Waikato vs Manawatu

Posted on Aug 19, 2011 in NZ

• Venue: FMG Stadium, Palmerston North
  
• Date: Saturday 20^th August
  
• Kickoff: 7.35pm
  
• Referee: Vinny Munro
  

Coaches Comments: Head Coach Chris Gibbes

“We’ve had a great build-up to this game, having had a bye in Round 10. We move into the final phase of this competition of three games in eight days, with the boys feeling fresh and ready to go. Manawatu have proven to be hard to beat this season especially at home, so we go down to Palmerston North knowing we will be in for a great battle. Selecting this week’s team has been difficult as all the players are putting their hand up for selection. We are confident the 23 named will be able to get the result we need against Manawatu.

“We were extremely pleased to secure three wins in seven days but as this competition has shown we need to keep moving forward so our only focus as a team is on winning this game against Manawatu”.

Changes to the Waikato starting line-up from the Otago game:

         -Changes to the front row sees Captain Nathan White start in the Number 3 jersey and Toby Smith start in the Number 1 jersey while Ben May moves to the bench.

         -The rest of the forward pack remains the same, with the exception of Zak Hohneck who moves from the bench into the Number 7 jersey with Marty Holah covering the reserve flanker position on the bench.

         -Changes to the backs see Tim Mikkelson move from left to right wing, Declan O’Donnell move from the bench to the left wing and powerhouse Frank Halai come onto the bench.

Injuries:

         Jack Lam remains unavailable for selection after injuring his AC joint in the Counties-Manukau match.

Otago v Manawatu ITM Cup match postponed

Posted on Aug 16, 2011 in NZ

Adverse weather and airport closures has forced the postponement of the round 10 ITM Cup match between Otago and Manawatu, which was scheduled to be played at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium tomorrow night.

The Manawatu Turbos were due to fly to Dunedin via Christchurch this morning, but their flight out of Palmerston North was cancelled.

NZRU General Manager Professional Rugby Neil Sorensen said the NZRU team had worked with both the Otago and Manawatu Rugby Unions to consider options to ensure tomorrow night’s match went ahead as planned.

“With adverse weather set to continue overnight across much of the South Island, it’s become increasingly clear that Manawatu could still face problems getting into Dunedin in time to play the fixture,” Sorensen said.

“This decision has not been made lightly.  We have spent much of today in direct consultation with both teams, the MetService, Air New Zealand and SKY TV.

“To ensure the least disruption to other fixtures for remaining rounds, the Otago v Manawatu game will now be played on Tuesday 30 August at 7.35pm at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

“Given that both teams are in the hunt for ITM Cup Championship Final spots, we have agreed to move the Championship Final to Sunday 4 September, with kick off at 5.30pm,” he said.

The ITM Cup Premiership Final will be played as scheduled on Saturday 3 September. 

New Zealand Sevens contracted squad named

Posted on Jan 25, 2011 in Rugby News

New Zealand Sevens Coach Gordon Tietjens has today named his 15-man contracted squad for 2011.

The squad includes three new caps – Waikato’s Rory Grice, Tasman’s Shane Christie and Counties Manukau’s David Raikuna.

Five fresh faces also earn contracts, all having recently made their debut in the first two tournaments of the HSBC Sevens World Series in Dubai and George in November and December last year. They include Auckland and 2010 New Zealand Barbarian Bryce Heem, Taranaki’s Jackson Ormond, Bay of Plenty’s Scott Curry, and Waikato’s Frank Halai and Declan O’Donnell.

Otago and 2009 New Zealand Under 20 representative Buxton Popoalii has also been named in the squad having already played for the side in two tournaments in 2009.

Six senior players return to the squad including Counties Manukau’s DJ Forbes who returns as captain, Bay of Plenty’s Toby Arnold and Solomon King, Waikato’s Tim Mikkelson and Manawatu’s Lote Raikabula and Tomasi Cama.

Tietjens said it was great to see a lot of new faces in the squad.

“It’s a natural progression that some players are going to step up to the Super Rugby level but this always provides a chance for new young players to put their hand up for selection.

“I think I have a very strong squad to select from this season and I’m happy with the mix of experience and youth.

“Going into our home tournament in Wellington always brings extra pressure but it’s also great to have a home crowd and your family and friends there to support you,” he added.

The New Zealand Sevens squad assembles in Wellington on Thursday 27 January with the 12-man tournament team for the NZI Sevens to be named on Monday 1 February.

2011 New Zealand Sevens squad is:

Toby Arnold                          Bay of Plenty

Tomasi Cama                       Manawatu

Shane Christie                     Tasman

Scott Curry                            Bay of Plenty

DJ Forbes, captain              Counties Manukau

Rory Grice                             Waikato

Frank Halai                           Waikato

Bryce Heem                          Auckland

Solomon King                      Bay of Plenty

Tim Mikkelson                      Waikato

Jackson Ormond                 Taranaki

Declan O’Donnell                Waikato

Buxton Popoalii                   Otago

Lote Raikubula                     Manawatu

David Raikuna                     Counties Manukau

NZ Sevens team for Dubai

Posted on Nov 26, 2010 in Rugby News

New Zealand Sevens Coach Gordon Tietjens has named a new-look team for the first two HSBC Sevens World Series tournaments starting next weekend in Dubai and the following weekend in George.

Six debutants have been named in the side that will travel to Dubai on Sunday including 19-year-old Declan O’Donnell from Waikato.

Also making their New Zealand Sevens debuts are Manawatu’s Scott Curry, Auckland’s Bryce Heem, Waikato’s Frank Halai, Taranaki’s Jackson Ormond and North Harbour’s Jack McPhee.

The team has a mix of experience with Sevens regulars Bay of Plenty’s Toby Arnold, Waikato’s Tim Mikkelson, Manawatu’s Tomasi Cama and Lote Raikabula, and captain DJ Forbes from Counties Manukau all named in the side.

Taranaki’s Scott Waldrom has been released by the Chiefs for the first two tournaments and makes a welcome return to the side having last played for the New Zealand Sevens team in 2007.

Tietjens said it was exciting to see some fresh faces in the squad.

“We have some great young talent in this side as well as those players who have had the experience of playing in big tournaments; those players will certainly provide valuable assistance to the new guys during the competition.

“Our goal is to win the Series this season and we are aiming for wins at the front end of the season to get us off to a good start,” he added.

Following the Dubai leg of the HSBC Sevens World Series, the team will travel on to South Africa for the second leg in George.

Not considered for selection due to injury were Bay of Plenty’s Jason Hona (hamstring) and Solomon King (quad).

New Zealand Sevens team for Dubai and George:

Toby Arnold              (Bay of Plenty)

Tomasi Cama           (Manawatu)

Scott Curry                (Manawatu)

DJ Forbes, captain  (Counties Manukau)

Frank Halai               (Waikato)

Bryce Heem              (Auckland)

Jack McPhee            (North Harbour)

Tim Mikkelson          (Waikato)

Declan O’Donnell    (Waikato)

Jackson Ormond     (Taranaki)

Lote Raikabula         (Manawatu)

Scott Waldrom          (Taranaki)

20010/20111 HSBC World Sevens Series schedule:

3-4 December 2010 – Dubai

10-11 December 2010 – George, South Africa

4-5 February 2011 – Wellington, New Zealand

12-13 February 2011 – Las Vegas, USA

26-28 March 2011 – Hong Kong

2-3 April 2011 – Adelaide, Australia

21-22 May 2011 – London, England

28-29 May 2011 – Edinburgh, Scotland

Dubai tournament (all times are local)

Day 1

New Zealand v United States, 10.48am

New Zealand v Zimbabwe, 2.24pm

New Zealand v Argentina, 7.14pm

Day 2

Finals day

George tournament (all times are local)

Day 1

New Zealand v Kenya, 1.05pm

New Zealand v Russia, 4.11pm

New Zealand v England, 8.16pm

Day 2

Finals day

NZ announce sevens squad for IRB World Series

Posted on Nov 26, 2009 in Rugby News

New Zealand Sevens Coach Gordon Tietjens has named the squad for the opening two rounds of the 2009/2010 IRB World Sevens Series, which kicks off in Dubai on December 4-5. The second round takes place in George, South Africa on December 11-12.

The 12-man squad includes two Sevens debutants. They are Bay of Plenty’s Toby Arnold and Wellington’s Buxton Popoalii. The team will again be captained by Counties Manukau’s DJ Forbes.

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