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Looks like the APD have started to build their squad. Did a quick google search for the positions of the players but please correct me if I am wrong
Props
Ropate Rinakama
Hookers
Sekonaia Pole
Locks
Back Rowers
Joketani Koroi
Naulia Dawai
Dylan Nel - TBC
Srumhalf
Melani Matavao
Kurt Hammer
Flyhalf
Latiume Fosita
Centre
Zac Harrison-Jones
Outside Back
Mitchell Scott - TBC
Junior Laloifi
Stacey Ili
Kali Hala
Coaches
Ryan Martin - Head Coach
Hale T-Pole - Assistant Coach
Spence said Otago players Joketani Koroi, Sekonaia Pole, Naulia Dawai and Melani Matavao were all set to go to Singapore and he could not blame them . . .
The Asia-Pacific Dragons are to be coached by Otago Boys' High School coach Ryan Martin while Harbour assistant coach Hale T-Pole is also involved in the side.
https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/du...ix-clubs-cards
Obviously works well for ITM players and coaches as they can coach/play professionally for the APD in GRR and then go back and play/coach in the ITM cup.
Dawai is useful I have seen him play for Connacht.Quote:
Originally Posted by volvo
Hale T-Pole! Love that name!
Southern players head to Singapore
Half a dozen players from the South have headed off to play in Singapore but details appear light on the competition they are playing in.
Otago No8 Dylan Nel is believed to also be considering heading to the Lion City to play for the Asia Pacific Dragons in the Global Rapid Rugby competition.
The competition involves eight teams from Asia, the Pacific Islands and the Western Force and is the brainchild of mining billionaire Andrew Forrest.
Forrest was incensed when the Western Force was dumped out of the Super Rugby competition in 2017, and last year organised a series of games for the Force against various teams.
That has grown into the Rapid Rugby competition which would involve eight teams. The competition is due to kick off next month and pre-season matches are set to be played this month.
The competition has teams from Fiji, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Samoa, Fiji and an unknown country, believed to be the United States.
The Dragons are coached by former Otago Boys' High School first XV coach Ryan Martin.
Martin was also part of the Otago coaching setup this year, coaching the attack.
There had been speculation Martin was roaming far and wide in the South to get players to come and play for the side, which was causing concern for clubs.
Halfbacks Kurt Hammer and Melani Matavao have signed to play for the Dragons and headed off last week. They will be joined by loose forward/lock Joketani Koroi and hooker Sekonaia Pole, who both play for the Harbour club. Hammer, Koroi and Pole are signed with Otago.
Also playing in Singapore is loose forward Naulia Dawai, who played for Otago in last year's Mitre 10 Cup. He was looking for an overseas deal and after being passed over by Super Rugby teams was happy to pick up an offer from the Singapore-based outfit.
Young Dunedin back Zac Harrison-Jones has signed with the Dragons. The Marlborough Boys' College old boy has yet to play for Otago but has impressed in club play and has a turn of speed.
Nel has been training with the Highlanders but it is understood he is working through a contract and there is a strong chance he may be off to Singapore. Nel is South African and after playing for a few years in Canterbury he came south last year to play for Otago during the Mitre 10 Cup. He is a robust, direct player and a player of promise. But he is a professional player and is chasing a deal. He has linked with the Green Island club for this season.
Otago winger Mitchell Scott was linked with a move to the Dragons and his future is up in the air.
The competition is scheduled to kick off next month but details are sparse. No teams are listed, nor are kick-off times and broadcasting details. The Otago Daily Times attempted to contact the Global Rapid Rugby organisers but received no reply.
It will be played under different rules limiting the ability to kick the ball out on the full and with playing time of just 70 minutes.
The competition was expected to finish in June so players could come back and play for Otago in the Mitre 10 Cup.
https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/so...head-singapore
Given that the scribe has admitted he is unable to get any confirmation from GRR, this is probably more guesswork at best, outside of the info about Southland/Otago players heading to Singapore. More's the pity.
I am hoping this isn't the announcement but if it is then great, good news that the singapore team is moving forward quickly and looks almost ready to play next Month
So the good news is that the Singapore Dragons syndicate and also the players managers must be now both rock solid sure that GRR is going happen, if they are prepared to commit to signing bunches of contracts with players.Quote:
Originally Posted by volvo
Heres an article confirming Northland player Ropate Rinakama is playing for the dragons in Global Rapid Rugby.
In other signing news, local player Aorangi Stokes received a full contract after being on a development contract for the last two years. Northland prop Ropate Rinakama has not signed on with the team and will compete in the Global Rapid Rugby competition which involved multiple teams across Australia and Asia
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-...ectid=12196102
That Singapore team is gonna be a title contender for sure.
Link to some early training pics, via "Sinkers" ...
First appearance of the AP Dragons here in Singapore.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BtIYAPbn...d=fx0cu0e0pz5c
https://i.imgur.com/7l2ee6c.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/fMAQRVw.jpg
Thanks for the update Spartan. Happy Birthday mate :celebrate:Quote:
Originally Posted by SPaRTAN
I wonder when these trial matches are meant to kick off, reports suggest in a few weeks? Maybe the teams are more ready than we realise?Quote:
Originally Posted by Kiap
You'd have to hope the (let's call them) less well known teams have been working together since December sometime. We all know how long it took the Force to gel last year with limited preparation.
If we'd played the Rebels after playing Panasonic, I reckon we would have made a match of it.