New Zealand Heartland XV squad

[Bovidae]

The NZ Barbarians score 2 late tries to lead 19-17 at HT after trailing 7-17. The Heartland XV are playing well while the Baabaas are overdoing the expansive rugby with some loose passes. But when they stick, they score.

[Bovidae]

NZ Barbarians win 36-24. Two tries in the 2nd half by Carter broke the game open. Leuila had 2 right-foot conversions. The first from the sideline after Carter's first try just missed.

This was Bent's last game before retirement.

[Steven Harris]

@bovidae NZ Heartland started with the wrong halfback in my opinion ,Lindsay Horricks made a massive difference when he came on ..NZ Babas scored 3 tries while Willie Wright was in the bin and for me that was the ball game ..some good players on show from both teams

[Bovidae]

@steven-harris Yes, some of those Heartland players looked decent. Wright's YC was crucial, but it was a cynical infringement.

The player that impressed me the most was Taniela Filimone. I see he went to RBHS and came up through the BOP/Chiefs system. He wasn't a regular for Manawatu though. One to look out for.

[Duluth]

[Stargazer]

The 2022 Heartland XV squad has been named.

Forwards:
Adam Williamson (Mid Canterbury)
Cam Russell (South Canterbury)
Connor McVerry (Thames Valley)
Cruise Dunstar (King Country)
Henry Bryce (South Canterbury)
Hakarangi Tichborne (Ngati Porou East Coast)
Junior Fakatoufifita (North Otago)
Kaleb Foote (King Country)
Liam Rowlands (King Country)
Nick Strachan (South Canterbury)
Roman Tutauha (Whanganui)
Tokomaata Fakatava (South Canterbury)
Vaka Taelega (South Canterbury)

Backs:
Dane Whale (Whanganui)
Harry Lafituanai (Thames Valley)
Hayden Todd (North Otago)
Lindsay Horrocks (Whanganui)
Paula Fifita (South Canterbury)
Saimone Samate (North Otago)
Timoci Seruwalu (Whanganui)
Todd Doolan (Thames Valley)
Willie Wright (South Canterbury)
Zac Saunders (South Canterbury)

Management:
Head Coach: Nigel Walsh (South Canterbury)
Assistant Coach: Jason Hamlin (Whanganui)
Manager: Thomas Zimmerman (Horowhenua-Kapiti)
Assistant Manager: Shay O’Gorman (Wairarapa-Bush)
Team Doctor: Coll Campbell (Poverty Bay)
Team Physio: Geoff Thompson (South Canterbury)
Team Trainer: Slade King

The New Zealand Heartland XV will play the New Zealand Police at Owen Delany Park, Taupō on Sunday 6 November at 2.05pm live on Sky Sport.

Fixture Details:

New Zealand Heartland XV v New Zealand Police

Sunday 6 November, 2.05pm

Owen Delany Park, Taupō.

Live on Sky Sport.

Unfortunately, no international opposition, this year.

[Bovidae]

https://www.allblacks.com/news/new-zealand-heartland-xv-set-for-new-zealand-police-match/

1 Vaka Taelega (South Canterbury)
2 Roman Tutauha (Whanganui)
3 Tokomaata Fakatava (South Canterbury)
4 Cruise Dunstar (King Country)
5 Connor McVerry (Thames Valley)
6 Kaleb Foote (King Country)
7 Nick Strachan (South Canterbury) (Captain)
8 Junior Fakatoufifita (North Otago)
9 Lindsay Horrocks (Whanganui)
10 Dane Whale (Whanganui) (Vice Captain)
11 Saimone Samate (North Otago)
12 Timoci Seruwalu (Whanganui)
13 Paula Fifita (South Canterbury)
14 Harry Lafituanai (Thames Valley)
15 Todd Doolan (Thames Valley)

16 Liam Rowlands (King Country)
17 Adam Williamson (Mid Canterbury)
18 Hakarangi Tichborne (Ngāti Porou East Coast)
19 Henry Bryce (South Canterbury)
20 Cam Russell (South Canterbury)
21 Willie Wright (South Canterbury)
22 Hayden Todd (North Otago)
23 Zac Saunders (South Canterbury)

Sunday 6 November, 2.05pm
Owen Delany Park, Taupō.
Live on Sky Sport

[Stargazer]

Not a team line-up, but this is the NZ Police squad:

NZP Rugby team.
Liam Smart - Canterbury
Luatangi Li - Auckland
Jake Harrison - Canterbury
Zane Roberts - Bay of Plenty
Liam Bauckham - Hawkes Bay
Richard Mo'Ale - Canterbury
Anton Huisman - Southern
Ben Sau - Counties Manukau
Karl Hewitt - Hawkes Bay
Zade Rimmer - Bay of Plenty
Alexander Morrissey - Wellington
Mose Vailea-Teu - Counties Manukau
Juan Benadie - Counties Manukau
Huriwaka Raihania - Bay of Plenty
Damian Johnstone - Auckland
William Tran - Hawkes Bay
Braedyn Grant - Gisborne
Nathan O'Brien - Hamilton
Blake Parata - Wellington
Ted Symes - Hawkes Bay
Barrie Pine - Counties Manukau
Matthew Storm - Counties Manukau

Coaches: Denton Grimes (BOP) and Roger Dustow (Akld)
Managers: Kerei Gray (Cant) and Paul Ferguson (Wgtn)
Code Coordinator: Stephen Cross (Wgtn)

[Bovidae]

In the amateur era you would have current NPC players in a NZ Police team, maybe even an AB or two. Someone should have twisted Glen Osborne's arm to come out of retirement.

[Steven Harris]

@Stargazer not too many names that stick out

Luatangi Li , Harbour and Northland loosehead prop
Matt Storm Marist and Auckland Dev Fullback
Ben Sau Rifles College & Auckland Dev number 8

Disappointing the Heartland team did not have a tour

[Stargazer]

@Steven-Harris Yeah, I don't recognise many names either.
Liam Bauckman is a lock and IIRC he was part of the Hastings Boys' squad that won the Top 4 in 2017. I think he was in the NZ Barbarians Schools' team, that year.
Ted Symes (Napier Pirates) is Kianu Kereru-Symes' (2nd?) cousin and he has played for NP East Coast years ago.
Karl Hewitt plays his club rugby for Taradale. I remember looking up months ago whether he was related to Norm, but I can't remember whether I found anything.

[Stargazer]

Totally forgot about this game. Here's a 25-minute-long highlights video:

[cgrant]

Fakatoufifita looks pretty impressive.

[Stargazer]

The Heartland XV will play in a two-match campaign against Canterbury Development on November 1 and the New Zealand Barbarians on November 4. Both matches will be streamed live on New Zealand Rugby.

The Canterbury Development and New Zealand Barbarians will announce their squads at a later date.

New Zealand Heartland XV 2023 squad named

[Machpants]

Not enough Bush in that, disgusting that they didn't include my mate Tana for the awesomeness of having his first first-class game at 43. I ache just thinking about that!

[Steven Harris]

@Stargazer
Tyler Kearns played for Northland in 2020, played 2 x games before moving back to the West Coast also Renata Roberts Te Nana who is Karl TeNana’s son played 13 games for Northland between 2018-2021
Has had a very solid season for Ngati Porou East Coast

It would be an interesting excersise to put together a best of all time team of players that have come out of heartland rugby and gone on to bigger things , eg NPC,Super or even All Black Rugby.

I can remember Asaeli Tikoirotuma playing for Whanganui before going on to play for Manawatu,Harbour,Chiefs and Fiji

It just highlights there is talent in the Hearland division,when given the opportunity , just needs a polish

I know James Lash first five played for Buller and Ta$man
Robbie Melneek for Nelson Bays and Ta$man
Brendon Laney,South Canterbury ,Otago ,Highlanders and Scotland.

Sitiveni Sivivatu did play for Counties Manukau when they were a 2nd Division side , but not sure if that counts

I reckon we could put a bloody good team together.

[Bovidae]

Waisake Naholo and Stephen Perofeta played for Whanganui before moving to Taranaki.

[Steven Harris]

@Bovidae wow, did’nt know that ,did Waikato and Chiefs number 8 Alex Bradley play for the Swap Foxes ..?

[Bovidae]

@Steven-Harris I'm not sure about Bradley. He was a Morrinsville Sports player when playing for Waikato. Graham Purvis definitely played for TV before moving to the Waikato, back in the amateur era. You can add Carl Hoeft to that list.

[mikedogz]

Richard Judd started out in Thames Valley.