NPR

JM2K6 wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 12:12 pm

Guy Smiley wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 12:08 pm

JM2K6 wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 11:50 am I used to really fucking love the NPC. When compared with our own Championship / ND1 it's an absolute blast, a joy to watch and it appears to be a joy to play in. Some serious skills get developed.

Now that I’m living home in NZ again I get to enjoy it in all its splendour….

And splendid it is.

Are you able to go to matches?

Yeah, for sure. It runs late in the year and last season was disrupted, as everything was… but we can go. We’ve got a Test cricket series with SA at the moment with crowds attending.

Guy Smiley wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 12:31 pm

JM2K6 wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 12:12 pm

Guy Smiley wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 12:08 pm

Now that I’m living home in NZ again I get to enjoy it in all its splendour….

And splendid it is.

Are you able to go to matches?

Yeah, for sure. It runs late in the year and last season was disrupted, as everything was… but we can go. We’ve got a Test cricket series with SA at the moment with crowds attending.

I meant you personally - i.e. do you just watch on TV or are you going in person. Not covid related!

Ah sorry

I’ll go this season. Last year was messy. I’ve a mate close by I’ve known for years through working together in Oz, he’s a massive rugby head. I’ve been told I have to buy a Steamers’ jersey but there’s no way I’m doing that.

I’ll stick with my slightly older adoptee, the Mako’s.

(I’m living near Tauranga. There’s heaps of rugby in the region, Waikato and Hamilton are just over the hills an hour or so away and Auckland is about 3 hrs drive)

Guy Smiley wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 12:43 pm Ah sorry

I’ll go this season. Last year was messy. I’ve a mate close by I’ve known for years through working together in Oz, he’s a massive rugby head. I’ve been told I have to buy a Steamers’ jersey but there’s no way I’m doing that.

I’ll stick with my slightly older adoptee, the Mako’s.

(I’m living near Tauranga. There’s heaps of rugby in the region, Waikato and Hamilton are just over the hills an hour or so away and Auckland is about 3 hrs drive)

Awesome. While I loved my insane Super Rugby NZ trip I did miss out on the opportunity to watch some lower level rugby at the time. Something about the NPC really works for me - I hope it's as good as it was a few years ago - and it's very much a model I think English rugby should learn from.

The NPC has been revamped this year with most in favour of the new format.

It’s a great comp… 4 years ago I was nursing my terminally I’ll mother at her home in Christchurch and I was amazed we could watch games on mid week nights. I’m sure we saw games on Tuesdays.

The skill level is amazing, it’s definitely an open attacking style of play so it’s pretty spectacular but it’s not without solid defense and some tactically astute battles.

Something else we get here on local Skysport is 1st XV schools rugby. That is just amazing to watch.

Guy Smiley wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 12:43 pm Ah sorry

I’ll go this season. Last year was messy. I’ve a mate close by I’ve known for years through working together in Oz, he’s a massive rugby head. I’ve been told I have to buy a Steamers’ jersey but there’s no way I’m doing that.

I’ll stick with my slightly older adoptee, the Mako’s.

(I’m living near Tauranga. There’s heaps of rugby in the region, Waikato and Hamilton are just over the hills an hour or so away and Auckland is about 3 hrs drive)

Change from Cunterbury to MooLoos?

Guy Smiley wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 12:08 pm

JM2K6 wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 11:50 am I used to really fucking love the NPC. When compared with our own Championship / ND1 it's an absolute blast, a joy to watch and it appears to be a joy to play in. Some serious skills get developed.

Now that I’m living home in NZ again I get to enjoy it in all its splendour….

And splendid it is.

I loved watching the NPC back in the 90s/00s period. I loved the Canterbury shirts as well. I used to own the Northland, Waikato, Otago and Taranaki NPC shirts from that era. This was before the internet got really going with retail, I got them from the Canterbury store in Carnaby Street as I used to work not far from there back then. Wished I'd kept them, be worth a few quid now I imagine.

Like £35 on Etsy I think

Kawazaki wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 2:36 pm

Guy Smiley wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 12:08 pm

JM2K6 wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 11:50 am I used to really fucking love the NPC. When compared with our own Championship / ND1 it's an absolute blast, a joy to watch and it appears to be a joy to play in. Some serious skills get developed.

Now that I’m living home in NZ again I get to enjoy it in all its splendour….

And splendid it is.

I loved watching the NPC back in the 90s/00s period. I loved the Canterbury shirts as well. I used to own the Northland, Waikato, Otago and Taranaki NPC shirts from that era. This was before the internet got really going with retail, I got them from the Canterbury store in Carnaby Street as I used to work not far from there back then. Wished I'd kept them, be worth a few quid now I imagine.

At least NPC shirts haven't changed much over the last 30 odd years.. still recognisable. Unlike the Super Rugby shirts which every year look like they have been re-painted by a primary school art class. I have two different Auckland Blues shirts from the 90s which look nothing like today's shirt...

I love the NPC. Waikato man (long story) and proud owner of a cow bell.

The NPC tipping on TSF is the best.

OomStruisbaai wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 4:22 pm I love the NPC. Waikato man (long story) and proud owner of a cow bell.

The NPC tipping on TSF is the best.

Did you go to any matches in the 80s? NPC crowds back then were very atmospheric.

Grandpa wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 4:32 pm

OomStruisbaai wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 4:22 pm I love the NPC. Waikato man (long story) and proud owner of a cow bell.

The NPC tipping on TSF is the best.

Did you go to any matches in the 80s? NPC crowds back then were very atmospheric.

Nah. I have never been to NZ. Waikato got stuck in my memories from the 1981 Springbok tour.

OomStruisbaai wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 4:42 pm

Grandpa wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 4:32 pm

OomStruisbaai wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 4:22 pm I love the NPC. Waikato man (long story) and proud owner of a cow bell.

The NPC tipping on TSF is the best.

Did you go to any matches in the 80s? NPC crowds back then were very atmospheric.

Nah. I have never been to NZ. Waikato got stuck in my memories from the 1981 Springbok tour.

Ahh fair enough. Seems surreal looking back.

Grandpa wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 4:32 pm

OomStruisbaai wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 4:22 pm I love the NPC. Waikato man (long story) and proud owner of a cow bell.

The NPC tipping on TSF is the best.

Did you go to any matches in the 80s? NPC crowds back then were very atmospheric.

Waikato was a lot of fun on the '93 Lions tour

Slick wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 5:14 pm

Grandpa wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 4:32 pm

OomStruisbaai wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 4:22 pm I love the NPC. Waikato man (long story) and proud owner of a cow bell.

The NPC tipping on TSF is the best.

Did you go to any matches in the 80s? NPC crowds back then were very atmospheric.

Waikato was a lot of fun on the '93 Lions tour

I'd left by then... was that when Warren Gatland's men gave them a hiding?

The early Super rugby days were epic. I can remember Natal vs the NZ teams at Kings Park in front of 40 000 legless supporters. Those were the days.

FalseBayFC wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 5:38 pm The early Super rugby days were epic. I can remember Natal vs the NZ teams at Kings Park in front of 40 000 legless supporters. Those were the days.

Sharks have fond memories in all forms of the tournament. It was an outstanding journey. Pity Covid denied us a title

Grandpa wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 5:21 pm

Slick wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 5:14 pm

Grandpa wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 4:32 pm

Did you go to any matches in the 80s? NPC crowds back then were very atmospheric.

Waikato was a lot of fun on the '93 Lions tour

I'd left by then... was that when Warren Gatland's men gave them a hiding?

Yup, but a good atmosphere and I ended up in the changing room with the cheerleaders after the game and had a very enjoyable night

Slick wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 6:57 pm

Grandpa wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 5:21 pm

Slick wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 5:14 pm

Waikato was a lot of fun on the '93 Lions tour

I'd left by then... was that when Warren Gatland's men gave them a hiding?

Yup, but a good atmosphere and I ended up in the changing room with the cheerleaders after the game and had a very enjoyable night

Remember though, all the cheerleaders you had will never give you back your soul.

OomStruisbaai wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 1:53 pm

Guy Smiley wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 12:43 pm Ah sorry

I’ll go this season. Last year was messy. I’ve a mate close by I’ve known for years through working together in Oz, he’s a massive rugby head. I’ve been told I have to buy a Steamers’ jersey but there’s no way I’m doing that.

I’ll stick with my slightly older adoptee, the Mako’s.

(I’m living near Tauranga. There’s heaps of rugby in the region, Waikato and Hamilton are just over the hills an hour or so away and Auckland is about 3 hrs drive)

Change from Cunterbury to MooLoos?

I don't get why you seem to need to play the name game like a schoolkid?

Anyway... I won't change my support for my home province in the Super Rugby, I don't believe in jumping ship like that. When it comes to NPC my home team (South Canterbury) was in the lower division when I came back and I wanted a first division team to follow. I like Tasman for the players they have and used to take family holidays in the region, it has positive memories for me.

So if it’s starting August 12 does that mean all the SR and AB players will be playing?

Slick wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 6:57 pm

Grandpa wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 5:21 pm

Slick wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 5:14 pm

Waikato was a lot of fun on the '93 Lions tour

I'd left by then... was that when Warren Gatland's men gave them a hiding?

Yup, but a good atmosphere and I ended up in the changing room with the cheerleaders after the game and had a very enjoyable night

Are you sure that wasn’t a dream you had?

Yr Alban wrote: Wed Feb 23, 2022 11:24 am

Slick wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 6:57 pm

Grandpa wrote: Tue Feb 22, 2022 5:21 pm

I'd left by then... was that when Warren Gatland's men gave them a hiding?

Yup, but a good atmosphere and I ended up in the changing room with the cheerleaders after the game and had a very enjoyable night

Are you sure that wasn’t a dream you had?

Oh yes. However, it is a long and complex story that will only ever be told over a beer. I could have doid.

Biffer wrote: Wed Feb 23, 2022 8:17 am So if it’s starting August 12 does that mean all the SR and AB players will be playing?

Nope, no AB players