Super Vets in badminton action at Gisborne centre on Saturday
Eastland will host Bay of Plenty (2) and Hawke's Bay at the Badminton Centre on Saturday.
Play starts at 9.30am, with Eastland up against BoP.
BoP face Hawke's Bay in the next
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NZ Herald
3 days ago
- NZ Herald
Why Chiefs playmaker Josh Jacomb should move to the Highlanders
While Ruben Love is the All Blacks' third-choice first five for the Rugby Championship, that picture could alter once Perofeta returns from injury with Auckland in the coming weeks and with Richie Mo'unga confirming his homecoming from Japan next year. Jacomb, though, should be firmly in that frame by now. After turning down an offer to join the Crusaders, he's spent two years largely fulfilling back-up duties to Damian McKenzie at the Chiefs. Learning his trade from McKenzie, with the odd start and cameo appearance mixed in, might have been fine for one season, but the 24-year-old Jacomb is clearly wasted sitting in reserve. To evolve, he needs to be playing, competing, every week in Super Rugby Pacific. While Cameron and Godfrey enjoyed game time with the Hurricanes, Kemara and Reihana played pivotal roles as the Crusaders rebounded to claim this year's title and Jacomb's development stagnated. Jacomb is contracted to the Chiefs next year but his opportunities to start are likely to remain limited, with McKenzie recently re-signing with New Zealand Rugby (NZR) through to 2029. McKenzie will skip Super Rugby Pacific with his agreed sabbatical in 2028, the year following the next World Cup, but does Jacomb want to wait two more years to temporarily seize the reins at the Chiefs? Shaun Stevenson's departure to Japan leaves an opening at fullback next year but with Emoni Narawa, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Trask and Moana Pasifika recruit Kyren Taumoefolau on the Chiefs' books, they have ample cover, which should allow McKenzie to stay at first five, where he commands more influence. Every player has circumstances beyond rugby to consider in any future decisions. Jacomb, with a young family, is no different but the Herald understands the Highlanders are making a serious play for his services. From a pure rugby development perspective, moving to the Highlanders, where he would be a guaranteed starter, is a no-brainer. In this regard, NZR should have a role to play in encouraging the spread of talent rather than the frequent player-hoarding scenarios that leave the same teams contesting Super finals year after year. Breaking contracts to shift teams is common in the NRL. Not so in the New Zealand rugby landscape. Last year, though, Brodie McAlister secured an early release to switch from the Crusaders to the Chiefs. That move paid immediate rewards, with McAlister winning promotion to the All Blacks, making his debut off the bench in the third French test in Hamilton and retaining his place as the third hooker for the Rugby Championship. Outside backs Waisake Naholo, Caleb Tangitau, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens and former All Blacks Aaron Smith and Malakai Fekitoa are among those to take a chance on the Highlanders by seeking game time and exposure. All significantly improved their stocks. The case for Jacomb to move south is exemplified by Lima Sopoaga after Jamie Joseph convinced him to move from Wellington to join the Highlanders. Sopoaga progressed to play an influential role in the Highlanders' sole title success in 2015 – the same year he debuted for the All Blacks. Since Sopoaga's departure in 2018, the Highlanders have struggled to source a consistent, reliable replacement at No 10. Joseph, after resuming as Highlanders head coach this season, is on another recruitment drive as he attempts to offset a familiar disparity in squad quality and depth compared to his New Zealand counterparts. The Highlanders have hired David Kidwell as their new defence coach and are believed to have signed former All Blacks and veteran Blues prop Angus Ta'avao and promising New Zealand Under-20s backline utility Stanley Solomon for next season. Luring the tough and talented Jacomb, though, would be a game-changer for the southern franchise. Liam Napier is a Senior Sports Journalist and Rugby Correspondent for the New Zealand Herald. He is a co-host of the Rugby Direct podcast.
NZ Herald
3 days ago
- NZ Herald
NPC: Magpies aim to defend proud record under the roof in Dunedin
The Magpies have dominated in recent times, winning 10 of 13 matches dating back to a Ranfurly Shield challenge win in Dunedin in 2013, half of those wins being in Dunedin. Other important Magpies wins were a championship division semifinal a week later, another championship semifinal win, by 44-39 in Napier in 2019, after it had been 31-31 at the end of the first 80 minutes, and a 28-9 result in another Ranfurly Shield challenge in Dunedin, in 2020. The most recent match was Hawke's Bay's 33-32 win in Napier two years ago. The Magpies head to Dunedin on Saturday with no injury issues hanging over from the game against Counties-Manukau, although James conceded on Friday morning there were still two training sessions to go, including the captain's run in Napier. Last Sunday's squad of 23 has been retained. Asked about needing to keep his squad's feet on the ground after an eight-tries performance rated as one of the best of the first weekend, James said: 'Every week's a new challenge, and Otago play a very different game than Counties-Manukau'. 'They've got a good 15 around the park,' he said. Established forward pack members Pouri Rakete-Stones, Jacob Devery, Geoff Cridge, Tom Parsons and Devan Flanders have about 370 Magpies appearances between them, highlighting the 'consistency' James rates as a key factor in the team's hopes. Meanwhile, two Hawke's Bay sides play NPC Heartland teams on Saturday. The Hawke's Bay Development team plays an annual match against Poverty Bay at Park Island on Saturday, at 1pm, and Te Matau-a-Māui Hawke's Bay Māori play Wairarapa-Bush in Masterton. The Central Hawke's Bay sub-union ended its season being beaten 66-26 by Heartland side Ngati Porou East Coast last Saturday at Takapau, and on Sunday, the Wairoa sub-union's Barry Cup reign ended with a 21-10 loss to Ruatoria in Wairoa. Meanwhile, the Napier Boys' High School First XV has a big job ahead in a Hurricanes region national secondary schools championship playoff against Super 8 winners Palmerston North BHS, in Palmerston North, on Saturday. Hastings BHS has a home game against Gisborne BHS. The Lindisfarne College First XV's hopes of winning the Central North Island (CNI) Schools competition ended with a 29-20 loss to Feilding Agricultural High School in Feilding last weekend. The team now has a playoff against Wesley College on the finals day in Taupō on Saturday. The Magpies' next game will be against North Harbour, at McLean Park, Napier, on August 16, starting at 7.10pm, with the Hawke's Bay Tui playing on the same pitch beforehand in their first Farah Palmer Cup women's championship match this season. Doug Laing has been a reporter for more than 52 years, more than 40 of them in Hawke's Bay, at the Central Hawke's Bay Press, the Napier Daily Telegraph and Hawke's Bay Today, since its establishment in 1999. He has covered most aspects of general news and sport, and is based in Napier.
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Toleafoa to start as Lio-Willie given break
All Black Christian Lio-Willie has been given some time off to unpack his suitcase and get settled in Dunedin again. The powerhouse No 8 made 22 tackles to help Otago beat Southland 24-15 in the NPC opener in Invercargill on Saturday. But the star loose forward has had a busy few months, and coach Mark Brown said Lio-Willie would take some time off and rejoin the team on Monday. "We really appreciate what Christian has done for us," Brown said. "After the All Blacks' campaign [against France] finished, he just jumped in his car and came down for the Southland game. "He has been domiciled up in Christchurch for the Super campaign ... and he has had a big few months, culminating in his All Black appearances and also the Super Rugby final. "He needed a break and now is as good a time as any to give it to him." Southern's Konrad Toleafoa will start at No8 for Otago against Hawke's Bay in Dunedin this Sunday and will be making his debut. The promising loose forward is a devastating ball-carrier and light on his feet. There is one other change to the starting lineup. Jae Broomfield earns promotion from the bench and will start on the right wing ahead of Charlie Powell, who had an underwhelming debut for Otago. "Charlie has done nothing wrong. In fact, he has been really good with his detail. "But it is more the fact that we felt Jae has been offering just a little bit more potency on attack, so for that reason he gets the nod." Otago have strengthened their bench. Highlanders midfielder Jake Te Hiwi returns from injury (groin) and will start from the pine. He had a hit-out last weekend in the Tuppy Diack Shield and performed strongly. Te Hiwi set up two tries and dotted down for Otago Metro South in a 52-7 win over Southland Metro. Highlanders blindside flanker Oliver Haig has also returned from injury (ankle) a little early and he will provide lock and loose forward cover from the bench, while Charles Elton drops out of the game-day squad. New Zealand under-20 halfback Dylan Pledger replaces Bob Martin and will look to make an impact from the bench. Prop Rohan Wingham, who was a late scratching last week, has been named in the reserves. Hawke's Bay have named an unchanged side after thumping Counties-Manukau 54-14 in the opening round. NPC The teams Otago: Sam Gilbert (captain), Jae Broomfield, Josh Timu, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Jona Nareki, Cameron Millar, Nathan Hastie, Konrad Toleafoa, Harry Taylor, Will Stodart, Joseva Tamani, Will Tucker, Saula Ma'u, Henry Bell, Abraham Pole. Reserves: Liam Coltman, Ben Lopas, Rohan Wingham, Oliver Haig, Lucas Casey, Dylan Pledger, Jake Te Hiwi, Sam Nemec-Vial. Hawke's Bay: Zarn Sullivan, Jonah Lowe, Nick Grigg, Kienan Higgins, Lukas Ripley, Harry Godfrey, Ere Enari, Devan Flanders, Cooper Flanders, Miracle Fai'ilagi, Tom Parsons (captain), Geoff Cridge, Josh Smith, Jacob Devery, Pouri Rakete-Stones. Reserves: Kianu Kereru-Symes, Hadlee Hay-Horton, Lolani Faleiva, Hunter Morrison, Frank Lochore, Folau Fakatava, Lincoln McClutchie, Andrew Tauatevalu.
