Rugby: Hawke’s Bay Magpies squad named for 2023 NPC

Harry Godfrey breaks through for a try against Poverty Bay in Napier last year. He's one of four players currently at the Under-20 World Cup who have been named in the 2023 Hawke's Bay Magpies NPC squad. Photo / NZME

The Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union has today announced a 36-man squad for the 2023 Bunnings NPC, including All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick and halfbacks Brad Weber and Folau Fakatava, who missed out on the first All Blacks squad of the season.

Weber and fellow selection and loose forward Marino Mikaele-Tu’u have also signed contracts for Northern Hemisphere clubs, and if they play for the Magpies this year, it is expected to be their last appearances in the black and white jersey.

Not in the squad, which has its first game on November 5 against North Harbour in Napier, are Moana Pacifica and former Crusaders halfback Ereatara Enari, who made 20 appearances for the Magpies, and Moana Pacifica and former Hurricanes midfield back Danny Toala, who made 42appearances for Hawke’s Bay.

Auckland halfback Sam Wye has been picked up, along with prop Isi Tu’ungafasi, a Tonga-born Moana Pasifika Super Rugby Pacifica player, former Auckland, Northland and Tasman NPC player and brother of All Blacks prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi, fellow front rower and former Tasman player Isaac Salmon, who has been playing American Major League Rugby for the Toronto Arrows, and Fiji-born wing Paula Balekana, direct from American Major League Rugby side the New England Free Jacks.

They are among eight players in the squad who have not yet played for the Magpies, including loose forward Cooper Flanders, who in the squad joins brother and fellow Hastings Boys’ High School First XV captain Devan Flanders.

Cooper Flanders is also joined in the squad by fellow New Zealand Under 20 representatives Harry Godfrey, Hunter Morrison and Tom Allen, all currently at the age-group World Cup in South Africa. Godfrey made his Magpies debut last year, while Morrison, from Manawatu but having played for Taradale this year, and Allen, who has played age-group representative rugby with a twin brother, are yet to play for the Magpies.

The squad, announced by the union on social media, is:

Forwards: Pouri Rakete Stones, Isi Tu’ungafasi, Tim Farrell, Joe Apikotoa, Joel Hinz, Isaac Salmon, Tyrone Thompson, Kianu Kereru-Symes, Jacob Devery.

Middle row and loose forwards: Frank Lochore, Tom Parsons, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Brodie Retallick, Hunter Morrison, Tom Allen, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Devan Flanders, Patrick Tuifua, Josh Kaifa, Josh Gimblett, Sam Smith, Cooper Flanders.

Inside backs: Folau Fakatava, Sam Wye, Brad Weber, Lincoln McClutchie, Caleb Makene.

Centres/outside backs: Nick Grigg, Kienan Higgins, Ollie Sapsford, Chase Tiatia, Jonah Lowe, Neria Fomai, Paula Balekana, Harry Godfrey, Anzelo Tuitavaki.

The Hawke’s Bay Magpies 2023 NPC draw is: August 5 (Saturday), 5.05pm v North Harbour at Napier; August 11 (Friday), 7.05pm v Counties Manukau at Pukekohe; August 16 (Wednesday), 7.05pm v Waikato at Napier; August 20 (Sunday), 2.05pm v Otago at Napier; August 26 (Saturday), 2.05pm v Auckland at Auckland; September 1 (Friday), 7.05pm v Northland at Whangārei; September 9 (Saturday), 4.35pm v Bay of Plenty at Napier; September 15 (Friday), 7.05pm v Manawatū at Napier; September 23 (Saturday), 2.05pm v Southland at Invercargill; September 30 (Saturday), 2.05pm v Wellington at Wellington.