@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
. Looks like no one has those rights as yet - even RugbyPass TV not currently showing anything in its schedule
@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.
Npc newcomers after Round 1
Was seriously impressed with Sam Nemac-Vial from Otago both on attack and defence
Hunter Morrison after puting on a bit of size was out the gate for Hawkes Bay
Waisake Salabiau on the wing for Waikato looked the goods
I’m sure there were others buts thats 3 that caught my eye
@steven-harris I’d agree with those 3. Morrison’s performance came out of nowhere for me: I’ve seen him play a fair bit at age grade level and while he’s always had good offensive instincts, that game against Wellington was on a whole different level. That line he ran for his try was sublime; when I first saw it, I was convinced a back had scored that try. I reckon with his pace and feel for attack, he’d make a more than decent No. 8.
I also thought Garouw Basson was excellent for Auckland off the bench: a very typical South African back, in that he’s as physical as a backrower. He could make a good hybrid option. Some others who I thought were solid additions to the NPC were Harry Irving for Otago (looked like a natural) and Clement Castets, the French prop for Hawke’s Bay. You could tell he’s a seasoned professional, just very efficient in everything he does.
And this might not be the most popular take but I've actually quite enjoyed the influx of Australians into the NPC: players like Clem Halaholo, Rory Scott, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa and Dan Botha are quality, and they lift the general playing level of the competition. Even with these additions, there are still more than enough development spots for Kiwi players across the teams, in my view. And the only way these players actually develop is if the quality of play is of a sufficient standard.
@mauss yeah I think the neglect / management of the NPC over the past 15-20 years has lead us to where we are right now with some Aussies coming over to bolster some squads.
Sure I'd prefer we used locals, but I think these guys can add something to the squads, especially with many having played super.
Doesn't he want to have a crack at Super Rugby and the World Cup?
That would've been purely to drum up his perceived value in contract negotiations. Of all the players to get some special dispensation to walk into a RWC squad in an alternate universe where that happened, he's not it.
@taniwharugby said in NPC 2026:
@mauss yeah I think the neglect / management of the NPC over the past 15-20 years has lead us to where we are right now with some Aussies coming over to bolster some squads.
Sure I'd prefer we used locals, but I think these guys can add something to the squads, especially with many having played super.
Somewhat ironic given the calls for ABs to be eligible bolstering Aussie SR squads.
@antipodean still think this could be mutually beneficial, to our NPC and to these players and subsequently, Aussie Rugby.
@antipodean said in NPC 2026:
@taniwharugby said in NPC 2026:
@mauss yeah I think the neglect / management of the NPC over the past 15-20 years has lead us to where we are right now with some Aussies coming over to bolster some squads.
Sure I'd prefer we used locals, but I think these guys can add something to the squads, especially with many having played super.
Somewhat ironic given the calls for ABs to be eligible bolstering Aussie SR squads.
The call is not for ABs to go to Aussie SR sides, but for NZ players to remain eligible for the ABs if they play for Aussie Super sides.
Exactly like how the Aussies playing NPC remain eligible for Australia.
In both cases it's just a bigger pool of players giving a better quality comp.