
Waitomo Group: Waikato FPC have announced their matchday 23 to face Wellington Pride in their second game of the Farah Palmer Cup at Jerry Collins Stadium, Porirua on Sunday afternoon.
Head coach, Wayne Maxwell, has made twelve changes to his matchday 23. In the forwards there are three changes, Victoria Makea and Esther Tilo-Faiaoga trade positions, Makea moves from right lock to number 8 and Tilo-Faiaoga moves from number 8 to right lock.
Co-Captain, Kennedy Simon, makes her first start of the season coming off the bench to start at openside flanker. Simon’s return means Leata Puni Lio moves to the reserves to provide impact from the bench.
In the backs, Calista Ruruku comes off the bench to start at flyhalf pushing Chelsea Semple to inside centre. Semple will celebrate a milestone with Waikato Rugby, as she will play her 50th game for the province, becoming the second Waikato player to achieve this milestone, following Victoria Makea who achieved this feat in the Farah Palmer Cup final last season.
Semple however did achieve 50 provincial caps back in 2020 after playing games for Waikato (39 caps), North Harbour (6) and Auckland (5).
The Paraone sisters, Rina and Merania, have been named in the starting side and will play in the backline together for the first time. Playing outside each other, Rina will start at outside centre and Merania will start on the right wing as the final changes to the starting XV
In the reserves, three players have a chance to add to their Waikato caps with loosehead prop, Tafiau Fetalaiga, loose forward, Emma-Lee Heta, and back, Kennedy Tahau, all being named.
There are two players who are in line to make their Waikato debuts this weekend, these players are Hamilton Old Boys halfback, Violet Hapi-Wise and outside back Ngawai Hawera.
Waikato take on Wellington Pride at Jerry Collins Stadium, Porirua on Sunday, kick-off is at 2.05pm:
1. Awhina Tangen-Wainohu (Hamilton Old Boys)
2. Grace Houpapa-Barrett (Otorohanga)
3. Tanya Kalounivale (Hamilton Old Boys)
4. Leomie Kloppers (Hamilton Old Boys)
5. Esther Tilo-Faiaoga (Hamilton Old Boys)
6. Ashlee Gaby-Sutherland (Melville)
7. Kennedy Simon (Hamilton Old Boys) – Co-Captain
8. Victoria Makea (University)
9. Reese Anderson (Hamilton Old Boys)
10. Calista Ruruku (University)
11. Cheyelle Robins-Reti
12. Chelsea Semple (University) – 50th Waikato game
13. Rina Paraone (Kihikihi)
14. Merania Paraone (Kihikihi)
15. Renee Holmes (Hamilton Old Boys) – Co-Captain
16. Vici-Rose Green (Hamilton Old Boys)
17. Tafiau Fetalaiga (Hamilton Old Boys)
18. Rianna Aspinall (Melville)
19. Leata Puni Lio (Hamilton Old Boys)
20. Emma-Lee Heta (Kihikihi)
21. Violet Hapi-Wise (Hamilton Old Boys)*
22. Ngawai Hawera (Hamilton Old Boys)*
23. Kennedy Tahau (Hamilton Old Boys)
* = Waikato Debuts
Article added: Saturday 30 July 2022
Waikato Rugby
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FMG Stadium Waikato Level 3,
Gate 5 / 128 Seddon Road, Whitiora 3204
Hamilton
P 021 704 944 E admin@mooloo.co.nz
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