New Zealand Heartland XV selected for three-match internal tour

The New Zealand Heartland XV squad has been selected ahead of a three-match Lower North Island campaign in November.

The matches, sheduled for Wanganui, Levin and Masterton, between 7–13 November, will see the team first play New Zealand Marist for the McCrae Cup before going on to play two matches against the Australian Barbarians.

The 25-man New Zealand Heartland XV squad, which has been selected from the Pink Batts Heartland Championship 2015, sees 10 of the 12 Heartland Provincial Unions represented.

Wanganui flanker Peter Rowe returns as captain for a fifth time after having been at the helm in 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Mid Canterbury’s Grant Keenan and Poverty Bay’s Mutu Ngarimu will coach the team. Keenan said they had the right blend of skill and experience for the team to be competitive in the upcoming series.

The Australian Barbarians team has been chosen from players that have played in the 2015 Buildcorp National Rugby Championship and have not been contracted to Super Rugby clubs in the most recent season.

The New Zealand Heartland XV squad for 2015 is:

Cole Baldwin (Wanganui)
Jackson Donlan (Mid Canterbury)
Matt Fetu (South Canterbury)
Ralph Darling (North Otago)
Timaru Tafa (South Canterbury)
Kurt Simmonds (Wairarapa Bush)
Adam Ross (Mid Canterbury)
Craig Moore (Buller)
Eric Duff (Mid Canterbury)
Fraser Hammond (Wanganui)
Bryn Hudson (Wanganui)
Peter Rowe (Captain) (Wanganui)*
James Goodger (Wairarapa Bush)
Hayden Anderson (Thames Valley)
Lindsay Horrocks (Wanganui)
Zayn Tipping (King Country)
Stephen Perofeta (Wanganui)
Tim Priest (Wairarapa Bush)
Moss Doran (Thames Valley)
TK Moeke (East Coast)
Lemi Masoe (North Otago)
Lance Easton (Thames Valley)
Tyrone Keith (Thames Valley)
James Hemara (King Country)
Mike Tambour (Horowhenua – Kapiti)

New Zealand Heartland XV fixtures:

• Saturday 7 November v New Zealand Marist at Masterton, kick-off 6.00pm. 
• Tuesday 10 November v Australian Barbarians at Levin, kick-off 5.30pm
• Friday 13 November v Australian Barbarians at Wanganui, kick-off 6.00pm