New Zealand ITM National Provincial Championship Ready For Kick Off
With only two weeks uintil the start of the ITM Cup (Which use to be the Air New Zealand Cup) Lovell Rugby for one cannot wait to catch the action on Sky.
Coach: Mark Anscombe
Key gains: Ben Atiga, Matt Berquist (Hawkes Bay), Daniel Braid (Queensland), Toby Morland (Munster), Brent Ward (Racing Metro).
Major losses: Daniel Bowden (London Irish), Taniela Moa (Bay of Plenty), Paul Williams (Sale).
Form guide: 2009 – 5th; 2008 – 11th; 2007 – RR 1st, Champions.
Bay of Plenty
Coach: Sean Horan
Key gains: Luke Andrews (Italy), Lelia Masaga (Counties), Daniel Perrin (Tasman), Taniela Moa (Auckland), Grant McQuoid (Japan), Brett Mather (Otago), Daniel Waenga (Hawke’s Bay).
Major losses: Junior Poluleuligaga (Exeter), Zach Hohneck (Waikato), Clinton Toopi (Gold Coast Titans).
Form guide: 2009 – 7th; 2008 – RR 4th, QF; 2007 – 13th.
Canterbury- Available to pre order from Wednesday Next Week
Coach: Rob Penney
Key gains: Robbie Fruean (Wellington), Sonny Bill Williams (Toulon).
Major losses: Tim Bateman (Coca-Cola, Japan), James Broadhurst, Tyson Keats (both Taranaki), Casey Laulala, Michael Paterson (both Cardiff), James Paterson (Southland), Ti’i Paulo (Clermont Auvergne).
Form guide: 2009 – RR 14th; 2008 – RR 2nd, Champions; 2007 – RR 2nd, SF.
Counties Manukau
Coach: Milton Haig
Key Gains: Tana Umaga (Toulon), Jono Owen (Brumbies).
Major Losses: Lelia Masaga (Bay of Plenty), Tasesa Lavea (Clermont Auvergne).
Form guide: 2009 – 14th; 2008 – 14th; 2007 – 14th.
Hawkes Bay
Coach: Peter Russell
Key gains: Kahn Fotuali’i (Tasman), Kas Lealamanu’a (Saracens), Daniel Kirkpatrick (Wellington), Luke Rooney (Toulon), Grant Webb (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Major losses: Matt Berquist (Auckland), George Naoupo (Japan, via Connacht), Sona Taumalolo (Waikato), Thomas Waldrom (Leicester).
Form guide: 2009 – RR 4th, SF; 2008 – RR 3rd, SF; 2007 – RR 7th, SF.
Coach: Phil Mooney
Key gains: Josh Tatupu (Western Force), Joe Hill (Wellington).
Major losses: Karne Hesketh (Japan), Brett Maver (Bay of Plenty), Michael Witt (Super League), Jason Macdonald (injury).
Form guide: 2009 – 10th; 2008 – 10th; 2007 – 7
Coach: Bryce Woodward
Key gains: Aaron Bancroft (Otago), Paea Fa’anunu (Auckland), Dean Budd (Auckland), Mark Burman (Waikato).
Major losses: Karl Haitana (Manawatu), Cam Jowitt (New South Wales), Dan Goodwin (Bay of Plenty).
Form guide: 2009 – 13th; 2008 – 9; 2007 – 10
Coach: Craig Dowd
Key gains: Alipate Fatafehi (Tonga), Matt Luamanu (Wellington), Jack Tarrant (Japan), Brendon Watt (Taranaki).
Major losses: Viliame Ma’afu, Anthony Tuitavake (both Japan), George Pisi (Taranaki), Rudi Wulf (Toulon).
Form guide: 2009 – 12th; 2008 – 12th; 2007 – 9th.
Tasman
Coach: Kieran Keane
Key gains: Steve Alfeld (Canterbury), Fai Mika (Otago), Jack Umaga (North Otago).
Major losses: Kahn Fotuali’i (Hawkes Bay), Andrew Goodman (Japan), Sakaria Taulafo (Wasps).
Form guide: 2009 – 9th; 2008 – 7th, QF; 2007 – 11th.
Manawatu
Coach: Dave Rennie
Key gains: Craig Clare (Otago), Karl Haitana (Northland), Shannon Paku (Montauban), Hadleigh Parkes (Canterbury), Aseli Tikoirotuma (Wanganui).
Major losses: Kurt Baker, Andre Taylor (Taranaki), Adrian Barone (Wellington).
Form guide: 2009 – 11th; 2008 – 14th; 2007 – 14th.
Coach: Jamie Joseph
Key gains: David Te Moana (France), Adrian Barone (Manawatu).
Major losses: Tamati Ellison (Japan), Robbie Fruean (Canterbury), Daniel Kirkpatrick (Hawkes Bay), Matthew Luamanu (North Harbour), Anthony Perenise (Hawkes Bay), David Smith (Taranaki).
Form guide: 2009 – RR 2nd, finalist; 2008 – RR 1st, finalist; 2007 – RR 3rd, finalist.
What Andy Haden didn’t say: “A bunch of witless latte-supping civil servants who couldn’t handle the pace of the free market and wouldn’t have the first idea of how to book Rachel Hunter for a Trumpet ad.”
Coach: Colin Cooper.
Key gains: Kurt Baker, Andre Taylor (both Manawatu), James Broadhurst, Tyson Keats (both Canterbury), George Pisi (North Harbour), David Smith (Wellington).
Major losses: James Hinchco (retired), Paul Perez (Toulon via deportation), Neemia Soqeta (Japan).
Form guide: 2009 – 8th; 2008 – 8th, QF; 2007 – 8th, QF.
Coach: Simon Culhane
Key gains: James Paterson (Canterbury).
Major losses: Jason Kauwau (Japan).
Form guide: 2009 – RR 3rd, SF; 2008 – RR 4th, SF; 2007 – 6th.
Coach: Chris Gibbes.
Key gains: Zac Hohneck (Bay of Plenty), Christian Lealiifano (Brumbies), Chris Middleton (Wellington), Steven Setephano (Otago).
Major losses: Callum Bruce (Japan), Sione Lauaki (Clermont Auvergne).
Form guide: 2009 – 6th; 2008 – 6th, QF; 2007 – 5th, QF.
What’s your thoughts on this years Competition and Shirts?
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