FYI the NPC table is on the 'Home' page now. It updates a couple of hours after the games
Otago is going to put a cricket score up against Southland. The stags have been smashed with injuries. They are running out kids and club players.
@sinton_enjoyer said in NPC 2026:
North Harbour might be in for a rough season.
Hopefully it's not going to be like the disastrous one we had last year!
@southernmann said in NPC 2026:
Otago is going to put a cricket score up against Southland. The stags have been smashed with injuries. They are running out kids and club players.
Real shame, that. Real shame. I'll definitely have to tune into The Roar podcast next week.
@uptheharbs Hope not either, there's a lot of good teams out there though, should be a cracking season where anybody can beat anybody on their day.
There's more Force players involved in the NPC than you think:
Do any UK-based Ferners know which TV platform will be showing the NPC here? Doesn’t look like Sky are doing so. Apologies if that’s been covered in the thread earlier - I had a quick skim but couldn’t see that it had.
Also I’m not a regular poster and I’m not sure if this is mistakenly replying to @bovidaerather than being a new post (and apologies if it is).
@1shadeofblack said in NPC 2026:
Do any UK-based Ferners know which TV platform will be showing the NPC here? Doesn’t look like Sky are doing so. Apologies if that’s been covered in the thread earlier - I had a quick skim but couldn’t see that it had.
Also I’m not a regular poster and I’m not sure if this is mistakenly replying to @bovidaerather than being a new post (and apologies if it is).
Sky own the rights. Think they showed one game a week or so last year - we'll be lucky if they do the same this year.
A reminder for those NZers without Sky, that all games are on TVNZ+, and three games will be on TV1 each round. Those are 2 pm and 7 pm on Sat, and 2 pm on Sun.
@antipodean at this rate we could pick an Australian team out of the Npc
@steven-harris have you heard anything on that, as it does seem more Aussies this year. Is ARU picking up the bill for the players and Provinces just paying a 'top up' of a min contract or anything?
if you include the likes of lancaster, there maybe a couple more 26 Forceites in the NPC
The force have become pro-active in getting their players assigned in the SR off-season
especially their "development" type players
because they get their SR money, they are probably good value for money for NPC teams
I assume that is the Force sales pitch
Dont think NZ SR teams care where their players go; they are all going to the NPC somewhere
Because they are Force loan players their coaching staff can keep tabs on them, and i'd say they'll have a coaching group who'll pay a visit to those NPC teams during the season (plus having a chat to possible recruits, of course)
All very friendly!!
The rest of their squad is spread between the Perth, Sydney, and Brisbane club comps (and wobs); and will come together for SR Aus when those comps finish.
Just about the best possible optimisation from their POV; I give it a tick.
A lot of kiwis involved in the Force's management group too. Which will help link players in