CLUB RUGBY: With the CMK Club Rugby competition starting tomorrow, it’s timely to take a look at how each premier team is shaping up ahead of the competition.

Clifton
Clifton has been boosted by the return of former Hurricanes front rower Mike Kainga, who previously played for Coastal. The strong prop, who still has the capability to play for Taranaki, adds to the existing experience in the squad with Abe Hira, Chris Black and Mark Shaw all back for this year. Last year’s semi-finalists have always fielded a talented and exciting side and will be another side to watch for in this year’s competition. They have stuck with the same coaching group for another season. Squad: Josh Iwikau, Bill Kauvadra, Abe Haira, Connor White, Mike Kainga, Jack Costello, Hamish Lawn, Blair Shorter, Jonetani Dobui, Chris Black, Daniel Guthrie, Slade Whalen, Caleb Wahoo, Mark Shaw, Ben Kauvadra, Reece Innes-Gray, Harris Gemmell, Cole Blyde, Patrick Stark, Cooper Rogers, Kristian Gent-Standen, Hanley Setu, Matt McKenzie, Josh Setu, Daniel Rona, Kini Naholo, Meli Naholo, Brandon Pokere, India Saotui-Huta, Api Dawai, Taylor Haskell, Liam Blyde. Coaches: Kerry Eynon, Lane Dombroski and Tangi Takie.

Coastal
Last year’s finalists have a lot going for them, which is encouraging for the rural club. They have had a very strong pre-season with good numbers coupled by a key signing of talented lock Josh Lord. Standing over two meters, the 18-year-old has come down from Hamilton Boys High School. By having Lord and Tevita Fa’ukafa, who joined the side last year, will add a significant point of difference in the forward pack. The side will be captained by Jeremy Newell again this year who will reply on dedicated local players to boost their side. Squad: Liam Hurley, Sam Lawn, Chris Gawler, Andrew Trolove, Dylan Schullar, Jeremy Newell, Alex Kauvalu, Bryn Chard, Josh Lord, Tevita Fa’ukafa, Joel Chard, Beauden Fleming, Beauden Fleming, Blake Barrett, Cody Rothwell, Logan Crowley, Jarred Davey, Brett Goodin, Daniel Crowley, Josh Thompson, Troy Stevenson, Liam Parker, David Hughes, Jacob Gopperth, Rick McKenna, Jordan Fleming, Heinrich Fourie, Red Lloyd. Coaches: Aaron Fisher and Ricky Tito. 

Inglewood
Inglewood has had a new lease of life for this year’s club competition after picking up several Taranaki Academy players. The new players are encouraging for the side who hasn’t really fired since winning the competition in 2014. Tight head prop Crusader Faletagoai, hooker Millennium Sanerivi and flanker Christian Fa’avae have all joined the club from Auckland. The impressive players, who all have big wraps, will boost the forward pack with existing local players. Other stand out players for Inglewood are Jack White, Rhodes Featherston and Michael McDonald. They will rely on spiritual leader and experienced campaigner Ben Sapwell-West. They have a new coaching group for the season that includes the return of Ngatai Walker. Squad: Jesus Porro, Jack van Bussell, Crusader Fatetogai, Steven Dravitzkim Brooke Harvey-Smith, Christian Faavae, Jack White, Rhodes Featherston, Ben Sapwell-West, Cody Hall, Danny Nicholls, Junior Togia, Parris Faapulou, Isaiah Graham-Hooper, Michael McDonald, Luke Bunn, Millennium Sanerivi, Mark Hale, Duncan Corlett, Brendon Lyon, Pablo Filippini, Kyle Dravitzki, Jimmy Sua. Coaches: Ngatai Walker, Jason Hooper, Andrew Retallick and Maifea Maifea.

New Plymouth Old Boys
Defending champions New Plymouth Old Boys will have added incentive this year as the club celebrates their 100^th jubilee in 2019. However, the club will be without play makers Daniel Waite and Brayton Northcott-Hill for the first round due to sustaining injuries in last year’s Mitre 10 Cup. The pre-season has been strong for Old Boys with all teams (Premier, Division 1 and Colts) training together. Liam McBride returns for Old Boys after a stint overseas and will captain the side with former Taranaki hooker Caleb Mawson. Jamahl Hapi and Adam Smith have joined from New Plymouth Boys High School. Squad: Toby Burkett, Blake Morgan, Caleb Mawson, Mitch O’Neill, James Wilson, Tupou Vaa’i, Brent Tucker, Dean Stewart, Gerard Miller, Gabe Lauderdale-Smith, Michael Loft, Hamish Alabaster, Kaylum Boshier, Brad Valentine, Shaan Waite, Brodie Lilley, Liam McBride, Adam Smith, Daniel Waite, Matthew Guthrie, Jayden Ford, Brayton Northcott-Hill, Jackson Carrington, Jamahl Hapi, David Stark, David Stark. Coaches: Michael Carr, Phil Mitchell and Kelvin McDowell.

Southern
Southern named their squad early in the pre-season after training with all other teams in the club. Under the same coaching group of Jonathan Farmer and Grant Preston, Southern has an exciting mix of experience and new players. Jackson Ormond returns who had a taste of Southland rugby during last year’s Mitre 10 Cup. Ormond will co-captain the side with Daniel Hornby. Last year, Southern were leading the competition after the first round, but will want to continue that early momentum and aim for a top four finish, which they are capable of. Squad: Marshall Jane, Aaron Tosland, Todd Curtis, Jacob Northcott, Robert Northcott, Cameron Rowse, Regan Livingstone, Dylan Skipworth, Brad Saxton, Joel Williamson, Daniel Parete, Tobias Stark, Daniel Hornby, Trent Pickering, Sean White, Josh Sanford, Sam Conway, Cody McGrath, Zane Firth, Dane Picot van Heuvan, Luke Taplin, Keani Broughton, Caleb Kahupukoro, Jade Taylor, Jackson Ormond, Brent Landers. Coaches: Grant Preston, Johnathan Farmer.

Spotswood United
Spotswood United have a reputation of naming a strong, physical forward pack. That is no different to this year as they have acquired loose forward Johnny Faletagoai-Malase. Spotswood United has also recruited talented backs Moses Christie and Josh Jacomb and flanker Callum McDonald.  They have managed to hold onto most of their dedicated players again this year including Warwick Lahmert, Richard Sutton and Matt Goodwin named in the squad, who will likely be the captain. The New Plymouth based side missed out on the play-offs last year but are definitely contenders for the top four. Squad: Callum McDonald, Jacob Bourke, James Grogan, Jared Proffit, Johnny Faletagoai-Malase, Josh Jacomb, Mathew Tupa, Matt Goodwin, Micaiah Torrance-Read, Richard Sutton, Sione Sifa, Taini Taupaea, Tawera Baker, Tristian Lahmert, Alex Gawler, Austin Brown, Bailey Kingi, Denza Kemp, Emerson Maxwell-Gray, Jack Hartley, Joachim Faga, Keenan Tamarapa, Legend Campus-Newton, Maika Rova, Moses Christie, Ricco Falaniko, Salesi Havea, Selesitino Kolounivale Junior, Tamati Tupaea, Warwick Lahmert. Coaches: Brent Perrett, Mitch Williams.

Stratford/Eltham
Last year, Stratford/Eltham narrowly missed out on the play-offs. The central Taranaki squad has the ability to build on the last few years. Taranaki prop Kyle Stewart, Matthew Kissick and Donald Maka are influential players in the squad. Season campaigners, Bradley Chubb, Trent Rowlands, Nick Childs and Jordan Masters returns for another year. Stratford/Eltham have an opportunity to pick up early season points and strive for a top four finish, that was so close last year. Squad: D. Bishop, B. Chubb, K. Stewart, D. Maka, T. Rowlands, S, Laing, S. Dury, W. Butler, M. Kissick, B.J. McBride, S. Bailey, C, Grayling, A. Perry, S. Denham, N. Childs, D. Austin, G. Rowlands, R. Kauika, C. Bailey, D. Bailey, N. Clough, S. Mako, M. Laing, J. Masters, S. Sadole. L. Berquist. Coaches: Raiwiri Mako, Craig Fevre and John Whittington.

Tukapa
Tukapa, who were semi-finalists last year, arguably has the best pre-season out of all the teams with experience in the annual Spillane Cup. The Marist tournament gives new coaches Daryl Lilley and Ben Siffleet an opportunity to try combinations and a let younger players have a crack which tests the depth of the side. New to the team this year is impressive midfielder Lukas Halls, who returns home after studying at Kings College. Halls also represented the New Zealand Secondary School Barbarian side later last year and has already made an impact in the side. The blue and whites have also picked up Taranaki halfback Xavier Roe. Tukapa can rely on experienced campaigners in Mitchell Crosswell, Leighton Price and Jayson Potroz.  
Squad: Liam Bernet, Luke Dravitzki, Scott Mellow, Brendon Dent, Jackson Clarke, Jack de Luca, Leighton Price, Michael Nyssen, Jarom Tipene, Mitchell Crosswell, Paddy Ford, Talor Owen, Shem Setu, Louis Duffels des Forges, Nathaniel Peters, Hayden Chamberlain, Xavier Roe, Jayson Potroz, Pomare Samupo, Lukas Halls, Mason Porteous, Henry Miles, Lagen Kumeroa, Liam Ward, Daniel Bernet, Eli Kneepkens, Isaac Keepkens, Drew Whitehead, Braydon Peterson, Scott Crocker, Brendon White. Coaches: Ben Siffleet, Daryl Lilley.

Article added: Friday 29 March 2019