Norris, Nanai-Seturo to play 50th game at home
Two longstanding Gallagher Chiefs will celebrate their 50th game milestones on Saturday night when they face Moana Pasifika at home. Winger Etene Nanai-Seturo who first ran out for the Gallagher Chiefs in 2019 and prop Ollie Norris who debuted in 2020.
Nanai-Seturo plays with a flair that has seen him wear the black jersey in both Sevens and 15s, earning a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics with the All Blacks Sevens team and touring Japan with the All Blacks XV in 2023.
Norris also toured with the All Blacks XV last year after an impressive DHL Super Rugby Pacific season and has been a part of the Māori All Blacks since his debut in 2021 against Manu Samoa.
Gallagher Chiefs head coach Clayton McMillan said: “Etene and Ollie have been integral members of the team for several seasons now. They both started as young men full of potential, and it has been a pleasure to see their personal growth and influence on the team flourish. To play Super Rugby games is a significant milestone and we are eager to put in a performance that is befitting of their achievement and contribution to our club.”
For the Charity Round match Auckland prop Sione Ahio makes his debut off the bench, with Wallace Sititi and Peniasi Malimali getting their season debuts in the starting lineup. Meanwhile, Rameka Poihipi, who scored a try just eight seconds after kickoff when the teams last met, will take over the captaincy.
“Moana Pasifika are a much-improved side. We have seen they have a lot more consistency in their performances, particularly at set piece, whilst maintaining their ability to hurt teams physically on both sides of the ball. They have also shown some nice innovations in their attack, so we will be anticipating everything and assuming nothing.
“A highlight this week is rewarding players who have worked hard to get their first opportunity to play. We back our full squad and can’t wait to see them state their case for further inclusion, especially at home in front of our loyal supporters” said McMillan.
In an acknowledgement of the amazing work our first responders do for the community, the Waikato Police will face the Bay of Plenty Police as a curtain-raiser match.
Gallagher Chiefs team to face Moana Pasifika:
1. Ollie Norris**
2. Samisoni Taukei’aho
3. Reuben O’Neill
4. Jimmy Tupou
5. Tupou Vaa’i
6. Samipeni Finau
7. Simon Parker
8. Wallace Sititi
9. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
10. Damian McKenzie
11. Peniasi Malimali
12. Rameka Poihipi (captain)
13. Daniel Rona
14. Emoni Narawa
15. Etene Nanai-Seturo**
Reserves
16. Bradley Slater
17. Jared Proffit
18. Sione Ahio
19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi
20. Kaylum Boshier
21. Cortez Ratima
22. Josh Ioane
23. Anton Lienert-Brown
*debut
** 50th DHL Super Rugby Pacific / Gallagher Chiefs game
Unavailable for selection: Kaleb Trask, Malachi Wrampling, Josh Lord, Tyrone Thompson, Tom Florence, Luke Jacobson (AB Rest), and Shaun Stevenson (AB Rest).
Watch live on Sky Sport and Sky Open.
