The University of Waikato: Waikato Women’s team has been announced ahead of the 2020 Farah Palmer Cup season.

The University of Waikato has come on board this year as major sponsor and will be the front of jersey sponsor of the Waikato Women’s team for the 2020 season.

This seasons squad features five current Black Ferns players, Chelsea Alley, Stacey Fluhler, Carla Hohepa, Toka Natua and Kennedy Simon and four Black Fern Sevens players, Cheyelle Robins-Reti, Huia Harding, Stacey Fluhler and Tenika Willison.

2019 Farah Palmer Cup captain Chelsea Alley retains the captaincy for the 2020 season. Alley will be joined in the leadership group by 2019 Female Club Player of the Year and Manatiaki Award winner, Chyna Hohepa, as her vice-captain.

Eight rookies have been named in the squad and have the chance to record their first cap for the province throughout the season. These players are Hamilton Old Boys Tafiau Fetalaiga, Kelsey Teneti, Kihikihi’s Marania Paraone, Melville’s Mia Anderson, Manaia Nuku, Otorohanga’s Sina Hetet, Taiari Cassidy and Putaruru’s Daeja-Bernice Kaponga.

This year The University of Waikato: Waikato Women’s team have a new Head Coach with James Semple taking over the reins and is very pleased with the prospect of talent that the Waikato has on offer. Head Coach James Semple said, “We are really excited about the squad we were able to select this year!

Having some of the Seven’s players available for selection is a massive boost to the squad. We are also thrilled to welcome back some old faces that have done a lot for the jersey in the past and several rookies that will bring lots of excitement and energy. 

As a management team we are under no illusions that games are not won on paper, so it is up to us to bring this talented squad together to make sure we do everything we can to have the team ready for what I am sure will be a very exciting FPC competition this year.”

The University of Waikato: Waikato Women’s 2020 Farah Palmer Cup season kicks off the season at home with  the first game scheduled against Northland at the University of Waikato on Saturday 5^th September. The next will see them feature as game one of a double header at FMG Stadium, as they play hosts to Taranaki on Saturday 12^th September, before the Waikato Mitre 10 Cup teams season opener against Wellington.

2020 University of Waikato: Waikato Women’s Farah Palmer Cup Squad

Forwards

Mia Anderson (*) Melville

Taiari Cassidy (*) Otorohanga

Ash Gaby-Sutherland (20) Melville

Tafiau Fetalaiga (*) Hamilton Old Boys

Huia Harding (22) Melville

Emma-Lee Heta (22) Kihikihi

Sina Hetet (*) Otorohanga

Chyna Hohepa (23) Kihikihi (Vice Captain)

Grace Houpapa-Barrett (20) Melville

Tanya Kalounivale (15) Hamilton Old Boys

Daeja-Bernice Kaponga (*) Putaruru

Leomie Kloppers (11) Hamilton Old Boys

Stephanie Lualua (2) Hamilton Old Boys

Toka Natua (25) University

Merania Paraone (*) Kihikihi

Kennedy Simon (17) Hamilton Old Boys

Esther Tilo-Faiaoga (9) Melville

Backs

Chelsea Alley (35) University (Captain)

Ariana Bayler (28) Hamilton Old Boys

Tyra Begbie (1) Putaruru

Hannah Brough (7) Otorohanga

Stacey Fluhler (19) Melville

Carla Hohepa (3) Kihikihi

Renee Holmes (6) Hamilton Old Boys

Kiriana Nolan (2) Melville

Manaia Nuku (*) Melville

Kanyon Paul (9) Melville

Chey Robins-Reti (6) Melville

Makaia Riki-Te Kanawa (20) Hamilton Old Boys

Kelsey Teneti (*) Hamilton Old Boys

Tenika Willison (10) Otorohanga

() = caps for Waikato

* = uncapped

Article added: Tuesday 25 August 2020