Gisborne sisters to face each other in Aupiki

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

They haven't taken over Super Rugby Aupiki completely . . . yet.

But there is no question that there will be a strong Gisborne Ngāti Porou influence in the competition's third year.

The competition has been extended from five rounds to seven, from March, 2024 — with semifinals and a final, for the next two seasons — and there are players who were schooled locally, with family ties here, in each of the four New Zealand teams.

Hard-nosed loose-forward Charmaine McMenamin (Gisborne Girls' High School), 33, will be back on deck with the Blues.

Fullback Renee Holmes (GGHS), 23, has transferred from the now-Whitney Hansen-coached Matatū to the Chiefs Manawa, loose-forward Kaipo Olsen-Baker (GGHS), 21, has left the Hurricanes Poua for the current champions, Matatū, and her sister Te

Uarangi Olsen-Baker (LHS and GGHS), 25, has been selected for the Hurricanes Poua at hooker.

McMenamin returned from a career-threatening back injury to start at No.8 — and Holmes ran on at fullback — in the World

Cup final-winning New Zealand side two years ago.

Kaipo Olsen-Baker has two test caps, having made her Black Ferns debut alongside another great local talent in Kelsey Teneti (Lytton High School), 20, against the Wallaroos at Tauranga last year.