Farah Palmer Cup set to kick off for Chiefs region

The Farah Palmer Cup kicks off this weekend and is set to excite and inspire the rugby public once again in 2019.

The opening round of the competition will see three out of the four teams from within the Chiefs region take the field. The Bay of Plenty Volcanix will host last year’s runners up Counties Manukau at 2.30pm at the Tauranga Domain while current Chiefs Country Cup holders Waikato will host Auckland in the “Battle of the Bombay’s” at FMG Stadium Waikato at 5.35pm.

They will be joined in the premiership division by Wellington, Canterbury and Manawatu.

The Farah Palmer Cup fixture between Waikato and Bay of Plenty Volcanix on September 21 will be the first Chiefs Country Cup challenge for the 2019 provincial season. Holders Waikato are the only side to have held the cup following wins over Counties Manukau and Bay of Plenty in the 2018 Farah Palmer Cup season.

Taranaki Whio will compete for honours in the championship division and will face Otago, North Harbour, Tasman, Hawke’s Bay and newcomers Northland across the campaign.

Teams play each opposition in their own division once throughout the round robin, with the Championship teams advancing to quarter-finals and the Premiership teams going straight to semi-final action.

Finals will be played on the last weekend of October.

Farah Palmer Cup:
Week 1:
Saturday 31 August
Bay of Plenty v Counties Manukau at Tauranga Domain, Tauranga
Kick-off: 2.30pm

Waikato v Auckland* at FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Kick-off 5.35pm

Week 2:
Friday 6 September
5.15pm Counties Manukau v Manawatu* at Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe
Kick-off: 5.15pm

Saturday 7 September
Wellington v Bay of Plenty at Jerry Collins Stadium, Porirua
Kick-off: 1.00pm

Sunday 8 September
Otago v Taranaki* at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Kick-off: 2.05pm

Waikato BYE

*Televised live on Sky Television

Farah Palmer Cup - Chiefs Country Cup Challenge:
Saturday 21 September
Bay of Plenty Volcanix vs. Waikato at FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Kick-off: 12.30pm

Chiefs Country Cup
Waikato were the first holders in September 2018

1st September – Waikato vs Counties Manukau 33-27
Winners/Holders: Waikato

8th September – Bay of Plenty vs Waikato 7-44
Winners/Holders: Waikato

Current Holders: Waikato

Waikato Farah Palmer Cup Squad:
Jade Coates (Hamilton Old Boys)
Hope Fraser (Hamilton Old Boys)
Ash Gaby-Sutherland (Melville) (Vice Captain)
Tazmin Gaby-Sutherland (Melville)
Emma-Lee Heta (Kihikihi)
Chyna Hohepa (Kihikihi)
Tanya Kalounivale (Hamilton Old Boys)
Leomie Kloppers (Hamilton Old Boys)
Stephanie Lualua (Hamilton Old Boys)
Lena Mitchell (Hamilton Old Boys)
Toka Natua (University)
Josina Ngare (University)
Kennedy Simon (Hamilton Old Boys)
Awhina Tangen-Wainohu (Hamilton Old Boys)
Esther Tilo-Faiaoga (Melville)
Azusa Yama (Hamilton Old Boys)
Chelsea Alley (University) (Captain)
Raquel Anderson (University)
Tyra Begbie (Putaruru)
Donna Fermanis (Hamilton Old Boys)
Ryleigh Hayes (Melville)
Mereana Hyde (University)
Lonita Ngalu-Lavemai (Melville)
Renee Holmes (Hamilton Old Boys)
Sophie Millar (University)
Rina Paraone (University)
Kennedy Tahu (Hamilton Old Boys)
Calista Wihone (University)

Bay of Plenty Volcanix Squad:
Amanda Aldridge (Rangiuru)
Luka Connor (Rangataua)
Christine Corbett (Whakarewarewa)
Natalie Delamere (Rangiuru)
Les Elder (Rangataua) - Co-Captain
Karli Faneva (Mount Maunganui Sports)
Tynealle Fitzgerald (Rangiuru)
Nadia Flavell (Whakarewarewa)
Lily Florence (Whakarewarewa)
Baye Jacob (Rangiuru)
Janina Khan (Whakarewarewa)
Tracey Lemon (Rangataua)
Azalleyah Maaka (Rangataua)
Mystery McLean Kora (Rangiuru)
Sela Moataane (Rangiuru)
Anahera Mohi (Rangiuru
Angel Mulu (Rangiuru
Danielle Paenga (Melville)
Tania-Rose Raharuhi (Whakarewarewa)
Kendra Reynolds (Rangiuru)
Olivia Richardson (Rangataua)
Autumn-Rain Stephens Daly (Whakarewarewa)
Sapphire Tapsell (Rangiuru)
Arorangi Tauranga (Mount Maunganui Sports)
Layla Te Riini (Rangiuru)
Jade Tuilaepa (Rangataua)
Natalie Walford (Whakarewarewa)
Renee Wickliffe (Rangataua)
Kelsie Wills (Mount Maunganui Sports)
Christie Yule (Rangiuru) - Co-Captain

Taranaki Whio Squad:
Alesha Williams
Anna Cole
Awhina Kingi
Bethany Gibbs
Briana Poingdestre
Brooke Neilson
Brooke Sim
Casio Austin
Chelsea Fowler
Donia King
Emma Andrews
Elle Johns
Iritana Hohaia
Jalana Smith
Jessica Lampe
Jessie Aitken-Fowell
Kate Parkinson
Kaya-Rose Kahui
Latesha Berry
Lavenia Nauga-Grey
Leah Barnard
Lisa Appert
Mikaylah Callaghan
Miriam Karalus
Natasha Hintz
Natale-Ann Huapapa
Petra Zwart
Rongomaihenga Hohaia
Sharee Brown
Sarah Winter
Tiaan Taylor
Utumalama Atonio
Victoria McCullough

Counties Manukau Squad:
Aleasha Brider
Anastasia Mamea
Aotearoa Matau
Arihana Marino-Tauhinu
Badin-Lee Munro-Smith
Emily Kitson
Glory Aiono
Grace Gago
Hazel Tubic
Jacqui Aiono
Jade Wong
Justine Lavea
Juvina Auva’a
Lanulangi Veainu
Larissa Lima
Lauryn Steed
Lavinia Tauhalaliku
Leilani Perese
Leititia Vaka
Lisapeti Molia
Makayla Eli
Ocean Tierney
Rebecca Burch
Shontelle Woodman
Shyanne Thompson
Temira Mataroa
Utumalama Atonio
Victoria Meki
Waikohika Flesher
Yuki Ono
Zion Leaupepe