Official team lists for this week's opening round of the National Provincial Championship.
Manawatū v Canterbury
7:05pm Friday, August 5
Central Energy Trust Arena, Palmerston North
Canterbury have been bolstered by the return of former All Black Owen Franks, after being included in their side to play Manawatū in their NPC season opener on Friday.
Franks, 34, has been named to start at tighthead prop, three years after departing for English Premiership club, Northampton Saints in 2019.
The 108-test prop still harbours All Blacks aspirations, and was a late inclusion in the Canterbury squad after prop Fletcher Newell was called up by Ian Foster, and Tamaiti Williams unavailable due to a red card.
Canterbury head coach Marty Bourke is delighted to be able to call on someone with the experience of Franks before their campaign kicks off.
"With Fletcher called into the AB's and a couple of injuries, we were on the lookout for another prop, so to have a guy like Owey available is fantastic. He still has ambitions of his own, so if we're able to provide that opportunity, then that's really exciting," he said.
Manawatū: 1-Harrison Allan, 2-Siua Maile, 3-Sean Paranihi, 4-Potu jr Leavasa, 5-Micaiah Torrance-Read, 6-TK Howden, 7-Slade McDowall, 8-Brayden Iose, 9-Logan Henry, 10-Brett Cameron, 11-Ed Fidow, 12-Jason Emery, 13-Louis Rogers, 14-Tima Fainga'anuku, 15-Drew Wild
Reserves: 16-Leif Schwencke, 17-Joseph Gavigan, 18-Flyn Yates, 19-Ofa Tauatevalu, 20-Johnny Galloway, 21-Luke Campbell, 22-Sam Clarke, 23-Kegan Christan-Goss
Canterbury: 1-Finlay Brewis, 2-Brodie McAlister, 3-Owen Franks, 4-Sam Darry, 5-Zach Gallagher, 6-Billy Harmon, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Cullen Grace, 9-Mitchell Drummond, 10-Fergus Burke, 11-George Bridge, 12-Rameka Poihipi, 13-Dallas McLeod, 14-Manasa Mataele, 15-Chay Fihaki
Reserves: 16-Shilo Klein, 17-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18-Seb Calder, 19-Dominic Gardiner, 20-Corey Kellow, 21-Willi Heinz, 22-Alex Harford, 23-Will Gualter
Counties Manukau v Otago
2:05pm Saturday, August 6
Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe
New Counties Manukau coach Reon Graham has included eight debutants in the match-day squad to play Otago in their NPC season opener on Saturday.
Five of the eight debutants have come out of their academy, while the backline also features Samoan international AJ Alatimu, who will make his first appearance for the Steelers.
The side also features nine Super Rugby players, as well as former Irish international Sean Reidy, who makes a highly anticipated return to New Zealand rugby at open side.
Moana Pasifika skipper Sekope Kepu will lead the young side.
"It is exciting to give eight debutants an opportunity to wear the jersey and represent the hoops," Graham said.
"We are really looking forward to getting the campaign underway after a couple of disrupted seasons with COVID.
"I'm confident in the group we have assembled and know they will represent our region with pride."
Counties Manukau: 1-Kauvaka Kaivelata, 2-Zuriel Togiatama, 3-Sekope Kepu, 4-William Furniss, 5-Viliame Rarasea, 6-Alex McRobbie, 7-Sean Reidy, 8-Sam Tuifua, 9-Cameron Roigard, 10-Riley Hohepa, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12-AJ Alatimu, 13-Nikolai Foliaki, 14-Ahsee Tuala, 15-Jared Page
Reserves: 16-Ioane Moananu, 17-Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 18-Suetena Asomua, 19-Sam Slade, 20-Adam Brash, 21-Liam Daniela, 22-Tevita Ofa, 23-Esau Filimoehala
Otago: 1-Abraham Pole, 2-Ricky Jackson, 3-Jermaine Ainsley, 4-Fabian Holland, 5-Will Tucker, 6-Oliver Haig, 7-Sean Withy, 8-James Lentjes, 9-Kemara Hautu-Parapara, 10-Josh Ioane, 11-Jona Nareki, 12-Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 13-Josh Timu, 14-Vilimoni Koroi, 15-Sam Gilbert
Reserves: 16-Henry Bell, 17-Josh Hohneck, 18-Saula Ma'u, 19-Joshua Hill, 20-Sam Fischli, 21-James Arscott, 22-Cameron Millar, 23-Freedom Vahaakolo
Waikato v Hawke's Bay
4:35pm Saturday, August 6
FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Waikato: 1-Ayden Johnstone, 2-Rhys Marshall, 3-George Dyer, 4-James Tucker, 5-Hamilton Burr, 6-Liam Messam, 7-Mitch Jacobson (c), 8-Luke Jacobson, 9-Xavier Roe, 10-Damian McKenzie, 11-Daniel Skinson, 12-D'Angelo Leuila, 13-Bailyn Sullivan, 14-Liam Coombes-Fabling, 15-Tepaea Cook-Savage
Reserves: 16-Pita Anae-Ah Sue, 17-Rob Cobb, 18-Sefo Kautai, 19-Lachlan McWhannell, 20-Jack Lam, 21-Cortez Ratima, 22-Alapati Leiua, 23-Mosese Dawai
Hawke's Bay: 1-Pouri Rakete Stones, 2-Kianu Kereru-Symes, 3-Joe Apikotoa, 4-Isaia Walker-Leawere, 5- Tom Parsons, 6-Devan Flanders, 7-Solomone Funaki, 8-Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, 9-Brad Weber, 10-Caleb Makene, 11-Neria Fomai, 12-Danny Toala, 13-Nick Grigg, 14-Jonah Lowe, 15-Chase Tiatia
Reserves: 16-Tyrone Thompson, 17-Lolani Faleiva, 18-Joel Hintz, 19-Bryn Evans, 20-Sam Smith, 21-Ereatara Enari, 22-Ollie Sapsford, 23-Lolagi Visinia
Auckland v North Harbour
7:05pm Saturday, August 6
Eden Park, Auckland
Auckland have named five debutants in their match-day squad for their 'Battle of the Bridge' clash against North Harbour in the NPC opening round.
Connor Vest, Jackson Pugh, Tomas Aoake, Joshua Fusitua and Manu Paea are in line for their first appearance in the blue and white hoops on Saturday at Eden Park.
Alex Hodgman, Marcel Renta and Leni Apisai make up an experienced front-row, with 101 Auckland caps between them.
First-five Harry Plummer will lead Auckland from first-five, with Corey Evans and AJ Lam joining him in the inside backs.
Salesi Rayasi will look to carry on his NPC form on the left wing, with Māori All Black Zarn Sullivan named at fullback.
Auckland’s last encounter with North Harbour ended dramatically with their rivals edging out a 23-22 win at QBE Stadium in 2020.
Auckland: 1-Alex Hodgman, 2-Leni Apisai, 3-Marcel Renata, 4-Jamie Lane, 5-Connor Vest, 6-Blake Gibson, 7-Adrian Choat, 8-Jackson Pugh, 9-Taufa Funaki, 10-Harry Plummer, 11-Salesi Rayasi, 12-Corey Evans, 13-AJ Lam, 14-Tomas Aoake, 15-Zarn Sullivan
Reserves: 16-Soane Vikena, 17-Joshua Fusitua, 18-Sione Ahio, 19-Hamish Dalzell, 20-Vaiolini Ekuasi, 21-Manu Paea, 22-Simon Hickey, 23-Jordan Trainor
North Harbour: 1-Fatongia Paea, 2-Luteru Tolai, 3-Nic Mayhew, 4-Danny Drake, 5-Mike Curry, 6-Cam Sufoa, 7-Jed Melvin, 8-Lotu Inisi, 9-Jamie Booth, 10-Bryn Gatland, 11-Tevita Li, 12-Henry Taefu, 13-Tom Barham, 14-Mark Telea, 15-Shaun Stevenson
Reserves: 16-RayNiuia, 17-Tevita Langi, 18-Alex Fidow, 19-Isoa Nasilasila, 20- Tamarau McGahan, 21-Siaosi Nginingini, 22-Jack Heighton, 23-Fine Inisi
Taranaki v Northland
2:05pm Sunday, August 7
Pukekura Park, New Plymouth
Taranaki: 1-Jared Proffit, 2-Bradley Slater, 3-Donald Brighouse, 4-Jesse Parete, 5-Scott Jury, 6-Mitch Brown (c), 7-Tom Florence, 8-Kaylum Boshier, 9-Logan Crowley, 10-Jayson Potroz, 11-Josh Setu, 12-Daniel Waite, 13-Daniel Rona, 14-Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 15-Matty McKenzie
Reserves: 16-Ricky Riccitelli, 17-Mitch O'Neill, 18-Kyle Stewart, 19-Hemopo Cunningham, 20-Pita Gus Sowakula, 21-Liam Blyde, 22-Josh Jacomb, 23-Brayton Northcott-Hill
Northland: 1-Esile Fono, 2-Matt Moulds (c), 3-Coree Te Whata-Colley, 4-Josh Goodhue, 5-Sam Caird, 6-Rob Rush, 7-Matt Matich, 8-Sam McNamara, 9-Lisati Milo-Harris, 10-Rivez Reihana, 11-Jone Macilai, 12-Tamati Tua, 13-Rene Ranger, 14-Pisi Leilua, 15-Josh Moorby
Reserves: 16-Bruce Kauika-Petersen, 17-Ross Wright, 18-Sila Puafisi, 19-Jaycob Matiu, 20-Jonah Mau'u, 21-Trent Hape, 22-Dan Hawkins, 23-Heremaia Murray
Tasman v Southland
2:05pm Sunday, August 7
Lansdowne Park, Blenheim
Tasman: 1-Ryan Coxon, 2-Andrew Makalio, 3-Luca Inch, 4-Mahorni Ngakuru, 5-Quinten Strange (c), 6-Max Hicks, 7-Sione Havili, 8-Anton Segner, 9-Noah Hotham, 10-Campbell Parata, 11-Macca Springer, 12-Alex Nankivell, 13-Levi Aumua, 14-Timoci Tavatavanawai, 15-Taine Robinson
Reserves: 16-Quentin MacDonald, 17-Matt Graham-Williams, 18-Sam Matenga, 19-Hugh Renton, 20-Braden Stewart, 21-Louie Chapman, 22-William Havili, 23-Noah Foster
Southland: 1-Shaun Stodart, 2-Sam Stewart, 3-Morgan Mitchell, 4-Ben Morris, 5-Josh Bekhuis (c), 6-Grayson Knapp, 7-Matthew James, 8-Arese Poliko, 9-Jay Renton, 10-Marty Banks, 11-Rory van Vugt, 12-Scott Gregory, 13-Isaac Te Tamaki, 14-Matt Whaanga, 15-Solomon Alaimalo
Reserves: 16-Jacob Payne, 17-Paula Latu, 18-Quinn Harrison-Jones, 19-Joe Robins, 20-Hayden Michaels, 21-Jahvis Wallace, 22-Greg Dyer, 23-Viliami Fine
Wellington v Bay of Plenty
4:35pm Sunday, August 7
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Wellington: 1-Xavier Numia, 2-James O'Reilly, 3-PJ Sheck, 4-James Blackwell, 5-Dominic Bird, 6-Taine Plumtree, 7-Du'Plessis Kirifi (c), 8-Peter Lakai, 9-TJ Perenara, 10-Aidan Morgan, 11-Pepesana Patafilp, 12-Riley Higgins, 13-Billy Proctor, 14-Julian Savea, 15-Ruben Love
Reserves: 16-Asafo Aumia, 17-Bradley Crichton, 18-Siale Lauaki, 19-Caleb Delany, 20-Keelan Whitmai, 21-Richard Judd, 22-Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23-Connor Garden-Bachop
Bay of Plenty: 1-Haereiti Hetet, 2-Kurt Eklund (c), 3-Tevita Mafileo, 4-Justin Sangster, 5-Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 6-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 7-Jacob Norris, 8-Zane Kapeli, 9-Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 10-Kaleb Trask, 11-Nigel Ah Wong, 12-Inga Finau, 13-Joey Walton, 14-Taylor Haugh, 15-Emoni Narawa
Reserves: 16-Anaru Rangi, 17-Josh Bartlett, 18-Pasilio Tosi, 19-Sonny Collier, 20-Veveni Lasaqa, 21-Jamie Dobie/Carlos Price, 22-Wharenui Haera, 23-Gillies Kaka
