Pulse Energy Highlanders to play the NSW Waratahs in Queenstown

The Pulse Energy Highlanders will play the NSW Waratahs in Queenstown this Friday,the game will complete the Highlanders three match preseason. So far the record is a loss and a draw, one week out from the opening fixture against the Blues the team will be looking for a strong performance against last year’s semi-finalists.

Head coach Jamie Joseph has named a strong combination to take the field with all three World Cup All Blacks taking the field for the first time in 2016.Also having their first matches for 2016 as will be Fumiaki Tanaka and Hayden Parker, back from their championship winning efforts with Panasonic in Japan. Parkers return will see Marty Banks rested this week.

In his debut for the Highlanders powerful Canterbury midfielder Rob Thompson will combine with Malakai Fekitoa and the All Black pairing of Aaron Smith and Lima Sopoaga will be the pivots. Dan Pryor is recovered from his knee injury and will take his place on the bench with co-captain Shane Christie taking a break this week.

Pulse Energy Highlanders v NSW Waratahs, Queenstown Recreation Centre, Fri Feb 19^th 6.00pm

1.   Daniel Lienert-Brown

2.   Liam Coltman

3.   Josh Hohneck

4.   Tom Franklin

5.   Joe Wheeler

6.   Luke Whitelock

7.   James Lentjes

8.   Liam Squire

9.   Aaron Smith

10. Lima Sopoaga

11. Patrick Osborne

12. Rob Thompson

13. Malakai Fekitoa

14. Waisake Naholo

15. Ben Smith ( c )

 

Reserves

16. Ash Dixon

17. Brendon Edmonds

18. Ross Geldenhuys

19. Mark Reddish

20. Gareth Evans

21. Fumiaki Tanaka

22. Elliot Dixon

23. Jason Emery

24. Teihorangi Walden

25. Matt Faddes

26. Hayden Parker

27. Dan Pryor

 

Head Coach: Jamie Joseph Assistant Coaches: Tony Brown ,Scott McLeod Manager: Paul McLaughlan

 

 

Pulse Energy Highlanders’ team to play Racing 92 in Hong Kong

 

The Pulse Energy Highlanders will begin their 2016 preseason campaign on Saturday 6^th February in Hong Kong when they context the Natixis Cup against the Racing 92. The game is being played at Sui Sai Wan Stadium in Hong Kong kicking-off at 5.00pm local time (10.00pm NZT) and will be broadcast live on Sky Sport 2 from 9.55pm.

 

The first hit-out of the year will see the twenty-eight players named with new signing, Liam Squire starting at No 8 in his first game for the Highlanders and local player, Matt Faddes, running out as full back.

 

Pulse Energy Highlanders v Racing 92, Sui Sai Wan Stadium, Hong Kong, Sat 7^th February, 5.00pm (local time)

1.   Daniel Lienert-Brown

2.   Ash Dixon

3.   Josh Hohneck

4.   Tom Franklin

5.   Joe Wheeler

6.   Elliot Dixon

7.   Shane Christie (C)

8.   Liam Squire

9.   Josh Renton

10. Lima Sopoaga

11. Patrick Osborne

12. Richard Buckman

13. Jason Emery

14. Waisake Naholo

15. Matt Faddes            

 

Reserves:

16. Greg Pleasants-Tate

17. Brendon Edmonds

18. Siosiua Halanukonuka

19. Jackson Hemopo

20. Sio Tomkinson

21. Liam Howley

22. Malakai Fekitoa

23. Tei Walden

24. Ryan Tongia

25. Marty Banks

26. Luke Whitelock

27. James Lentjes

28. Mark Reddish

 

Head Coach: Jamie Joseph Assistant Coaches: Tony Brown, Scott McLeod Manager: Paul McLaughlan

 

 

www.thehighlanders.co.nz

 

 

  Jamie Joseph to coach Japan

Pulse Energy Highlanders CEO Roger Clark today announced that Head Coach Jamie Joseph has signed to coach Japan. “Obviously we have mixed emotions about Jamie moving on; we would have liked him to sign a new contract with our organization, however we understand his reasons for signing with Japan. After six seasons coaching in Super Rugby the new challenge of international rugby and the opportunity to coach the host nation at a World Cup proved to be too enticing. We couldn’t have asked any more of Jamie over the last five years; he has put his heart and soul into this club and delivered a championship.”

Joseph will take up the reins in Japan at the completion of the 2016 Investec Super Rugby season. “The timing of the announcement is not ideal but it clears up all the speculation of the last few weeks and I know Jamie well enough to know that he will continue to give everything he has to the Highlanders until that final whistle blows. That’s just who he is, so we have no concerns as a club on that front” Clark added.

The search for a new head coach will begin in earnest as soon as possible, Clark commented “clearly in conjunction with the NZRU we will be mapping out a timeline for the appointment of a new head coach.  It will be a thorough process and we will ensure the right person is appointed to lead the Highlanders through our next phase.”

Joseph, who has strong ties to Japan having played for the national side at the 1999 World Cup and played and coached for Sannix, said the decision to leave the Highlanders was not an easy one.

“The decision to move on from the Highlanders was the toughest decision I have ever had to make in my coaching career. The club, the players and the people I have worked with over the last five years mean a great deal to me and the thought of that coming to an end is tough. I take great pride in what this club and all the people within it have been able to achieve in a relatively short time.

I will always be extremely grateful for the opportunity to have been involved with the club and, no matter which teams I am coaching in the future, the Highlanders will always hold a special place in my heart.

In a coaching career though you have to keep looking for the next challenge, so you can grow and get better as a coach; for me the challenge of the next few years with Japan is what I need to keep moving forward. International rugby is completely different from coaching at Super Rugby level and brings with it a whole new set of challenges which I am keen to tackle.

While I am looking forward to Japan, for now my focus is still with the Highlanders and ensuring we can build on last year’s success”

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		Highlanders look to bright future
		Five year licence awarded to new operator A group of primarily South Island private investors - 77 percent stake Local Provincial Unions, New Zealand Rugby – 23 percent stake Investec Super Rugby champions, the Highlanders, have embarked on a new era with local Provincial Unions and South Island private investors being granted a licence to operate the team until 2020. The combined group of investors will inject substantial new capital into the 2015 Super Rugby winning team. The South Island private investor group is headed by Dunedin businessman Matthew Davey, Founder and CEO of ticketing agency Ticket Direct.   Otago, Southland and North Otago Provincial Unions will have a 13 percent stake in the new operator.  New Zealand Rugby (NZR) retains a 10 percent share for the first two years which will further assist putting the side on a secure commercial footing.   The new venture is being underwritten by a guarantee from the Invercargill City Council in exchange for guaranteed Highlanders games in Invercargill. “The Highlanders are now well placed to face the future with renewed confidence and build on what has been a very successful year on the field,” said NZR Chief Executive Steve Tew.  “The investor group brings considerable commercial experience, particularly in the sports consumer marketing area and they have great knowledge of the business of rugby.  This experience, coupled with strong provincial union support, will really help the Highlanders build a sustainable business and take full advantage of the opportunities ahead.” New investors excited by future “For those who love rugby (like our group) it was simply too good an opportunity to pass up,” said Matthew Davey on behalf of the investor group. “We see this as a good business opportunity, but equally we have a strong emotional attachment to the South and for me in particular, the Highlanders. They’ve been my team from the very early days of Super Rugby  but it’s also fair to say that we’ve been impressed with the work and results that Roger Clark, Jamie Joseph and the previous Highlanders board have achieved, in building the Highlanders up to a point where a group such as ours would be interested. “We are an experienced, well-resourced, innovative group and we look forward to a long and successful partnership with rugby in the South and it’s certainly our ambition to build on the strong base that New Zealand Rugby has entrusted us with.” Doug Harvie, chairman of the board of the new operating company said: “Having been involved with Provincial Unions and the Highlanders, I am very pleased with this investment consortium taking the reins for the ensuing years. The commercial acumen they bring is exceptional, and will put the Highlanders in the very best position to build on last year’s success.”  All five Super Rugby teams managed by new operators Today’s announcement completes the process begun in December 2011 with licences now awarded to operators of all five Investec Super Rugby teams.   “When we embarked on this process we aimed to ensure the foundation for the professional game in this country remained strong and could adapt to future challenges and opportunities,” said Steve Tew. “We are now better equipped to ensure the professional game continues to feed a winning All Blacks team and keeps delivering for fans.” BACKGROUND Key facts Highlanders licence 5 year licence to August 2020 Shareholders: 77 percent: private investor consortium of four individuals; 13 percent: Highlanders Provincial Unions; Otago Rugby Football Union, North Otago Rugby Football Union, Rugby Southland Ltd; 10 percent: New Zealand Rugby Seven person board – including one independent (Doug Harvie), two, one from Provincial Unions and New Zealand Rugby, four from private investors Investec Super Rugby Licences The operators of the five Super Rugby teams are owned by New Zealand Rugby when originally set up, and were run by boards representing the provincial unions in the local region and independent board members.  Reviews into the financial sustainability and structure of Super Rugby and franchises identified the need to reinvigorate the franchise model and provide for additional investment to improve its financial sustainability. Expressions of interest were called for in December 2011 for four of the five licences. The Highlanders were not part of the process.  A Super Rugby Licensee’s responsibilities will include: management of the team both on-field and off-field including, the professional development for members of the squad marketing and promotion of matches and the team the Licensee will retain gate and sponsorship income and pay administration, additional coaching and management staff, training facilities, match operations, and marketing costs. New Zealand Rugby will: retain ownership of the brands associated with each team continue to fund player and head (plus one assistant) coach contracts from centralised broadcasting and sponsorship revenue. continue to pay all travel and accommodation costs associated with the regular season (excluding playoffs) through SANZAR