@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.
11 days later
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.
It will be interesting to see what team is selected, and an indication of who might be in the frame for the NPC squad.
@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
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:
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.
@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.
@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.
Fog and 3c in Alexandra in July. Has the makings of an absolute classic.
@SouthernMann said in NPC 2026:
@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.
Fog and 3c in Alexandra in July. Has the makings of an absolute classic.
Will pack the Canterbury quartered shorts to match up with a pair of jandals.
@SouthernMann so...normal weekend attire?
@Steven-Harris said in NPC 2026:
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 ,
Asked a contact about Hemopo. Not likely to be playing NPC. He’s holding out and hoping for another Japanese contract. If they don’t come in he will be looking at UK/Europe.
Would love nothing more than to bring him back down South so I’ll hold out some hope JJ gets in his ear lol
I went to watch the top-of-the-table clash in Waikato club rugby (Marist v Hautapu) where Tai Cribb was a late addition to the Marist reserves. It makes me wonder if he is back with Waikato.
