Yarrows Taranaki Bulls first outing of season in new competition

Yarrows Taranaki Bulls wing Kini Naholo returns after injury ruled him out for most of last season. Photo: Rob Tucker

MEDIA RELEASE
6 February 2020

Preparation for the 2020 season for the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls has started early with the start of the Chiefs Country Centurion Cup on Saturday.

The competition, formed by the Chiefs Rugby Club, will see the Super Rugby franchise provincial unions Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Counties Manukau and Taranaki play in a quadrangular competition in Hamilton, as curtain raiser to the Chiefs home matches at FMG Stadium Waikato.

Taranaki has named their side that will face Mitre 10 Cup Championship winners Bay of Plenty on Saturday afternoon.

First five-eighth Jayson Potroz and prop Chris Gawler will share the captaincy. Along with the two skippers, there are eight others who have donned on the amber and black strip in the Mitre 10 Cup.

Among those players is flanker Fin Hoeata, who will play his first match since a shoulder injury put a halt to his career in March 2018.

Wing Kini Naholo and midfielder Lukas Halls also return after missing most of the 2019 season with a leg injuries.

The remaining players are those in the Bayleys Taranaki Rugby Academy or who have impressed coaches in the CMK club competition and Taranaki Under 19 campaign.

All Blacks sevens squad member Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens has been named at fullback for the Bulls.

Taranaki’s Chiefs players will play for their province if released.

It will be Taranaki’s first match since their final game of the Mitre 10 Cup in October against Auckland at Yarrow Stadium.

The new competition, which doesn’t have first class status, will be bolstered with emerging talent from across the region that is expected to excite spectators with live, high level rugby before the Chiefs take to the field.

The series is also an opportunity to expose more players to the Chiefs coaching team.

The Centurion Cup series was created in honour of six Chiefs’ centurions: Liam Messam, Hika Elliot, Tanerau Latimer, Stephen Donald, Sam Cane and Brodie Retallick.

Yarrows Taranaki Bulls team to play Bay of Plenty, FMG Stadium Waikato, Saturday 8 Feb, 4:25pm

  1. Chris Gawler (cc)
  2. Millennium Sanerivi
  3. Crusader Faletagoa’i
  4. Tupou Vaa’i
  5. Josh Lord
  6. Fin Hoeata
  7. Christian Fa’avae
  8. Johnny Faletagoa’i-Malase
  9. Lisati Milo-Harris
  10. Jayson Potroz (cc)
  11. Kini Naholo
  12. Matt McKenzie
  13. Lukas Halls
  14. Josh Setu
  15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens

Reserves:

  1. Scott Mellow
  2. Jackson Clarke
  3. Jared Proffit
  4. Alex Kauvalu
  5. Cole Blyde
  6. Kristian Standen
  7. Josh Jacomb
  8. Daniel Rona
  9. Jahmarl Weir
  10. Jack White

Chiefs Centurion Cup programme:

Saturday 8 February:
Gallagher Chiefs vs. Crusaders, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton, 7.05pm
Bay of Plenty vs. Taranaki, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton, 4.25pm
Waikato vs. Counties Manukau, Fred Jones Park, Hamilton, 4.25pm

Saturday 22 February:
Gallagher Chiefs vs. Brumbies, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton, 7.05pm
Centurion Cup Final: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton, 4.25pm
3rd and 4th Play-off: Loser Game 1 vs. Game 2, Fred Jones Park, 4.25pm

 

-ENDS-

For more information, please contact;

Will Johnston

TRFU Communications Advisor

0273483831

will@trfu.co.nz

 

Article added: Thursday 06 February 2020

 

Latest News