Farah Palmer Cup 2020

[trooa]

Anyone know if Niall Williams chose not to play or simply wasn't picked?
Tenika Willison played club rugby in the Mount but has been back training with Waikato FPC.

[Stargazer]

@trooa The Auckland squad hasn't been named, yet. Don't be surprised if Niall Williams plays for Auckland.

[Bovidae]

Manawatu Cyclones squad

Lauren Balsillie, Lucy Brown, Laura Claridge, Carys Dallinger, Katelyn Donaldson, Rhiarna Ferris, Vaine Greig, Sarah Hirini, Ashleigh Knight, Marilyn Live, Crystal Mayes, Lavenia Nauga-Grey, Jayme Nuku, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Caterina Poletti, Rachael Rakatau, Layla Sae, Kahu Sturmey, Rangimarie Sturmey, Kayln Takitimu-Cook, Sosoli Talawadua, Ngano Tavake, Jashana Teawiri, Sam Tipene, Montel Vaiao Aki, Janna Vaughan, Kaia Walker-Waitoa, Taylor Waterson, Alesha Williams, Selica Winiata

Coaches: Fusi Feaunati (Head coach), Caleb Agnew-Jones (Assistant coach)

Incoming players
Sarah Hirini (Black Ferns Sevens), Rhiarna Ferris (Black Ferns Sevens), Caterina Poletti (Taranaki), Vaine Greig (former NZ Sevens, unavailable last season), Alesha Williams (Taranaki), Taylor Waterson (Australia)

Outgoing players
Kristina Sue, Kahli Tipene (pregnant), Nicci Kuiti, Shanna Solomon, Mahalia Polson, Jessica Fagan-Pease (injured)

[Stargazer]

Last Friday or Saturday, there was a preseason game between Waikato Women and BOP Volcanix. Waikato won 22 to 21.

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer Where was that game played?

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae I think it was in Tauranga. I saw it in Waikato's or BOP's instagram stories. Unfortunately, those stories disappear after a while, so it's gone now.

[Bovidae]

Not as many of the BF7s women as I expected.

This seasons squad features five current Black Ferns players, Chelsea Alley, Stacey Fluhler, Carla Hohepa, Toka Natua and Kennedy Simon and four Black Fern Sevens players, Cheyelle Robins-Reti, Huia Harding, Stacey Fluhler and Tenika Willison.

2019 Farah Palmer Cup captain Chelsea Alley retains the captaincy for the 2020 season. Alley will be joined in the leadership group by 2019 Female Club Player of the Year and Manatiaki Award winner, Chyna Hohepa, as her vice-captain.

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae Still way more BFs and BF7s players than many other provinces. Good squad!

[Bovidae]

Maybe the younger girls (Hotham, Tairakena, Te Tamaki) aren't playing XVs.

Unless there is a typo, both Hohepa sisters are listed as forwards. Carla was in the midfield for the Black Ferns last year.

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae Yeah, I noticed that, too. Carla has always been a back.

Renee Holmes is also someone to watch. She's a former Gisborne Girls' student, who made her FPC debut for Hawke's Bay when still at school. Over the years, she has won several sports awards in different sports and has moved around a bit. Last year, she was one of the three female winners of Ignite7s. I think she's now in the BF7s development squad.

[Stargazer]

2020 Auckland Farah Palmer Cup Squad:

Saphire Abraham (College Rifles)
Tamara Ati (College Rifles)
Eloise Blackwell (Ponsonby)
Sylvia Brunt (Ponsonby)
Moana Cook (Ponsonby)
Rosie Cox (College Rifles)
Taylor Curtis (Marist)
Ruahei Demant (College Rifles)
Princess Elliot (Ponsonby)
Theresa Fitzpatrick (Ponsonby)
Grace Freeman (College Rifles)
Aldora Itunu (Ponsonby)
Grace Kukutai (Ponsonby)
Tafito Lafaele (Papatoetoe)
Shannon Leota (Ponsonby)
Patricia Maliepo (Marist)
Charmaine McMenamin (Ponsonby)
Liana Mikaele-Tu'u (College Rifles)
Natahlia Moors (Ponsonby)
Shannon Muru (Ponsonby)
Joeannha Naime-Purcell (Ponsonby)
Daynah Nankivell (Ponsonby)
Aleisha-Pearl Nelson (College Rifles)
Lovely Pulotu (Marist)
Lydia Quedley-Turua (Ponsonby)
Maia Roos (College Rifles)
Ti Tauasosi (Marist)
Vineta Teutau (Marist)
Cristo Tofa (Ponsonby)
Luisa Togotogorua (Marist)
Leianne Tufuga (Marist)
Mele Tu'inukuafe (Ponsonby)
Chryss Viliko (Marist)
Olivia Waldron (Marist)

Auckland Farah Palmer Cup squad ready to cause a Storm

Auckland Head Coach, Richie Walker picks 14 debutants in 2020 Farah Palmer Cup squad. A mix of young talent...

[Stargazer]

Plenty of Black Ferns in that squad. I see only one current BF7s player (Fitzpatrick). IIRC, Princess Elliot is a former Ignite 7s winner; I don't know whether she's in the BF7s development squad.

I knew Mikaele-Tu'u had moved to Auckland to go to Uni. It looks like Taylor Curtis may have done the same, coming from Canterbury.

[Stargazer]

Former Black Fern at Mako helm

The Ta$man Mako women have called on the services of a former Black Fern in a bid to reach the heights of their male counterparts.

Mel Bosman brings a wealth of experience to the role having played in two Rugby World Cups and making almost two decades worth of provincial appearances.

After going 2-7 to finish fourth out of six in the championship in 2019, Mel hopes to make the Mako a force in provincial rugby.

...

[Stargazer]

Week 1 fixtures

Waikato v Northland Kauri
Saturday 5 September
12.30pm, Waikato University Rugby Club, Hamilton
Downer Match Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr
Watch: The match will be live streamed on the Waikato Rugby Facebook page

Counties Manukau Heat v North Harbour Hibiscus
Saturday 5 September
2.35pm, Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe
Downer Match Referee: Mike Winter
Watch: Live on Sky Sport

Taranaki Whio v Auckland Storm
Sunday 6 September
12pm, TET Stadium & Events Centre, Inglewood
Downer Match Referee: Brittany Andrew

[Bovidae]

Waikato Uni is a strange venue to play at. If there are to be no spectators it is just part of a huge open area of playing fields. Fred Jones Park or Beetham Park would be more suitable.

[Stargazer]

@Stargazer said in Farah Palmer Cup 2020:

Week 1 fixtures

Counties Manukau Heat v North Harbour Hibiscus
Saturday 5 September
2.35pm, Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe
Downer Match Referee: Mike Winter
Watch: Live on Sky Sport

Also live on Prime tv.

[Stargazer]

The addition of World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year Ruby Tui headlines the Counties Power Counties Manukau Heat squad named for the Farah Palmer Cup.

Aotearoa Matau, meanwhile, looms as a key figure in the Heat forward pack. She is one of three players in the squad along with fullback Hazel Tubic and Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu boasting Black Ferns experience alongside international sevens star Tui.

Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union

Talented squad selected for 2020 Farah Palmer Cup Campaign

[NateHill74]

@Stargazer Leilani Perese ?

[Bovidae]

Taylah Hodson-Tomokino in the squad too.

[NateHill74]

Looking at the previews for Auckland, and North Harbour - Olivia Waldron (First-Five) is named in both squads. Anyone know which team she's actually playing for ?