Ruki Tipuna gooooooooone....

[sportboy]

Incumbent Bay halfback exits after another Steamers snub

CLUB RUGBY

Rangataua will have to do without inspirational halfback Ruki Tipuna for the rest of the Baywide club rugby season after a shock move to Wellington.

It's a switch which could also have serious ramifications for the Steamers, leaving the depth of quality halfbacks perilously thin in Bay of Plenty.

Tipuna's move came just days after he missed selection in the first full Steamers squad of the year, announced last week, despite being the incumbent from last season.

It is understood Tipuna will turn out for the Poneke club in the Wellington club competition from this weekend, though he has no formal contract with his new province.

Wellington begin their season with a match against Wairarapa next week and a Wellington Rugby Union source pointed out that Tipuna will have to prove his club form like any other player.

The Lions already have All Black halfback Piri Weepu and Hurricane Albie Mathewson on their books, though Weepu may miss large chunks of the Air New Zealand Cup.

Tipuna's switch back to the capital - where he spent a year in the Wellington academy after leaving Rotorua Boys' High - could be just the career move the 25-year-old needs.

After making his debut for the Bay in 2004, Tipuna endured nearly four years in the wilderness before earning a recall last year when Jamie Nutbrown headed offshore.

Ironically, he'd also missed the first Steamers squad of the season in 2008, with Tauranga Sports halfback Josh Hall preferred.

But Hall has spent much of this year recovering from a broken ankle, only returning recently to club action.

Bay of Plenty recently signed Manu Samoa test halfback Junior Poluleuligaga, though he is involved in the Pacific Nations Cup until mid-July.

It leaves just a handful of quality No9s in the province, led by former Steamer Kyle O'Brien (Tauranga Sports), Mount Maunganui's Steve Wallace and Whakarewarewa's Chris Van der Vlugt.

Last year, Tipuna helped Rangataua into the Baywide championship final, where they lost narrowly to Tauranga Sports.

His defection comes two rounds into the championship round, with Rangataua in equal third on six points and with an important match against Whakatane Marist tomorrow.

The game of the round sees early leaders Te Puke travel to Rotorua to play Whakarewarewa, who fought out an 18-all draw with Tauranga Sports last week.

Rotoiti and Mount Maunganui clash at Emery Park, while Tauranga travel to Opotiki to try to recapture some of their early-season form.

The only games in the Western Bay in the top divisions are featured in division one, where Te Puna host Waikite and Greerton Marist are at home to close rivals Arataki.

[Nepia]

Intersting, I always liked Tipuna.

He should have come to the the dirty pathetic Hawkes Bay!

[Cpt Kumera]

good ole andre bell eh!
good luck ruki, he might really impress down there

[BartMan]

I always liked the little bugger too, that probably his main problem though eh - too little.

[the little guys]

well i didnt see him get a run in the shield games

[sportboy]

Nah, might pay to watch out against Manawatu this week though.

[Nepia]

Intersting, I always liked Tipuna.

He should have come to the the dirty pathetic Hawkes Bay!

Oi, which one of you evil bloody mods is tinkering with my posts! Freedom of speech! (It wouldn't happen on the Magpies forum because all the dirty pathetic HB mods are to retarded to know how to.)

[Higgins]

well i didnt see him get a run in the shield games

Think there is a three week residency rule before you can play in a Shield game, at least there was way back in the Battle of Solway in 1929! He plays a few positions inside my boy at his new Club down here so will have to ask how he is going. He must be doing ok as my boy has scored three or four tries out wide in the last couple of weeks if that is any indication.

[Bones]

Poneke with a late run in picking up a couple of good inside backs for the Jubilee cup round.

Getting tight for halfbacks down there though, Mathewson will no doubt be starting and there's also NZ U20 halfback Frae Wilson who was pretty impressive in the world champs, as well as Risdon who isn't too shabby.

[Higgins]

I think Nick Risdon might be part of the Wairarapa-Bush set up this season. WIll have to wait until the Bush names their NPC squad before that becomes official.

[LEECH]

Our bro ruki will be named in the Wellington NPC squad tomorrow. Heard it here first. Da little man has been carving up for Poneke and has once again made Bay selectors look like muppetts.

[mole in the hole]

Good luck to the little rat....hope he stays of the piss long enough to get a game....Jamie Joseph is huge on gm work too so we may see ruki back over the summer looking like Kevin mealamu!!haha

....Rangataua nugget!! xzxsarcastic

[Cpt Kumera]

I see hes made the 22 for this weeks 1st game

[Higgins]

As a result of last nights game who has ended up with egg on their face, BoP or Tipuna? Perhaps it has been a stunning tactical ploy to get the inside info about the Wellington tactics and game plan to ensure the Lions got done last night!!!

[TCB]

Only your the yolk egg! - It defnitley wasn't Tipuna, if he got given more time on the field, instead of off, the outcome would have been far different. He made an impact and there is no denying the fact- You can't expect one man to make a difference all the bloody time, there are 14 other on the field too doh.....

[Donsteppa]

Bring back Ruki!