NPC 2026

@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?

@taniwharugby

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

@mr-fish Many thanks. I think last year they started slowly but then rolled out more games as the season progressed. No sign of anything being broadcast for the opening weekend but I’ll keep an eye out for late changes

In fact, I checked with Sky who say that they don’t hold the UK rights and won’t be showing any matches . Looks like no one has those rights as yet - even RugbyPass TV not currently showing anything in its schedule

Would have thought Joey Manu would be playing Npc this year.

@sbw1 said in NPC 2026:

Would have thought Joey Manu would be playing Npc this year.

He’s contracted in France earning north of 1.5million a year. What in the world would make you think he would be playing NPC this year?

Doesn't he want to have a crack at Super Rugby and the World Cup?

@sbw1 said in NPC 2026:

Doesn't he want to have a crack at Super Rugby and the World Cup?

Haha time to move on from it. He ain't coming to NZ rugby. Not now. Not ever.

He may as well go to Nrl sooner than later. Nothing official about him signing with the PNG Chiefs.

@taniwharugby what has been shared with me New Reds coach Vern Cotter wants to attend a Northland game and had made a request to have a look at a couple of players during the Taniwha training

Lachie Hooper being one of them

After the way he treated Ross Wright i would tell him to go and take a flying leap

@steven-harris What happened to Ross Wright?

@handa457 there was an agreement by the Blues that Ross Wright as part of his coaching development would spend a week with the team primarly as an observer

Ross is a forwards coach with a ton of potential but after 2 days Cotter who was under pressure at that time requested that Wright leave as he had enough on his plate at that time Ross had to find out through the Blues Hp team as opposed from Cotter himself

On Ross you would not meet a more decent human

@steven-harris fucking hell. Some of the stories I've heard from NZR coaches and basic professionalism stuns me. Most other industries heads would roll over things like that.