Welcome to 3G-Goats Gone Grazing, our updates on which ex OBU people are making the headlines overseas in the last week or so. This ranges from the briefest of mentions to full profiles.

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Jimmy Gopperth

Jimmy played for OBU until 2008 when he headed over to the UK to play for the Newcastle Falcons. During that time he played for The Hurricanes, the Blues, NZ Secondary Schools, NZ Universities, and was a World Cup Under 21 winner. Jimmy was raised in Taranaki and came through the NPOB school.

James Haskell’s former Wasps colleagues respond to MMA career change

Lima Sopoaga

Lima came to OBU in 2010 from Wellington College with a couple of his mates Titapu Pairama-Lewington and Hanipale Galo covering Jerseys 10 out to 13. He was part of the NZ team that retained the Junior world title in 2011. He played a season for Wellington before switching to Dunedin and playing for the Highlanders for several years, and of course the All Blacks.

Why Malakai Fekitoa is ready to ‘smash’ the challenge at Wasps

Eric Fry

Eric played for OBU in 2012. He had the nickname ‘The Big Easy’. A good bloke to have around on or off the paddock, he made a great contribution to the club during that time.

He still plays for the USA Eagles, debuting in 2011 and going on to play in the world cup. He must have liked what he saw in 2011 to come to OBU the following year from the Las Vegas Blackjacks. He has had stints in the UK for London Scottish and Newcastle Falcons before a brief stint back in the US with the Sacramento Express. He is now playing in France for RC Vannes. It sounds like he is on course to play another world cup in a month or so.

Eagles Name Strong Squad To Face Canada

Canada wraps up Rugby World Cup preparations with final warmup against the US

Rugby World Cup Squads: All the RWC 19 squads as they are announced

TJ Ioane

TJ was part of the team from 2008-2010, including when we last won the Hardham Cup. He came through Wellington College and now plays for London Irish and Samoa.
He was also in the Wellington Academy for 3 years, played for the Highlanders and Otago and was in NZ the Secondary Schools team in 2007.

Rugby World Cup Squads: All the RWC 19 squads as they are announced