Auckland Rugby 2026

@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.

@Daffy-Jaffy

I think he’s been involved for a while?

At least they’ve surrounded Bates with better people. In particular Ozich.

Any other Auckland players from the 2000s/2010s looking for a gig?

What's next, a culture coach?

Auckland will have more coaches than players at this rate.

@MacDazzler said in Auckland Rugby 2026

Auckland will have more coaches than players at this rate.

?

Same number of coaches as other NPC sides

@Duluth I was being a smart****. I will say this apart from Ozich, it seems like jobs for the boys.

Quinton Nichols is playing club rugby for Grammar TEC.

Harlyn Saunoa is playing centre for Pakuranga.

King Maxwell is playing centre for College Rifles.

Mike Sosene-Feagai is playing hooker for Marist, and Siaosi Nginingini
is playing halfback for them. Maliu Niuafe is back playing prop for them too.

Is the Jay Fonokalafi playing 6 for Ponsonby the NSW and Tonga prop? Looks like he played prop or hooker for them this year too.

The Tevita Tatafu playing lock for Ponsonby is the tall lock from St Peters?

@Tim yes that him apparently was very unlucky to make the NZ U20 team ..watched him play for Auckland contenders team against Harbour a few weeks ago , 6’9 looked good at line-out time fairly athletic with a bit more size could have end up with a similar shape to Warner Dearns

I was wondering what happened to the 6'9 St Peters College lock. Assume he's in the Auck/Blues development system?

In terms of this season you'd have to think it's do or die for Bates, I can't see him being reappointed if we have a similar season to last year. With Parkes, Ozich and Hicks at least he's got some good coaches with international experience around him.

Gallagher Shield QFs today:

I see former NZ U20 Tighthead Prop Maliu Niuafe is back in the country turning out for Marist today. Maybe here for a crack at NPC or even Super Rugby? Cali born Kiwi raised, been playing MLR for 2 seasons and 2 tests for the U.S. Eagles last year. Still only 22 years old.

@Daffy-Jaffy Codi Vai at 12 is interesting. Hope he bulks up a bit for next year.

@Tim went to Colin maiden this afternoon. Good tussle. Honestly I enjoyed it way more than professional rugby

Home side got up in what was s tight game until the very end

Former Wallaby U20 no 8 Titi Nofogatotoa who made his debut off the bench for the Western Force in Round 1 of Super Rugby back in 2024 rocked up for Manukau Rovers at number 8 on the weekend
Not gonna lie our young Waitemata team had all sorts of problems putting him down on the carry , so bloody powerful
Little bit of talk around that he might be an outside chance for the Auckland NPC squad he’s 23 years old

Gallagher Shield SFs tomorrow:

Auckland NPC must be announced soon first day training.

@george33 Normally announced the week after the Gallagher Shield final?

Might be some leaks on the sports photographer websites?

@tim said in Auckland Rugby 2026:

Might be some leaks on the sports photographer websites?

Haha, yes every year the squad is mostly available on photosport as they do the headshots before the squad is named. It's normally the squad plus a few extras

@Tim Few there Perofeta for 1.

Ofa and Pita Ahki also there at training.

Titi Nofoagatotoa is there, also Randell Baker back from Canon Eagles.

Is Tai Cribb there?