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Watch: All Blacks XV prop stuns fans by squatting 300kg+ in pre-season
The Hurricanes will look a bit different this season without veterans Ardie Savea and Dane Coles, but those ready to wear the yellow strip in 2024 have stepped up in their absence during a headline-grabbing pre-season.
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Cam Roigard, Asafo Aumua and Pouri Rakete-Stones have put their Super Rugby Pacific rivals on notice with some stunning physical feats ahead of the new campaign.
Roigard, 23, stole the show at a two-day All Blacks camp in Auckland last month by completing the gruelling 1.2km Bronco in just four minutes and 12 seconds. The four-Test All Black beat Damian McKenzie to the finish line as he equalled Beauden Barrett’s longstanding record.
Team vice-captain Asafo Aumua was the next Hurricane to step up. Showcasing incredible strength in the gym, Aumua beat his personal bench press best by lifting a staggering 195kg in early January.
But now, about two and half weeks until the Hurricanes’ season opener, it’s time to highlight the incredible power shown by Maori All Blacks and All Blacks XV prop Pouri Rakete-Stones.
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Rakete-Stones, 26, has stunned fans on social media by squatting a whopping 302kg. The video was shared by the Hurricanes on Tuesday and generated a fair bit of buzz.
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“Back squatting anything close to 300kg is no joke,” one fan wrote on Instagram.
“Canes are looking to be real strong this year, can’t wait for the season to kick off,” another added.
“That went up waaay too fast,” one supporter shared on Tik Tok.
In the comments of the post on Tik Tok, the Hurricanes also revealed that Bay of Plenty front-rower Pasilio Tosi squats 292kg.
It makes for some exciting pre-season updates ahead of the Hurricanes 2024 Super Rugby Pacific opener against the Western Force in Perth on February 23.
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With Roigard, Aumua and Rakete-Stones all set to be in the mix this season, the Canes will turn to a new leadership group as they look to deliver what would be a second-ever Super Rugby title to the nation’s capital.
The Hurricanes confirmed at the end of January that returning recruit Brad Shields will lead the side in 2024, while Aumua and Jordie Barrett will serve as vice-captains.
“I’m hugely excited and honoured to be leading the Hurricanes this season,” Shields said.
“I admit, after Clarky (coach Clark Laidlaw) told me I was really stoked, but I did feel a little apprehensive given I had been away for a few years and the quality of leadership we have at the Hurricanes.
“But at the end of the day, it’s a massive challenge and opportunity I’m excited for, and what makes it more exciting is there is a handful of guys here with so much experience who I know I will turn to for support. We’ll all work together with this one.”
Comments on RugbyPass
One of the best the Boks have ever produced. PSDT has an engine that goes non-stop for the full 80 min.
4 Go to commentsThe real deal.
4 Go to commentsIt’s been said that Nienaber will head back to SA too before next World Cup , hoarding all the amazing IP gained in Irish system … get a grip … Irish system needs to Milk the likes of Barrett . First time a leading all Black in his prime has gone to Ireland for any period of time . Enjoy it .
20 Go to comments20 min RC is the only good solution of a bunch of bad solutions. Ridiculous that it has taken this long and caused so many uneven contests. In general these are all very good changes - one is surprised that NH brokers were able to see sense at long last.
7 Go to comments“While a red card will mean a temporary team disadvantage, the replacement system will focus punishment on the offending player instead of disrupting the game itself.” This might work for amateur rugby, where players just want to be on the pitch for as long as possible, but hopefully we’ve got to a point where top level professionals care about the success of their team much more than about whether they personally are on the pitch or not.
7 Go to commentsa lot of focus on the targeting of south africa, but aspects of this are positive. The croc roll; the offside law; and time limits on set pieces are all good. calling for a mark off kick offs is baffling, but I guess we’ll see how it plays out in practice
24 Go to commentsSpeeding the game up is great, but I think we will find that the increase in viewership this year mostly comes down to the competition being more competitive…the fall of the Crusaders has been a boon for viewership. This should be at the heart of super rugby changes - how to make the comp more even
23 Go to commentsThe fact that the press were largely to blame for his taking a break is nothing short of disgusting. He’s made a few mistakes but difficult to name a player of any substance who gives it a full go hasn’t also made mistakes? On behalf of a large number of Bokke fans, bring back Farrell !!!!!
1 Go to commentsPSTD is a fantastic flanker. He could benefit from a bit of self-promotion / flair and he is not quite the danger man that Ardie is. That said, he is my 1st pick to build a backrow around. His speed and hustle made up for Duane who got quite a bit slower at the 8.
4 Go to commentssurprised, disco lights haven't been banned by world rugby board
24 Go to commentsToo many changes. Too often. I’m tired of this WR administration. How do we vote these fockers out? Bill needs to go.
24 Go to commentsDu Toit, 2 time W.Cup winner yet rarely mentioned a “Great “…if one looks back on his stellar carrier perhaps someone will one day elevate him to “Richie” status…a quiet, polite yet devastating loose forward that knew action speaks louder than words..
4 Go to commentsI like the offside rule, but this won't affect my team because all their kicks gets chased and that putts everyone on side. Lekker manne!
24 Go to comments20 minute Red Card is untenable. If you don’t punish the whole team, coaches won’t be sufficently incentivised to pick players with, or coach better tackle technique.
7 Go to commentsI can only think of One time ever a team has opted for a scrum from a free kick… Why the law change I wonder
24 Go to commentsYeah, its not going to work. But we see you World Rugby.
24 Go to commentsLove the reaction after last 2 W.Cups re rule changes…maybe good for more for more of a “ league” type running game( which I personally don’t like) but seems Rassie is definitely in ther heads…
24 Go to commentsGreat. More unwanted changes. Because these always work out well.
24 Go to commentsI’m sure South Africa’s opponents will rejoice at World Rugby minimising one of the Boks’ most potent weapons, but you just know Rassie is cooking something up with free-kicks that no-one else has thought of. Let them play checkers. Rassie’s playing chess. 😂
24 Go to commentsAfter a fairly simple Pac4, the BFs will find out a lot about themselves in September when they face the rampaging RedRoses at Twickenham in front of a record crowd. After that they will face them again in Canada in WXV1. They also have France to contend with. Will be interesting to see what Australia have to offer with Jo Yapp at the helm.
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