imported_Te Kaha
Juniors
- Messages
- 123
I thought this was a bit of a laugh from NZOOM.
<table border=0 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 width=452> <tbody> <tr> <td> Counties and Waratahs to merge</td></tr> <tr> <td></td></tr> <tr> <td></td></tr> <tr> <td></td></tr> <tr> <td> A top secret deal is about to be finalised that would see the New South Wales Waratahs have a place in the New Zealand NPC at the expense of Counties Manukau. The two teams would merge for the NPC and go under the name Manukau All Stars and are to play at a revamped Pukekohe Stadium. Nzoom.com understands that ARU boss John O'Neill wants to extend the playing season for some of his top stars and give new recruits to the 15-man code more game time, and saw the second division NPC side as the ideal place for this to happen. An insider at the Waratahs, Loof Lirpa, told nzoom.com that because Counties are located not far away from the airport it would allow the players to train all week in Sydney and then to fly over the day before the game. "The plan is to win promotion this year and have a crack at the big boys in the first division," the source said. "There is plenty of money behind the team and there's no reason other players like George Gregan and Chris Latham can't be brought in if needed." Many of the current Counties team are expected to be dumped from the team and the All Stars will have an Australian look about it, with the red, white and black shirts Counties currently play in to be replaced with the traditional blues jerseys of New South Wales. However it is thought that a number of New Zealanders who are currently playing overseas have been contacted about signing up for the team, with Rua Tipoki top of the hit list and wanted for the captain's job. Other players rumoured to have been approached are Matua Parkinson, Filo Tiatia and Norm Berryman, while Blair Feeney is likely to move back north from Otago.</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table border=0 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 width=452> <tbody> <tr> <td> Counties and Waratahs to merge</td></tr> <tr> <td></td></tr> <tr> <td></td></tr> <tr> <td></td></tr> <tr> <td> A top secret deal is about to be finalised that would see the New South Wales Waratahs have a place in the New Zealand NPC at the expense of Counties Manukau. The two teams would merge for the NPC and go under the name Manukau All Stars and are to play at a revamped Pukekohe Stadium. Nzoom.com understands that ARU boss John O'Neill wants to extend the playing season for some of his top stars and give new recruits to the 15-man code more game time, and saw the second division NPC side as the ideal place for this to happen. An insider at the Waratahs, Loof Lirpa, told nzoom.com that because Counties are located not far away from the airport it would allow the players to train all week in Sydney and then to fly over the day before the game. "The plan is to win promotion this year and have a crack at the big boys in the first division," the source said. "There is plenty of money behind the team and there's no reason other players like George Gregan and Chris Latham can't be brought in if needed." Many of the current Counties team are expected to be dumped from the team and the All Stars will have an Australian look about it, with the red, white and black shirts Counties currently play in to be replaced with the traditional blues jerseys of New South Wales. However it is thought that a number of New Zealanders who are currently playing overseas have been contacted about signing up for the team, with Rua Tipoki top of the hit list and wanted for the captain's job. Other players rumoured to have been approached are Matua Parkinson, Filo Tiatia and Norm Berryman, while Blair Feeney is likely to move back north from Otago.</td></tr></tbody></table>
