Club regulars to fill Hurricanes Development ranks

UPDATE: The Hurricanes Development XV destroyed the Crusader Knights 71-36 in Sunday's match. 

Above: Former St Pat's Silverstream and Hutt Old Boys Marist player Chase Tiatia starts at fullback for the Hurricanes Development side.

A number of regular Premier club rugby players from Wellington and other regions are set to take the field for the Hurricanes Development side against the Crusaders Knights this weekend.

The match is at Linfield Park, Christchurch, on Sunday at 1.00pm.

The starting XV named to face the Knights includes six players that were often seen in Wellington club rugby in 2017. Tawa’s Tolu Fahamokioa, Marist St Pat’s’ Billy Proctor, Petone’s James Blackwell and Losi Filipo and Oriental-Rongotai’s Trent Renata and Malo Tuitama will all start against the Knights.

Chase Tiatia has been playing for Rangataua and Bay of Plenty for the past three seasons and the former Hutt Old Boys Marist Jubilee Cup winner slots in at fullback.

Other players in this starting side for Sunday pushing for full Hurricanes places include the loose forward trio of Canterbury’s own Reed Prinsep, Counties Manukau signing Sam Henwood and 2016 New Zealand Secondary Schools captain Brayden Iose out of Manawatu.

A further six Wellington club players are on the bench. Old Boys University prop Morgan Poi gets an opportunity at this level, while the other prop on the pine Pasi Uluilakepa is a hugely exciting prospect who debuted for the Petone club at Premier level last year while also starring in the Colts grade. Old Boys University’s Will Mangos will add sting as loose forward cover, alongside Du'Plessis Kirifi who is affiliated to Northern United this year. Petone halfback Carlos Price and Wellington Axemen outside back Ollie Sapsford are also on the bench.

The talking point of this team is the return of Jordie Barrett, the two-test Coastal All Black has been sidelined since the middle of last year after he underwent shoulder surgery following the British and Irish Lions series but has been training with the Hurricanes through the pre-season.

Sunday's match is the first of the season for the Hurricanes Development side. 

The Hurricanes Development squad to face the Crusaders Knights is:

15 Chase Tiatia (Bay of Plenty)
14 Te Rangatira Waitokia (Manawatu)
13 Billy Proctor (Wellington)
12 Losi Filipo (Wellington)
11 Malo Tuitama (Wellington)
10 Trent Renata (Wellington)
9 Richard Judd (Bay of Plenty)
8 Brayden lose (Manawatu)
7 Sam Henwood (Counties Manukau)
6 Reed Prinsep (Canterbury)
5 Liam Mitchell (Manawatu)
4 James Blackwell (Wellington)
3 Sione Asi (Manawatu)
2 Tim Cadwallader (Manawatu)
1 Tolu Fahamokioa (Wellington)

Reserves

16 Max Fryatt (Manawatu)
17 Morgan Poi
18 Pasi Uluilakepa (Wellington)
19 Will Mangos (Wellington)
20 Du'Plessis Kirifi (Wellington)
21 Carlos Price (Wellington)
22 Jordie Barrett (Taranaki)
23 Ollie Sapsford (Wellington)