Four Waikato Players in NZ Maori Squad
30th May 2010 08:22PM
Four Waikato players Romana Graham, Liam Messam, Dwyane Sweeney and Jackson Willison, were today named in the New Zealand Maori Squad.
New Zealand Māori Coach Jamie Joseph and Assistant Coach Daryl Gibson have today announced the squad to take on the New Zealand Barbarians, Ireland and England in the Sealord New Zealand Māori Centenary Series.
The squad is (province and iwi):
Ben Afeaki * (North Harbour) Ngāti Awa
Colin Bourke * (Bay of Plenty) Ngāti Wairere
Stephen Brett (Canterbury) Ngapuhi
Dane Coles * (Wellington) Ngāti Porou
Jacob Ellison (Wellington) Ngāti Porou
Corey Flynn (Canterbury) Kāi Tahu
Hosea Gear (Wellington) Ngāti Porou
Romana Graham * (Waikato) Ngāti Awa
Jarrad Hoeata (Taranaki) Ngāti Kahungunu
Tanerau Latimer (Bay of Plenty) Tapuika
Karl Lowe * (Hawke's Bay) Ngāti Kahungunu
Sean Maitland * (Canterbury) Ngāpuhi
Luke McAlister (North Harbour) Te Ātiawa
Liam Messam ( c ) (Waikato) Ngai Tuhoe
Bronson Murray (Northland) Ngāpuhi
Clint Newland (Hawke's Bay) Ngāti Kahungunu
Daniel Ramsey * (Wellington) Kāi Tahu
Willie Ripia* (Taranaki) Ngai Tuhoe
Robbie Robinson * (Southland) Ngāti Tuwharetoa
Isaac Ross (Canterbury) Ngāti Kahungunu
Aaron Smith * (Manawatu) Ngāti Kahungunu
Chris Smylie (North Harbour) Ngāti Mutunga
Dwayne Sweeney (Waikato) Ngāti Mahanga
Andre Taylor* (Manawatu) Ngāti Tuwharetoa
Hayden Triggs (Otago) Ngāti Kahungunu
Jackson Willison* (Waikato) Ngāti Mahuta
Note: * denotes New Zealand Māori debutant
This year's Sealord Centenary Series will celebrate 100 years of the New Zealand Māori rugby team and to honour the anniversary, the 2010 team will play a three-match series including internationals against Ireland in Rotorua and England in Napier, with the first game of the series against the New Zealand Barbarians in Whangarei.
Captaining the team will be Chiefs loose forward Liam Messam, who co-captained the side to Pacific Nations Cup success in 2008.
Key features of the squad include the naming of 12 players who make their New Zealand Māori debut, including two players who have not yet played Rebel Sport Super 14 rugby - 21-year-old Manawatu halfback Aaron Smith and 25-year-old Wellington lock Daniel Ramsey. Four of the new players made their Super Rugby debuts this year: Highlanders utility back Robbie Robinson, Chiefs lock Romana Graham and his Super Rugby team-mates, loose forward Jarrad Hoeata and prop Ben Afeaki.
The squad also features players who have experienced success in the New Zealand Māori jersey including Crusaders hooker Corey Flynn, who first played for the side in 2002 and captained them to Churchill Cup success in 2004, and Hurricanes winger Hosea Gear, who first turned out for the team in 2004.
New Zealand Māori Coach Jamie Joseph, who is a former New Zealand Māori player, said it was exciting to have a mix of experienced players and new faces for what was a significant year for Maori rugby.
"It is a special honour and rare privilege to play for the Māori team and will be especially meaningful in this year of celebration and I would like to congratulate those players picked in the squad for the first time," he said.
"We are lucky to have a lot of experience in the team and they will ensure that those new players are quickly brought up to speed. We have a fantastic programme including two major matches against Ireland and England. They will be challenging games and will give players the chance to really make their mark and play the style of rugby the New Zealand Māori side is famous for," he added.
The New Zealand Māori team will assemble in Auckland on Monday 7 June before departing for Whanagrei the following day.
