Chiefs Rugby Club Heartland U20's to play Hurricanes for Glen Osborne Cup
The Chiefs Rugby Club has named 26 talented young players for their Heartland U20 team. Players were selected from the Chiefs Heartland Provincial Unions of Thames Valley and Kings Country to represent the Chiefs region.
The squad begins training together this week before facing the Hurricanes U20 Heartland team at McLean Park in Napier on the 17th of September. The teams will compete for the Glen Osborne Cup that honours the former All Black who represented both sides in Super Rugby. Osborne played for the Chiefs Rugby Club from 1996-1998 before moving to the Hurricanes in 1999.
Chiefs Rugby Club Head of Pathways Kent Currie said the club was delighted with this new initiative. "Thames Valley and King Country are two proud provincial unions that play a significant role in our pathway programme."
"The formation of this Heartland U20 team will allow the Chiefs Rugby Club an opportunity to form relationships with talented young players from these two provinces and provide them with a meaningful and wonderful rugby experience," explained Currie.
The campaign gives players a chance to further learn and develop their skills across all areas of rugby under the guidance of experienced coaches and support staff.
The coaching staff for the squad includes former Chiefs Super Rugby player Jackson Willison, who recently returned home after playing overseas. Willison was part of the title-winning 2012 Chiefs Super Rugby side and, like many of the players named, he also grew up in the King Country.
Head Coach Leon Holden congratulated the Chiefs Rugby Club on the initiative saying, "This will be a great opportunity and a big challenge for our two provinces as we come up against the Hurricanes five Heartland unions. I see this as a huge incentive for youngsters in our two provinces to play rugby and commit to their clubs and unions in the future."
The Chiefs Rugby Club Heartland U20 Squad to vs Hurricanes Heartland U20:
King Country Rugby Football Union:
Jarvis Ali
Huia Anderson
Karne Barlow
Topia Barrowcliffe
Nathan Crooks
Brock Gower
Zylar Hatu-Pratt
Patrick Hedley
Brandon Pakome
Cory Sargent
Nicholas Spence
Peter Te Kahu
Jaxyn Tufala
Liam Wano
Thames Valley Rugby Football Union:
Joshua Barker
Dylan Bellamy
Zinzan Coop
Aaron Couper
Cristopher Folau
William James Mirko
Hala Malimali
Oli Mathis
Patrick Moala
Seth Roe
Blake Ross
Heni Veatupu
Team Management:
Head Coach - Leon Holden
Coach - Gene Waller
Coach - Jackson Willison
Manager - Ryan Gulbransen
Manager - David Fox
Physiotherapist - Corrine Melrose
Trainer - Olly Spicer
King Country Rugby Football Union Representatives: Josh Standen & Dan Tasker
Thames Valley Rugby Football Union Representative: Scott Day
