Champion Rangiuru side well represented in Bay of Plenty Volcanix squad

Rangiuru's Kendra Reynolds will provide some valuable experience in this season's Bay of Plenty Volcanix Squad.

Seven members of Rangiuru's championship winning side were named in this season's Bay of Plenty Volcanix squad by head coach Rodney Gibbs last week.

"I am very happy with the quality of the squad that Brendon and I have selected. We have asked the ladies to show a real desire and commitment to be part of this year's squad, meaning some extra training sessions on top of their club commitments as the modified structure of the club and FPC competitions means limited time for preparation, in saying that I have no doubt this group will be very competitive in this year's modified Farah Palmer Cup."

"We are continuing to build experience in the squad along with introducing some exciting young talent meaning there will be good competition for starting spots this year. It's a short competition and one thing I'll be looking for is the ability for players to learn quickly and improve each week" says Gibbs.

The 2020 squad has a mix of youth and experience, the experience of the likes of Baye Jacobs, Kendra Reynolds, Les Elder and Renee Wickliffe will be invaluable to assist in the guidance and development of the less experienced players, of which 11 are under 20. It is great to have young talent like Ruby Tawa (Te Wharekura O Mauao) coming through to join the likes Brooklyn Teki-Joyce, Hope Parata Kingi, Lisa Egberts and Esra Van Ramele who are all new to the environment this year.

The squad features several Black Ferns 7s players, who have been released to play due to the disruption of the HSBC Sevens World Series schedule. The inclusion of Kelly Brazier, Mahina Paul, Alena Saili, Risi Pouri-Lane and Michaela Blyde adds extra international experience to the mix, together with the Black Ferns 15s players, Les Elder, Kelsie Wills, Renee Wickliffe and Luka Connor.

Due to the first two rounds of the 2020 Farah Palmer Cup being postponed, the competition has been rescheduled to kick off on September 5.

The competition will be played in two pools split geographically with Northland, North Harbour, Auckland, Counties Manukau, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Taranaki making up the seven-team North Pool. The South Pool will kick off a week later on September 12 with Manawatū, Hawke's Bay, Wellington, Tasman and Otago joining reigning champions Canterbury.

The top two teams from each pool take part in crossover semifinals and the final will be held a week later on October 31.

The Volcanix have a bye in the first week of the competition, and will officially kick-off their 2020 season on September 11 against North Harbour in a double header game with Mitre 10 Cup teams.

In week three they will play in front of a home crowd at the Rotorua International Stadium against Waikato in their second double header game with the Steamers.

Full squad: Abbey Grainger — prop (Mount Maunganui), Alena Saili — outside back (Mt Maunganui), Amanda Aldridge — lock (Rangiuru), Angel Mulu — prop (Mount Maunganui), Azalleyah Maaka — midfield back (Rangataua), Baye Jacob — prop (Rangiuru), Braxton Walker — prop (Rangiuru), Brooklyn Teki-Joyce — loose forward (Rangataua), Destiny Iraia — loose forward (Mount Maunganui), Esra Van Ramele — utility back (Mount Maunganui), Hope Garner — halfback (Rangataua), Hope Parata-Kingi — 1st five-eighth (Rotoiti), Karli Faneva — lock (Mount Maunganui), Kelly Brazier — 1st five-eighth (Rangataua), Kelsie Wills — lock (Mount Maunganui), Kendra Reynolds — loose forward (Rangiuru), Kiki Tahere — outside back (Rangataua), Kura Waller — hooker (Rangataua), Layla TeRiini — midfield back (Rangiuru), Les Elder — loose forward (Rangataua), Lisa Egberts — halfback (Mount Maunganui), Luka Connor — hooker (Rangataua) Mahina Paul — utility back (Rangataua), Mererangi Paul — midfield back (Rotoiti), Michaela Blyde — outside back (Rangiuru), Nat Delamere — hooker/loose forward (Rotoiti), Olivia Richardson — wing (Rangataua), Renee Wickliffe — outside back (Rangataua), Risi Pouri-Lane — utility back (Rangiuru), Ruby Tawa — loose forward (Rangataua), Sela Moata'ane — loose forward. (Mount Maunganui), Tynealle Fitzgerald — Loose Forward (Mount Maunganui).