NPC 2026

@Bovidae said in NPC 2026:

@MacDazzler said in NPC 2026:

@Dan54 Surprised Leo Crowley wasn't brought in.

He is involved.

With Hoeata having Super Rugby Pacific commitments with the Chiefs through until June, vastly experienced local coach Leo Crowley has been appointed as a Resource Coach to lead the local programme until Hoeata returns to Taranaki full time. Over the next three months, Crowley will view CMK Premier Club Rugby matches, support locally based NPC athletes on their game, run wider training group sessions, and work closely with Hoeata and the management team on campaign planning.

The Naki union seem to be doing things right. I had wondered what they would do with Hoeata tied up with Chiefs, I used to seeing Barnes on sideline of games keeping an eye on things.

North Harbour tight head prop Sam Davies has signed with Auckland for the 2026 Npc season

Oscar Crowley Andrea who was in the Auckland Npc last year is playing in the North Habour Club comp atm

Former Northland and Blues U20 loose forward Rory Woods has signed with the Manawatu Turbos for 2026
Woods who left Northland in 2024 to pursue a 7s career in Ireland played in one tournament for Ireland unfortunately doing his ACL which took him out of the 2025 season
Woods has since being playing for Garyowen FC in Limerick and by all reports ripping it up playing number 8

This is a very good pick up the Turbos and possibly the Hurricanes moving forward
I rate this kid should have been given more opportunities at the Taniwha

@Steven-Harris So this must mean a potential player swap in the props for this season?

@UpTheHarbs possibly

@Steven-Harris said in NPC 2026:

North Harbour tight head prop Sam Davies has signed with Auckland for the 2026 Npc season

Oscar Crowley Andrea who was in the Auckland Npc last year is playing in the North Habour Club comp atm

Former Northland and Blues U20 loose forward Rory Woods has signed with the Manawatu Turbos for 2026
Woods who left Northland in 2024 to pursue a 7s career in Ireland played in one tournament for Ireland unfortunately doing his ACL which took him out of the 2025 season
Woods has since being playing for Garyowen FC in Limerick and by all reports ripping it up playing number 8

This is a very good pick up the Turbos and possibly the Hurricanes moving forward
I rate this kid should have been given more opportunities at the Taniwha

He was originally in the Welly academy as well and was highly touted.

@steven-harris on Rory Woods, I’m surprised he’s picked Manawatu as they’ve already got Howden, Iose and Bason. Better bet would have been to sign with Welly as they’ve lost their loosies to the ABs.

@Canes4life maybe Manawatu were the only ones to offer a full contract?

Jono Phillips lands head coach’s job at Ta$man -

Anyone heard that Rory Scott and Taha Kemara might be going to Ta$man?

@MacDazzler said in NPC 2026:

Anyone heard that Rory Scott and Taha Kemara might be going to Ta$man?

I think @chris mentioned Kemara going to Ta$man?

I went to watch another club rugby game today and Josh Taula was playing for Hamilton OB. I'm wondering if he has moved to the province to play for Waikato. We struggled with depth at lock with injuries last season.

Forgot to mention I spoke with Josh Moorby at Super Round and he said he's playing for Waikato again this year.

I cheekily asked him if he heard anything about Taha moving and he seemed surprised at the suggestion.

@Yeetyaah D'Angelo Leuila had a very good game today. Plenty of sideline conversions and was strong running the ball, and using his left boot. I'd be happy with him and Cook-Savage at 1st 5 if Kemara does go.

@Bovidae any young 10s around worth watching? Don't get any time to watch club or schoolboy in Waikato due to my own school commitments.

@Yeetyaah said in NPC 2026:

@Bovidae any young 10s around worth watching? Don't get any time to watch club or schoolboy in Waikato due to my own school commitments.

The two young 1st 5s would be Rangiwai Lunjevich (Hautapu) and Daniel Tickelpenny (Marist), although he seems to be playing more at fullback.

Taranaki is very proactive with their squad announcements. All SR players are signed and they have named a wider training group, of which up to 11 players will be contracted.

So the rumour about Jacomb joining Otago (at least for 2026) is not true.

It will be interesting to see what team is selected, and an indication of who might be in the frame for the NPC squad.

Bit of Npc news
Ofa Tuangafasi will play last Npc season in NZ this year Auckland
Ofa has an out contract with Auckland if he doesn’t make the All Blacks this year
Solomon Alaimalo has been released by Northland to pursue a possible contract with Newcastle Red Bulls

@Bovidae
That’s if Waikato release the team details…they typically don’t like keeping the public informed of things like this…

@OleOleOle said in NPC 2026:

@Bovidae
That’s if Waikato release the team details…they typically don’t like keeping the public informed of things like this…

Yeah. I might go along and watch.

Ran into Levi Amua at a cafe over the weekend hes back from Japan plays for Cannon is loving playing in Japan
Sam Caird ,Billy Harmon ,Liaki Moli and Liam Coltman play in the same team
He was telling me the Springbok players that are all playing in Japan have very little time off 3 x weeks at the most before they either back to SA for training camps and testing
Levi reckons there a few lads up Japan that will be returning for Npc He mentioned Sam Caird and Josh Goodhue were returning for Northland which I had heard about myself but 3 or 4 lads which off the top of the head he couldn’t quite remember.
Possibly Jackson Hemopo who may have played his last game for Mitsubishi Dynaboars in their promotion/relegation game against Division 2 team Shuttles Aichi ,
Richie Mounga the most obvious one
Brodie Retallick still the best player running in Japanese rugby according to Levi and Billy Harmon was the outstanding player for his own team Cannon
Be interesting to see and if other lads from Japan settle back in the Npc

Just popped in from the Auckland v North Harbour trial match played Massey Rugby Club
Left at halftime as the weather had turned pear
Harbour were up 4 tries to 2 and for good part of the first half looked far the better team
Cam Howell looked all class running the cutter at 10 , halfback was either Ngakete George ex Varsity halfback or Tamatea Winiana (Mahurangi)whoever it was they were tidy and slick with their service
2nd five looked like Oscar Koller ,
Former Westlake Boys High player Tyler Pulini looked a very classy at 15 as did winger JD Van Der Westhuizen
Former Canterbury no 8 George Reeves is a bloody good pick up for Harbour

Unfortunately Auckland has a policy of not posting team sheets as they are concerned players may get poached , really annoying for your average punter turning up to watch
I did recognise several players ex Northland lock Liam Hallam Eames and 6’9 St Peter’s College lock Tevita Tatafu
Caleb Woodley was in the 7 jersey ,former ponsonby first five Hohaia Whiu was at 10 and Zacharaih Mauga from Suburbs was at number 8
Fullback was Jimmy Taupo feom Manukau , reminds me of Orene Ai
Despite the conditions the handling was reasonable
Final score i believe 38-17 to Harbour
There are some try highlights on the Harbour FB

@Steven-Harris said in NPC 2026:

2nd five looked like Oscar Koller ,

FYI: He was in the NZ University team that played Japan U20s on Sat, so unlikely he played two days later.

George Reeves is a Waikato boy, so getting closer to home.

A few guys who habe popped up in Dunedin club footy to push for NPC opps.

Viliame Lea: An Australian midfield back who has played a bit in Japan and a bit of Queensland Cup league as well.

Kyle Kloopers: South African outside back. Most recently playing in the North Harbour club comp.

Cody Lokotui: no8. Originally from Wellington, then went through the Crusaders academy. Looks like he has just made the move down in the last week.

Oliver Church: six/eight from Wellington. Has been tearing it up for AU.

Harry Irving: Former NZU20s out of Wellington. Just moved down to Dunedin.

There are a few other younger guys that have popped up as well. Rupeni Koroi is 18 and is playing lock/six for Zingari and tearing it up. Brock Reid (Southland affiliated) is being talked about positively.

The Dunedin comp is a bit weird. It is essentially an U23 comp, which reflects the footy players in the city. There are still some experienced players. Just a huge number of young kids in the comp.

There is a pre-season shield challenge against North Otago in a couple of weeks. It should paint a bit of a picture about aho is in contention.

@Bovidae Tyson Lowry who played for the Universites came off the bench for Auckland and Oscar Koller was on the Harbour squad sheet
A good number of the Harbour lads played club on Saturday including George Reeves whom i saw play for Takapuna v Kumeu on Saturday
He was impressive in that game as well
Great to see these lads commiting to these sort of preseason games

@SouthernMann

Brock Reid (Southland affiliated) is being talked about

Brock Reid is from Northland , played for Whangarei Boys last year and was the outstanding player of the final
His dad Hamish played Rugby League for the Northland Swords

@Steven-Harris said in NPC 2026:

@SouthernMann

Brock Reid (Southland affiliated) is being talked about

Brock Reid is from Northland , played for Whangarei Boys last year and was the outstanding player of the final
His dad Hamish played Rugby League for the Northland Swords

Yeah went well in the sevens didn't he? Still a bit light?

The other kid who has played well when he has had the opportunity and not with NZ U20s is Alex Arnold. Another 6/lock. Out of Hamilton.

@SouthernMann yea at the moment he fits into the current undersized nz loosie mold, but his frame certainly looks like it can take on some size.

Guess its like alot of 18/19 year old kids, some still have plenty of growing, others none.

@taniwharugby said in NPC 2026:

@SouthernMann yea at the moment he fits into the current undersized nz loosie mold, but his frame certainly looks like it can take on some size.

Guess its like alot of 18/19 year old kids, some still have plenty of growing, others none.

A bit of a patience worked a treat with Lucas Casey. Hopefully the same happens with young Reid.

@SouthernMann and ignorance on the part of NRU...although TBH, he would absolutely not.be where.he is now if.he stayed here.

@taniwharugby he wanted to head down to Otago University for 2 years but couldn’t get a spot in the Otago academy hence he’s ended up in the Southland academy system because of the close proximity to his club rugby in Dunedin
Northland have got tabs on him we blame them for ton other stuff but there was’nt a lot they could do in this case

@Steven-Harris i was talking Casey, I know Reid was higher education.

Speaking of Casey...locked in through 2029

Edit- ah this is Highlanders, no Otago

@taniwharugby hopefully the other one follows.

@SouthernMann said in NPC 2026:

There is a pre-season shield challenge against North Otago in a couple of weeks. It should paint a bit of a picture about aho is in contention.

I've booked flights to Queenstown then a rental car to head to the Otago shield defence against Mid Canterbury in Alexandra on July 24.