Maori All Blacks vs Canada
BC Arena, Vancouver
Friday 3 November, Canada
7:00pm (local time)
Saturday 4 November, 3:00pm (NZT)

The Maori All Blacks have named their team to take on Canada in their first ever match in Vancouver on Saturday 4 November (NZT).

The team is:

1
Chris Eves
North Harbour
Waikato / Tainui

2
Ash Dixon (Captain)
Hawkes Bay
Ngati Tahinga

3
Marcel Renata
Auckland
Ngati Whanaunga / Ngai Takoto

4
Jackson Hemopo *
Manawatu
Tuhourangi / Ngati Wahiao / Ngai Tahu / Ngati Rangi / Ngati Apa ki te Ra Tõ

5
Jarrad Hoeata
North Harbour
Ngai Tuhoe / Ngati Kahungunu

6
Tom Franklin
Bay Of Plenty
Ngati Maniapoto

7
Dan Pryor
Northland
Ngati Awa / Ngati Pikiao / Ngati Rangitihi

8
Akira Ioane
Auckland
Ngapuhi / Te Whanau a Apanui

9
Brad Weber
Hawkes Bay
Ngati Porou

10
Ihaia West
Hawkes Bay
Ngati Kahungunu / Ngati Porou

11
Ambrose Curtis
Manawatu
Ngai Te Rangi

12
Rob Thompson
Canterbury
Ngati Kahungunu / Nga Rauru

13
Tim Bateman
Canterbury
Ngai Tahu

14
Sean Wainui
Taranaki
Ngai Tuhoe / Te Aitanga a Mahaki / Nga Arikikaiputahi / Ngati Porou

15
Charlie Ngatai
Taranaki
Ngati Porou / Te Whanau a Apanui / Te Whakatohea

16
Liam Polwart *
Bay Of Plenty
Ngati Maru

17
Ross Wright *
Northland
Ngati Whatua / Ngati Porou

18
Tyrel Lomax *
Tasman
Ngai Tuhoe / Muaupoko

19
Jordan Manihera *
Waikato
Ngati Wairere / Waikato -Tainui

20
Sam Henwood *
Counties Manakau
Ngapuhi / Te Whanau a Apanui

21
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
Taranaki
Ngati Pikiao

22
Jackson Garden-Bachop *
Wellington
Ngati Awa

23
Shaun Stevenson *
North Harbour
Ngapuhi

* = New Cap

Eight new caps have been named in the side with Manawatu’s Jackson Hemopo getting a start at lock, and Shaun Stevenson, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Sam Henwood, Jordan Manihera, Tyrel Lomax, Ross Wright and Liam Polwart to debut off the bench.

Head Coach Clayton McMillan said they had high expectations of a good performance on a quick track at BC Place, the venue for the Friday night (Saturday morning NZT) fixture.

“We’re pretty happy with how things are ticking along, we’ve had some good training.“Everyone who is here deserves their opportunity to represent the Maori All Blacks and while they may be lacking for a bit of experience at this level, they certainly make up for it in enthusiasm, and I am really happy with the way the team has bonded.

“We don’t see it as a starting 15 and eight off the bench -  it’s a full squad of 27 with everyone including those boys not playing, working to help us prepare,” he said.

McMillan said selecting Charlie Ngatai at fullback had been a calculated choice after discussion with Ngatai’s Taranaki and former Maori All Blacks Coach, Colin Cooper.

“We had a policy of selecting our backline around versatility and people who can play multiple positions, and we were limited by the numbers we could bring on tour.

“Charlie’s got great experience, great comms, a big boot, and he’ll be very good for the younger guys.”The venue for Friday night’s match will be played in front of a sell-out 29,000 fans, and the match promises to be played at pace, McMillan predicted.  It will be the largest audience in Canada for a single game of 15s rugby.

“Canada is playing at home, it’s a unique stadium with roof and astro turf, so it will be fast, matched with physicality.  They have a big pack and strong carrying backs so we expect a tough battle,” McMillan said.

Maori All Blacks match schedule:
Friday 3 November
Canada v Maori All Blacks
BC Place
Vancouver 

Friday 10 November
French Barbarians v Maori All Blacks
Stade Chaban-Delmas
Place Johnston
Bordeaux

Maori All Blacks management team:
Head Coach - Clayton McMillan    Ngai Te Rangi (Ngai Tamawhariua, Te Rangihouhiri)
Asst Coach - Tana Umaga                
Asst Coach - Carl Hoeft  Kaumatua - Luke Crawford        Ngati Tuwharetoa / Ngati Porou    
Strengthen & Conditioning Trainer -  Simon Thomas                
Analyst - Jayson Ross        Ngati Kahungunu            
Doctor - Ra Durie        Ngati Kauwhata /Ngati Raukawa / Rangitane
Team Manager - Tony Ward                
Logistics Manager - Paul Minehan                
Campaign Manager - Matt Sexton                
Physiotherapist - Ash Draper