FOUR SELECTED FOR CANES DEVELOPMENT XV
The Hurricanes Development XV has been named for their clash with the Sunwolves XV and is highlighted by four local Horowhenua Kapiti representatives in the side. Aaron Lahmert, Ryan Shelford, Scott Cameron and Willie Paia’aua have been selected on the back of a spirited 2017 Heartland campaign along with strong starts to the HKRFU Club Rugby competition in 2018.
The four Horowhenua Kapiti players are all part of the Horowhenua Kapiti Heartland leadership group and Horowhenua Kapiti Heartland Coach, Chris Wilton, is looking forward to the players using the experience of being part of a Hurricanes team and taking that experience back to the Heartland side.
Horowhenua Kapiti Heartland coach Chris Wilton is pleased for the players selected and looking forward to drawing on their experience. “I’m thrilled for these players to be part of this Hurricanes Development team, they’re all dedicated Heartland rugby players who will use this experience and bring it back to our Union.”
“It’ll be a great build up for them as we head into a week together as a Heartland squad in preparation for our defence of the PGG Wrightson Cup against Wairarapa Bush at Westpac Stadium on May 5th. I know myself and all the Heartland team wishes the very best and look forward to seeing them run out in Hurricanes colours,” Wilton said.
Along with the four Horowhenua Kapiti players, the squad also features two other Heartland players, Patrick Allen from East Coast and Lindsay Horrocks from Wanganui.
Hurricanes Development XV: 1. Fraser Armstrong (Manawatu), 2. Nathan Vella (Canterbury), 3. TBC, 4. Sam Uluafonua (Hawkes Bay), 5. Liam Mitchell (Manawatu), 6. Josh Kaifa (Hawkes Bay), 7. Sam Henwood/Aaron Lahmert (Counties/Horowhenua Kapiti), 8. Blade Thomson (Taranaki), 9. Richard Judd (Bay of Plenty), 10. Ihaia West (Hawkes Bay), 11. Mason Emerson (Hawkes Bay), 12. Peter Umaga-Jensen (Wellington), 13. Sasa Tofilau (Hawkes Bay), 14. Losi Filipo (Wellington), 15. JJ Taulagi (Hawkes Bay). Reserves: 16. Tim Cadwallader (Manawatu), 17. Scott Cameron (Horowhenua Kapiti), 18. Sean Rankin (Manawatu), 19. Ryan Shelford (Horowhenua Kapiti), 20. Patrick Allen (East Coast), 21. Lindsay Horrocks (Wanganui), 22. John Ika (Hawkes Bay), 23. James Tofa (Manawatu), 24. Brice Henderson (Manawatu), 25. Willie Paia’aua (Horowhenua Kapiti).
Sunwolves Development XV: 1. Kouki Yamamoto, 2. Atsushi Sakate, 3. Genki Sudo, 4. Anise Samuela, 5. Uwe Helu, 6. Faulua Makisi, 7. Shunsuke Nunomaki (captain), 8. Fetuani Lautaimi, 9. Keisuke Uchida, 10. Rikiya Matsuda, 11. Akihito Yamada, 12. Kanta Shikao, 13. Daishi Murata, 14. Lomano Lava Lemeki, 15. Ryuji Noguchi. Reserves: 16. Takeshi Hino, 17. Emersen Tamura, 18. Shinnosuke Kakinaga, 19. Shinya Makabe, 20. Yuya Odo, 21. Yoshikatsu Nishikawa, 22. Naoto Saito, 23. Ryoto Nakamura, 24. Hitoshi Matsumoto, 25. Robbie Robinson.
The game kicks off 5:30pm at the Levin Domain. Entry is free, head on down to support.