NPC 2025
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There will be some new faces in the Southland Stags coaching box for the 2025 NPC campaign. Co-coach Matt Saunders, who joined the Southland Rugby Union in 2022 as director of rugby, is departing to pursue a new opportunity with Foodstuffs NZ. He is going to be replaced by Toyota Verblitz forwards coach Nathan White, who has been named as a co-coach alongside James Wilson.
White will also take control of the lineout and set piece as 2024 forwards coach Kane Thompson is unable to return due to his role with Manu Samoa. Talented local coach Scott Eade will step up into the role of assistant coach and will take on the reins of defence.
https://www.thepress.co.nz/sport/360703040/changes-stags-coaching-group-saunders-departs
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@Mr-Fish Who's Goddard? Presume your meaning Godfrey
@MacDazzler Whoops yes indeed!
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Former NZ U20 halfback Riley Williams has signed with Canterbury for the 2025 NPC season..
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Former NZ U20 halfback Riley Williams has signed with Canterbury for the 2025 NPC season..
@Steven-Harris This irritates me so much. Three seasons in a row we bring in middling players from elsewhere (Thomas, Howling and now Arscott), while we lose young local talent. That's how we lost Sititi. I was hoping because Bates has worked a lot with younger players he would be keener to promote them.
Who will be the squad halfbacks with Funaki and Arscott? Is the young Aussie that trained with the Blues Luke Aiken playing in Auckland? Also I think thie years Blues u20 halfback Joel Russel is around Auckland. Maybe they rate them all ahead of Williams.
Also we still have not heard who Bates' assistants will be? -
@Steven-Harris This irritates me so much. Three seasons in a row we bring in middling players from elsewhere (Thomas, Howling and now Arscott), while we lose young local talent. That's how we lost Sititi. I was hoping because Bates has worked a lot with younger players he would be keener to promote them.
Who will be the squad halfbacks with Funaki and Arscott? Is the young Aussie that trained with the Blues Luke Aiken playing in Auckland? Also I think thie years Blues u20 halfback Joel Russel is around Auckland. Maybe they rate them all ahead of Williams.
Also we still have not heard who Bates' assistants will be?@Daffy-Jaffy the new Auckland assistant coach is Pom Simona who is currently an assistant coach to New England head coach Ryan Martin in the MLR, Simona interviewed for an assistant role in Northland but was then lured back to Auckland
Simona played for Ponsonby back in the late 90s early 2000’s
100% on your other coms letting young talent go and bringing outsiders in
Pom orginally was at the Melbourne Rising and the Melbourne Rebels -
@Daffy-Jaffy the new Auckland assistant coach is Pom Simona who is currently an assistant coach to New England head coach Ryan Martin in the MLR, Simona interviewed for an assistant role in Northland but was then lured back to Auckland
Simona played for Ponsonby back in the late 90s early 2000’s
100% on your other coms letting young talent go and bringing outsiders in
Pom orginally was at the Melbourne Rising and the Melbourne Rebels@Steven-Harris Pom was a legend and a fantastic player for Ponies. I hope his coaching is as good. I guess as forwards or defense coach. So backs/attack coach still to come?
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@Steven-Harris Pom was a legend and a fantastic player for Ponies. I hope his coaching is as good. I guess as forwards or defense coach. So backs/attack coach still to come?
@Daffy-Jaffy have’nt heard anything as yet but will hit my contact when we catch up
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@Steven-Harris This irritates me so much. Three seasons in a row we bring in middling players from elsewhere (Thomas, Howling and now Arscott), while we lose young local talent. That's how we lost Sititi. I was hoping because Bates has worked a lot with younger players he would be keener to promote them.
Who will be the squad halfbacks with Funaki and Arscott? Is the young Aussie that trained with the Blues Luke Aiken playing in Auckland? Also I think thie years Blues u20 halfback Joel Russel is around Auckland. Maybe they rate them all ahead of Williams.
Also we still have not heard who Bates' assistants will be? -
@Daffy-Jaffy Sam Howling is from Auckland, so a local.
@Bovidae Yes true ( I knew his dad from when he played for Ponies as a kid back in the eighties) but they brought Sam back from Welly where he was playing the year before.
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Some info about the Manawatū squad. They have gained and lost some players from last year.
https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360706388/turbos-coach-looking-forward-touchdown-manawatu-country
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Some info about the Manawatū squad. They have gained and lost some players from last year.
https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360706388/turbos-coach-looking-forward-touchdown-manawatu-country
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@Bovidae I wonder what’s happened to Tyler Laubscher ?
Man I rate this kid but seems to have more injuries than one can imagine@Steven-Harris You probably answered your own question (re: injuries). Manawatū Rugby have club team lists on their FB page so maybe Laubscher is back playing.
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Think Lima Sopoaga is finished in Japan so could pick up an NPC contract (and wouldn't be a bad SR squaddie).
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This might be an interesting read:
This might be an interesting read:
This was definitely interesting:
Yet, despite fears from some provincial unions about its direction, the Star-Times understands the report endorsed the NPC as the best player development option for NZ Rugby in its current structure, supporting arguments that have been made by NPC champions such as Taranaki coach Neil Barnes.
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Sopoaga looked to be carrying some extra weight when he was a surprise addition to the Suburbs Presidents team last year. I'm sure Cruden said he intends to play again this year.
