The Wanganui Development Team which will be trying to retain the Rugby Development Officers (RDO) Shield final today against Horowhenua-Kapiti Development has been named.
Captain Kieran Hussey is bracketed with Tremaine Gilbert in the No8 position, depending on whether Gilbert will be required to sit on the bench for Steelform Wanganui in the Pink Batts Heartland match with East Coast.
The Development team, coached again this season by Shane Ratima, thumped Wellington Maori Colts 79-19 at Cooks Gardens on August 30, then had a 23-23 draw with Wairarapa Bush B in Masterton last Saturday.
The team also played Horowhenua-Kapiti in the RDO Shield final last year, winning 37-10 to claim it for the first time.
The shield was introduced in 2005 by former union RDOs Mike Kenworthy (Wanganui), Lofty Stevenson (Wairarapa-Bush), Kane Crewther (Horowhenua-Kapiti) and Grainger Heikell (Poverty Bay) for representative B and Development teams to contest.