Official team lists for this week's round of the National Provincial Championship.
Canterbury v North Harbour
7:05pm, Wednesday, August 31
Orangetheory Stadium
Canterbury will likely be without No.8 Cullen Grace for the rest of their 2022 campaign, after the Crusaders star fractured his collarbone.
Grace suffered the injury playing against Tasman last week. He'll be assessed by a specialist to determine whether surgery is required, which will determine his recovery timeframe.
But the 22-year-old has been struck down yet again by a shoulder injury, after his 2021 NPC campaign ended prematurely in similar fashion.
Liam Allen moves into the starting XV to replace Grace, with flanker Tom Christie returning from injury to captain the side.
Canterbury: 1-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 2-George Bell, 3-Owen Franks, 4-Luke Romano, 5-Dominic Gardiner, 6-Corey Kellow, 7-Tom Christie (capt), 8-Liam Allen, 9-Willi Heinz, 10-Alex Harford, 11-Will Gualter, 12-Isaiah Punivai, 13-Dallas McLeod, 14-Ngatungane Punivai, 15-George Bridge
Reserves: 16-Ben Funnell, 17-Tamati Williams, 18-Seb Calder, 19-Sam Darry, 20-Joe Brial, 21-Joel Lam, 22-Blair Murray, 23-Jone Rova
North Harbour have named four debutants for their journey south to face Canterbury at Christchurch, choosing to rest many of their regular starters with two games scheduled this week.
Former England international Denny Solomona, who played for the Highlanders in Super Rugby, will make his first appearance for the province at centre, along with No.8 Wallace Sititi and winger Tika Lelenga, while prop Sam Davies will come off the bench.
Harbour's starting inside combination of Jamie Booth and Bryn Gatland are also named on the bench, with fullback Shaun Stevenson assuming the captaincy at fullback.
North Harbour: 1-Tevita Langi, 17-Ray Niuia, 3-Kalolo Tuiloma, 4-Isoa Nasilasila, 5-Felix Kalapu, 6-Tamarau McGahan, 7-Karl Ruzich, 8-Wallace Sititi, 9-Siaosi Nginingini, 10-Jack Heighton, 11-Tika Lelenga, 12-Tom Barham, 13-Denny Solomona, 14-Kade Banks, 15-Shaun Stevenson (c)
Reserves: 16-Luteru Tolai, 2-Fatongia Paea, 18-Sam Davies, 19-Danny Drake, 20-Cam Suafoa, 21-Jamie Booth, 22-Bryn Gatland, 23-Fine Inisi
Manawatū v Tasman
7:05pm, Friday, September 2
Central Energy Trust Arena, Palmerston North
Manawatu: 1-Joseph Gaigan, 2-Siua Malle, 3-Sean Paranihi, 4-Micaiah Torrance-Read, 5-Veikoso Polonaiti, 6-Potu Junior Leavasa, 7-Johnny Galloway, 8-Brayden Iose (cc), 9-Luke Campbell, 10-Brett Cameron, 11-Ed Fidow, 12-Jason Emery (cc), 13-Kegan Christian-Goss, 14-Tim Fainga'anuku, 15-Drew Wild
Reserves: 16-Ben Strang, 17-Harrison Allan, 18-Flyn Yates, 19-Ofa Tauatevalu, 20-Elyjah Crosswell, 21-Logan Henry, 22-Adam Boult, 23-Louis Rogers
Tasman: 1-Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 2-Andrew Makalio, 3-Isaac Salmon, 4-Mahonri Ngakuru, 5-Quinten Strange (c), 6-Max Hicks, 7-Braden Stewart, 8-Hugh Renton, 9-Louie Chapman, 10-William Havili, 11-Macca Springer, 12-Levi Aumua, 13-Fetuli Paea, 14-Leicester Fainga'anuku, 15-Taine Robinson
Reserves: 16-Sam Moli, 17-Matt Graham-Williams, 18-Sam Matenga, 19-Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 20-Fletcher Anderson, 21-Noah Hotham, 22-Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23-Alex Nankivell
Northland v Auckland
2:05pm, Saturday, September 3
Semenoff Stadium, Whangarei
Northland: 1-Jarred Adams, 2-Matt Moulds (c), 3-Coree Te Whata-Colley, 4-Josh Goodhue, 5-Liam Hallam-Eames, 6-Rob Rush, 7-Jonha Mau'u, 8-Sam McNamara, 9-Sam Nock, 10-Rivez Reihana, 11-Heremaian Murray, 12-Blake Hohaia, 13-Tamati Tua, 14-Jone Macilai, 15-Josh Moorby
Reserves: 16-Brue Kauika-Petersen, 17-Ross Wright, 18-Conan O'Donnell, 19-Tom Robinson, 20-Matt Matich, 21-Lisati Milo-Harris, 22-Johnny Cooper, 23-Kalani Going
Auckland: 1-Alex Hodgman, 2-Robbie Abel, 3-Marcel Renata, 4-Jamie Lane, 5-Connor Vest, 6-Blake Gibson, 7-Adrian Cho;at, 8-Jackson Pugh, 9-Taufa Funaki, 10-Harry Plummer (c), 11-Salesi Rayasi, 12-Corey Evans, 13-AJ Lam, 14-Tomas Aoake, 15-Jordan Trainor
Reserves: 16-Soane Vikena, 17-Jordan Lay, 18-Angus Ta'avao, 19-Hamish Dalzell, 20-Vaiolini Ekuasi, 21-Manu Paea, 22-Simon Hickey, 23-Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Taranaki v Waikato
2:05pm, Saturday, September 3
Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth
Taranaki: 1-Jard Proffit, 2-Bradley Slater, 3-Donald Brighouse, 4-Jesse Parete, 5-Tupou Vaa'i, 6-Kaylum Boshier, 7-Michael Loft, 8-Pita Gus Sowakula, 9-Logan Crowley, 10-Daniel Waite, 11-Verekini Tikoisolomone, 12-Teihorangi Walden (c), 13-Daniel Rona, 14-Kini Naholo, 15-Isaac Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Reserves: 16-Ricky Riccitelli, 17-Mitch O'Neill, 18-Kyle Stewart, 19-Mickey Wooliams, 20-Scott Jury, 21-Liam Blyde, 22-Meihana Grindlay, 23-Matty McKenzie
Waikato: 1-Ayden Johnstone, 2-Rhys Marshall, 3-Sefo Kautai, 4-James Tucker, 5-James Thompson, 6-Patrick McCurran, 7-Mitch Jacobson, 8-Luke Jacobson, 9-Xavier Roe, 10-D'Angelo Leuila, 11-Daniel Sinkinson, 12-Alapati Leiua, 13-Bailyn Sullivan, 14-Liam Coombes-Fabling, 15-Damian McKenzie
Reserves: 16-Pita Anae Ah-Sue, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-George Dyer, 19-Jack Lam, 20-Te Rama Reuben, 21-Cortez Ratima, 22-Taha Kemara, 23-Mosese Dawai
Southland v Wellington
4:35pm, Saturday, September 3
Rugby Park, Invercargill
Southland: 1-Paula Latu, 2-Sam Stewart, 3-Morgan Mitchell, 4-Caleb Aperahama, 5-Josh Bekhuis (c), 6-Grayson Knapp, 7-Matt James, 8-Blair Ryall, 9-Jay Renton, 10-Jack Macleod, 11-Rory van Vugt, 12-Scott Gregory, 13-Matt Whaanga, 14-Viliami Fine, 15-Robbie Robinson
Reserves: 16-Jacob Payne, 17-Kane Prentice, 18-Quinn Harrison-Jones, 19-Charles Alaimalo, 20-Jacob Coghlan, 21-Osika Kaufononga, 22-Willie Tufui, 23-Tevita Latu
Hugo Plummer has been named for debut off the bench for Wellington's road trip to the deep south, while lock James Blackwell and captain Du'Plessis Kirifi will miss the match through injury. Halfback TJ Perenara will lead the side in Kirifi's absence.
Wellington: 1-Xavier Numia, 2-Asafo Aumua, 3-Pekahou Cowan, 4-Dominic Bird, 5-Josh To’omaga, 6-Caleb Delany, 7-Sione Halalilo, 8-Peter Lakai, 9-TJ Perenara (c), 10-Aidan Morgan, 11-Nehe Milner-Skudder, 12-Peter Umaga-Jensen, 13-Billy Proctor, 14-Julian Savea, 15-Connor Garden-Bachop
Reserves: 16-James O’Reilly, 17-Solomona Sakalia, 18-Siale Lauaki, 19-Hugo Plummer, 20-Keelan Whitman, 21-Richard Judd, 22-Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23Ruben Love
Canterbury v Hawke's Bay
2:05pm, Sunday, September 4
Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch
Canterbury enjoy the luxury of naming a powerpacked bench, with Super Rugby veterans Luke Romano, Ben Funnell, Daniel Lienert-Brown and Tamaiti Williams, and England international Willi Heinz named among the reserves against the Magpies.
Canterbury: 1-Finlay Brewis, 2-George Bell, 3-Oli Jager, 4-Sam Darry, 5-Dominic Gardiner, 6-Corey Kellow, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Billy Harmon (C), 9-Mitchell Drummond, 10-Fergus Burke, 11-George Bridge, 12-Rameka Poihipi, 13-Braydon Ennor, 14-Ngatungane Punivai, 15-Chay Fihaki
Reserves: 16-Ben Funnell, 17-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18-Tamaiti Williams, 19-Luke Romano, 20-Liam Allen, 21-Willi Heinz, 22-Isaiah Punivai, 23-Dallas McLeod
Hawke's Bay: 1-Pouri Rakete-Stones, 2-Tyrone Thompson, 3-Joel Hintz, 4-Isaia Walker-Leawere, 5-Bryn Evans, 6-Josh Kaifa, 7-Solomone Funaki, 8-Marino Makaele-Tu'u, 9-Brad Weber (c), 10-Lincoln McClutchie, 11-Lolagi Visinia, 12-Danny Toala, 13-Stacey Ili, 14-Ollie Sapsford, 15-Caleb Makene
Reserves: 16-Kianu Kereru-Symes, 17-Mark Braidwood, 18-Joe Apikotoa, 19-Frank Lochore, 20-Sam Smith, 21-Ereatara Enari, 22-Nick Grigg, 23-Neria Fomai
Otago v Bay of Plenty
2:05pm, Sunday, September 4
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Hooker Ricky Jackson is out for the rest of the season, with Henry Bell taking the No.2 jersey for Otago against Bay of Plenty and Brady Robertson named for his debut off the bench. Winger Sam Gilbert will play his 15th blazer game.
Otago: 1-Josh Hohneck, 2-Henry Bell, 3-Jermaine Ainsley, 4-Fabian Holland, 5-Will Tucker, 6-Sean Withy, 7-James Lentjes (c), 8-Christian Lio-Willie, 9-James Arscott, 10-Cameron Millar, 11-Vilimoni Koroi, 12-Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 13-Jake Te Hiwi, 14-Sam Gilbert, 15-Josh Ioane
Reserves: 16-Brady Robertson, 17-Abraham Pole, 18-Saula Ma’u, 19-Joshua Hill, 20-Rupeni Tamani, 21-Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, 22-Josh Timu, 23-Freedom Vahaakolo
Kurt Eklund's absence through injury has forced the Steamers into changes at hooker and captain, with anaru Rangi taking the No.2 jersey and midfielder Inga Finau assuming the leadership role against Otago.
Halfback Luke Donaldson is named for a Bay of Plenty debut off the bench.
Bay of Plenty: 1-Aidan Ross, 2-Anaru Rangi, 3-Jeff Thwaites, 4-Justin Sangster, 5-Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 6-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 7-Jacob Norris, 8-Nikora Broughton, 9-Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 10-Kaleb Trask, 11-Nigel Ah Wong, 12-Inga Finau (C), 13-Joey Walton, 14-Emoni Narawa, 15-Gillies Kaka
Reserves: 16-Nic Souchon, 17-Haereiti Hetet, 18-Pasilio Tosi, 19-Zane Kapeli, 20-Penitoa Finau, 21-Luke Donaldson, 22-Lucas Cashmore, 23-Lalomilo Lalomilo
North Harbour v Counties Manukau
4:35pm, Sunday, September 4
North Harbour Stadium
Counties Manukau: 1-Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 2-Penisoni Fineanganofo, 3-Sekope Kepu (c), 4-William Furniss, 5-Sam Slade, 6-Alex McRobbie, 7-Adam Brash, 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Cameron Roigard, 10-Riley Hohepa, 11-Peniasi Malimali, 12-AJ Alatimu, 13-Nikolai Foliaki, 14-Tevita Ofa, 15-Jared Page
Reserves: 16-Zuriel Togiatama, 17-Mark Royal, 18-Nepo Laulala, 19-Setefano Leavasa, 20-Sean Reidy, 21-Jonathan Taumateine, 22-Ahsee Tuala, 23-Nua Soti
