Meehan back in mix with New Zealand boxing team
Meehan coached the New Zealand women’s team from 2005, then took the elite men from 2006 to 2010, including to the Delhi Commonwealth Games. The provinces won’t get to see the Central Pulse netballers play next season, with the trans-Tasman franchise holding all home games in Wellington or Porirua.
Arena Manawatu has had Pulse games for the past three seasons, hosting the Southern Steel this year, the Northern Mystics last year and the Steel in 2013. Palmerston North-based stats company Prozone may analyse the big time like the NRL and Rugby World Cup, but they do the opposite end of the scale, too.
This year they did analysis for Manawatu Rugby League club games, the only district in New Zealand to do so. Prozone gave them cameras for the year, uploaded a few club games, all finals and rep games to their portal, which is accessed by clients and is the NRL’s recruiting tool. Manawatu had a full contingent at a four-day Fifa-New Zealand Football referee course at Auckland last weekend.
Referees Antony Riley and Matt Conger, assistant referee Mark Rule, as well as Central Football referee development officer David Lawrie and referees guru Rod Pelosi, were there for elite match officials and assessor coaches.
They were among 43 of the country’s national league officials and instructors to learn the latest developments in refereeing. Hubert Buydens is keeping the Turbos’ hair growth going while playing for Canada at the Rugby World Cup.
Buydens was always bearded with the Turbos last year, but on Sunday he resembled Manawatu flanker Heiden Bedwell-Curtis with the length of his hair and beard while playing Ireland at Twickenham. The Turbos are missing ‘‘Moose’’, among others.