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Bunnings NPC

Hadleigh Parkes back in New Zealand, named on weekend NPC bench

Ex-Wales midfielder Hadleigh Parkes (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Former Wales midfielder Hadleigh Parkes is poised for NPC action this weekend in New Zealand after being confirmed as a new Manawatu Turbos signing and being named on their bench as 23rd man to take on Hawke’s Bay on Sunday. The soon to be 37-year-old finished up finished a four-season stint earlier this year in Japan League One, spending two years with Saitama Wild Knights after joining from Scarlets and then two more campaigns with Black Rams Tokyo.

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It was last May when he most recently featured for the Rams, playing off their bench in a 45-18 loss to Toyota Verblitz which left them finishing the 2023/24 season in 10th place.

Having since holidayed post-season in Turkey and Greece, Parkes has now been unveiled as a Manawatu player for the remainder of an NPC campaign where the club are currently bottom of the 14-team tournament’s standings after losing their opening three matches.

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Rassie Erasmus talks about Aphele Fassi

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Rassie Erasmus talks about Aphele Fassi

A club post to social media said: “Look who’s back. 29-Test Welsh international Hadleigh Parkes has returned home and is a Turbo again.”

It was 2010 when Parkes previously represented the province at NPC level, making 13 appearances before switching to Auckland. He then went on to play Super Rugby for the Blues, Southern Kings and the Hurricanes before moving to the Scarlets in 2014/15.

After qualifying for the Welsh national team in 2017 on serving a three-year residency period, he won 29 caps, including a 2019 Six Nations title win and featuring in their run to that year’s Rugby World Cup semi-final.

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Now back home in New Zealand, Parkes has been named in a Turbos team where George Blake and Liam O’Connor are set to get their first starts.

Mosese Bason, a recent Baby Blacks pick at the World Rugby U20 Champions, could also make his debut off a bench that also includes Vernon Bason, who skippered Jono Gibbes team to a third-place finish at the age-grade tournament in South Africa.

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The Baby Blacks had defeated France in a pool match in Stellenbosch 10 days earlier, Rico Simpson kicking an 80th-minute penalty to dramatically win that classic 27-26. However, the exchanges were very different at Cape Town Stadium on Sunday.

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Comments on RugbyPass

C
Cantab 2 hours ago
Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

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J
James 2 hours ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

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dw 2 hours ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

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dw 2 hours ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

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dw 3 hours ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.


Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

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RedWarriors 3 hours ago
'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

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JM 3 hours ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

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RedWarriors 3 hours ago
'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

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OJohn 3 hours ago
Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

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Carlos 4 hours ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

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C
Carlos 4 hours ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

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S
Solenn Bonnet 4 hours ago
Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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Mzilikazi 4 hours ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

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M
Mzilikazi 4 hours ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

37 Go to comments
M
Mzilikazi 4 hours ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.


Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

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B
BC 4 hours ago
Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

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Otagoman II 4 hours ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

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N
NB 4 hours ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍

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N
NB 4 hours ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Always the same at the other place. Some of those perceptions of him at the Tahs - lazy, overweight and slow - were impossible to shift!

37 Go to comments
N
NB 4 hours ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Hang on to Miz Carlos!

37 Go to comments
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LONG READ What the data tells us about the make-up of the 2025 British and Irish Lions squad What the data tells us about the make-up of the 2025 British and Irish Lions squad
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