porou East Coast
@stargazer yeah I know, they've been good at spreading it around.
New Magpies assistant coach is Brock James.
Played for Australia Sevens, Taranaki (2004), Queensland Reds, Western Force, Clermont Auvergne, La Rochelle and been an assistant coach with Welsh club Ospreys for past two years.
@number-10 Geez, I should have put money on that! I was just talking about that with mates a few days ago, saying I wouldn't be surprised if James got the gig!
No idea how he is as a coach, so I hope it works out well! Ozich is hard to replace.
@number-10 Gee, we still continue to have an embarrassment of riches at hooker with Messrs. Kereru-Symes, Devery and now Thompson fighting it out. It is possible that one of the first two may have signed elsewhere.
@number-10 That's awesome news!
He has signed for 2 seasons.
Oh, and this probably wouldn't have happened if he had signed with the Canes; so glad he's with another franchise!
@stargazer said in Magpies 2022:
Oh, and this probably wouldn't have happened if he had signed with the Canes; so glad he's with another franchise!
The same with Ah Kuoi. Not signed by the Canes and leaves Wellington too.
@dice Yep, 18 caps in two seasons, but almost all (if not all) via the bench. Crazy they rated the coke sniffer higher.
Now, he'll compete with Kereru-Symes and Devery (assuming both will be back). K-S the most experienced of the three, but Thompson may be the most talented. It will be an interesting battle for the 2 and 16 jersey.
@bovidae said in Magpies 2022:
@stargazer said in Magpies 2022:
Oh, and this probably wouldn't have happened if he had signed with the Canes; so glad he's with another franchise!
The same with Ah Kuoi. Not signed by the Canes and leaves Wellington too.
Not a big surprise there as he was never going to oust J. Blackwell if they decided he was a lock nor R. Prinsep if they decided he was a blindside at the Canes.
@stargazer said in Magpies 2022:
HBT article
Great to see the passion and pull of home is still strong. I get the shakes everytime I enter McLean Park such is the attachment I have for the ground. I even try to drive down Latham Street and past the main gates on the way back from town to where I am currently staying just to feel the vibe of the place.
Sweet, so we have 10 players in the Chiefs v MP match now.
Although, does this mean we lose one of Kereru-Symes and Devery? Still think Kereru Symes has huge upside.
