North Harbour Rugby Union (NHRU) are pleased to name their Harbour Hibiscus squad for the 2024 Farah Palmer Cup season, presented by Bunnings Warehouse.

The Hibiscus side includes 16 players who are in line for a potential debut and will be coached by Dean Watkins, who is promoted from his previous role as an Assistant Coach. Watkins has assembled a brilliant series of resources through his appointments to the team management.

The full-time Team Manager is Rebecca Stanaway, already well-known for her work as a Board Director for NHRU. NHRU Life Member, Ray Diver, is the Assistant Team Manager. Former Black Fern, Aleisha-Pearl Nelson, has joined as Set-Piece Coach.

In the forward pack, several experienced players are retained, while Barbra Auva'a returns to the loose forwards for the first time since 2022. Tenaija Fletcher will become just the second player in NHRU history, to reach 30 matches, in her next outing. Manutala'aho Huni-Po'ese is another returnee from the 2023 season, having made her test debut for Tonga in 2024.

The backline includes Hailey Beale, who has been named as the Captain. Beale will cover both halfback and first-five, while she is also in line to reach 30 matches, should she play every game of the round-robin stages. Moana Courtenay-Malupo is another returning player, having joined Huni-Po'ese in making her Tonga debut. The full team is as follows.

Hookers:

• Oceane Donelley (new cap)
• Tenaija Fletcher (29 caps)
• Katelyn Hilton (28 caps) - unavailable for selection due to injury

Props:

• Ciara O'Connor (13 caps)
• Rialani Onesemo (new cap)
• Trinity Rika (new cap)
• Clementine Takaa (5 caps)
• Sharyn Toialoa (new cap)

Locks:

• Izzy East (new cap)
• Armani Lam (2 caps)
• Manutala'aho Huni-Po'ese (13 caps)
• Margaret Uluiqalau-Wye (11 caps)

Loose Forwards:

• Barbra Auva'a (5 caps)
• Madison Johnson (new cap)
• Danielle Mellow (22 caps)
• Madisson Mata'afā (16 caps)
• Christabelle Onesemo (new cap)
• Demielle Onesemo (new cap)

Halfbacks:

• Hailey Beale (25 caps) - Captain
• Christie Moncrieff (new cap)
• Ashlee Partelow (new cap)

First-Fives:

• Ella Henderson (new cap)
• Olivia Waldron (19 caps)

Midfielders:

• Moana Courtenay-Malupo (8 caps)
• Dayna Moon (new cap)
• Holly Williams (7 caps)

Outside Backs:

• Georgia Brierly (new cap)
• Sola Eteru (new cap)
• Ava-Lee Jericevich (11 caps)
• Tsubasa Sasagawa (new cap)
• Mikayla Suluape (new cap)

Team Behind the Team:

• Dean Watkins (Head Coach)
• Robert Todd (Backs Coach)
• Scott Collins (Forwards Coach)
• Aleisha-Pearl Nelson (Set-Piece Coach)
• Rebecca Stanaway (Team Manager)
• Ray Diver (Assistant Team Manager)
• Kate Hamilton (Strength & Conditioning Coach)
• Gillian O'Reilly (Physiotherapist)
• Matt Webster (Performance Analyst)
• Dr Martin Hadler (Team Doctor)

For further information or media enquiries, please contact:

Rebecca Stanaway

Farah Palmer Cup Team Manager

[email protected] 

Article added: Friday 02 August 2024