Auckland Rugby 2026

Some of the preseason club games are streaming here:

@african-monkey

You can watch Nathaniel Pole play for GTEC at 2:45 pm today.

John Afoa is general manger of Auckland University RFC now. I wonder if he will do some coaching?

@Tim strange, I did my annual rugby smart with Counties and he was there helping with the dev team.

@Yeetyaah

I remember that he was an assistant coach (scrum?) with Counties Manukau last year, but I assume that sort of role doesn't pay much?

Apparently he's also an NZ U85 kg coach.

EDIT: Apparently he's been AURFC general manager since 2023.

A man with a finger in many pies I guess

@MacDazzler a big step up on Jono Hickey

@MacDazzler Solid choice. Did good things with Hawkes Bay.

Mark Ozick is back in New Zealand and helping to coach Auckland. Hope it's short term, be great to have him back in the Bay helping the Magpies.

Eden Park: Auckland Rugby and Auckland Cricket to leave New Zealand’s biggest stadium

Any rumours about players coming or going for Auckland? Maybe Ozick will bring some players in? Maybe Torian Barnes moving to Auckland?

Thoughts on a 23?

1 Fusitua
2 Vikena
3 Taʻavao
4 Beehre
5
6 Clark
7 Segner
8
9 Funaki
10 Perofeta
11 Tito-Harris/Saunoa
12 Taele
13 Lam*/Teleʻa/Gordon
14 Vai
15 Spencer/Simpson/Norrie

16 Sanerivi
17 Ake
18 Ahio
19 ?
20 ?
21 Arscott
22 Simpson/Norrie
23 Teleʻa/Gordon/Spencer/Saunoa

Players in the squad last year:

Did Harlyn Saunoa play NPC last year?

@Tim said in Auckland Rugby 2026:

Did Harlyn Saunoa play NPC last year?

Loaned to NH. Played 5 games - 2 starts.

@Tim I would expect a few of the nz under trialists to be there
At lock Tevita Tatafu and loose forwards Caleb Woodley and Aio Keith

@Tim Auckland Rugby are still playing at Eden Park .

@george33 I assume for this year, but in the future?

@Tim foreseeable future I was told.

University have Eli Oudenryn playing 7 with Mullen at hooker .

@george33 Very interesting. Yates, Cunningham, and Simpson playing too.

@KiwiMurph I have heard Auckland are going hard out on Torian Barnes even to the point of getting him out of his remaining Npc contract this year

@Steven-Harris said in Exodus:

@KiwiMurph I have Auckland are going hard out on Torian Barnes even to the point of getting him out of his remaining Npc contract this year

I hope for his sake Auckland are less of a mess. Stronger assistant coaching this year is a good start

Particularly interested how Barnes goes Saturday

@KiwiMurph said in Exodus:

@Steven-Harris said in Exodus:

@KiwiMurph I have Auckland are going hard out on Torian Barnes even to the point of getting him out of his remaining Npc contract this year

I hope for his sake Auckland are less of a mess. Stronger assistant coaching this year is a good start

Particularly interested how Barnes goes Saturday

They certainly played well below their potential last year.

@Steven-Harris said in Auckland Rugby 2026:

I have Auckland are going hard out on Torian Barnes even to the point of getting him out of his remaining Npc contract this year

I hope they are chasing Oudenryn too

@Duluth should be interesting to see how he goes tonight some good pundits have told me the kid is special

@Tim he played for Suburbs against our Waitemata team a couple rounds ago , came off the bench and added some real impact seriously quick for a forward

Isa Nacewa back as Auckland Rugby performance manager.

Not sure what the job description is for "Resource Coach NPC" but guess its some trendy new name for an assistant role with the NPC team?

@Daffy-Jaffy Development role combining scouting and skills? Helping the clubs?

This page lists Ozich, Parkes & Hickey as 'Resource Coaches'

So NPC assistant coaches I guess?

@Duluth Also Brent Ward I see as "NPC Campaign Manager".

@Duluth Corporate wankery

@barky1 said in Auckland Rugby 2026:

Corporate wankery

Yes it’s pointless. Its the sort of shit Robertson & Hansen would come up with.