Six young Southland Stags players on the rise
Which Southland Stags players might be banging loudly on the Super Rugby selection door by the end of the 2023 NPC season?
The 2023 National Provincial Championship kicks off this week. Logan Savory puts the spotlight on six young Southland Stags players who may be destined for higher honours and are worth keeping an eye on.
Hayden Michaels (Flanker)
It’s time for Michaels to make the maroon No 7 jersey is own.
Michaels last season captained the Highlanders U20 team, made the NZU20 team and made his NPC debut.
He largely played understudy to Matt James at the Stags as Michaels dipped his toes into NPC rugby.
But Michaels has spent the 2023 Super season in the Highlanders set up as a development player before being signed on a full-time contract for 2024.
Michaels’ apprenticeship is over, it’s now his time to shine.
To add to it, he’ll have Leroy Ferguson snapping at his heels throughout the campaign in a healthy rivalry.
Blair Ryall (Flanker)
Super Rugby teams don’t leave a lot of wriggle room these days to sign players who emerge through a strong NPC campaign.
However, all going to plan by the end of the 2023 NPC season Ryall will have attracted some interest from those at the next level.
The former Crusaders Development looseforward joined the Stags midway last season as an injury cover and impressed with his work rate, particularly in defence.
During the off-season, Ryall has added some bulk which is likely to help him in the physicality stakes at the NPC level as he eyes the Stags No 6 jersey in 2023.
Noah Foster (Wing-midfield)
Foster emerged as a promising schoolboy prospect out of Auckland before being picked up by Tasman for the 2022 NPC season. However, he struggled for opportunities in a stacked backline making just two appearances. It included his debut off the bench against Southland. Foster has now signed with the Stags in search of more opportunities in 2023.
There is a fair bit of excitement about what the wing-cum-centre could bring to the Stags in 2023.
In just 40 minutes against North Otago in the preseason Foster provided a glimpse of his ability.
Michael Mason (Wing)
Manson showed signs of what he could do in his first season with the Stags in 2022 before lighting up Southland’s club competition playing for Blues this year. He racked up a ridiculous amount of tries through his sublime pace.
There is little doubt the former national schoolboy 100m sprinting star has wheels which makes him a real attacking threat.
If Manson can prove his worth in other areas of his game in 2023, in regard to his skillset and in defence, he will attract plenty of attention.
Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa (No 8)
The Stags signed New Zealand Under-19 and Highlanders Under-20 No 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa on a four-year deal starting with this year’s 2023 NPC season.
Tupou Ta’eiloa is a former Otago Boys’ High School player and was contracted with Otago on a development contract. After some negotiations, he was eventually released from to join Southland this season.
Tupou Ta’eiloa’s strength is his power with ball in hand and that go forward is probably what Southland rugby needs a bit more of.
His work rate will be an area both Stags and Highlanders decision-makers will want to him also deliver on.
He’ll have the ideal person to learn from in his first season of NPC rugby in the form of the Stags’ first-choice No 8 Dylan Nel.
Jack Taylor (Hooker)
Taylor is in a unique situation where the young hooker has played Super Rugby before stepping out onto the park in an NPC game.
Taylor made his Super Rugby debut off the bench against the Drua in Dunedin this year before going on to be the starting hooker for New Zealand Under-20 at the World Championship in South Africa.
The Highlanders have upgraded Taylor from a development contract to a fulltime contract for 2024. Before that Taylor will get the chance to showcase his abilities at provincial level with Southland.
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