PB quartet in ’Canes Under-20s

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

Four Poverty Bay Under-20 players have been named in the Hurricanes Heartland Under-20 team.

Nehe Papuni (YMP), James Law (Ngatapa), Winston Folau (Pirates) and Genesis Bartlett-Tamatea (YMP) were named in the team, who are scheduled to play three games in the coming weeks.

The Poverty Bay U20 team travelled to Palmerston North last weekend for two games on consecutive days for the 2021 Central Region Shield at the New Zealand Rugby Sports Institute.

The team came into the weekend on the heels of a strong 26-19 win against Wairarapa Bush U20s but struggled to get into the game against eventual competition winners Horowhenua-Kapiti, losing their opening match 38-10.

The team's second match of the weekend was a close-fought battle against Whanganui that ended in a 22-14 loss.

Poverty Bay could not capitalise on their chances to close out the win, leaving the door open for a Whanganui comeback late in the piece.

With a bonus point earned in their opening match against Wairarapa-Bush, Poverty Bay U20s finished the competition in third place ahead of Whanganui.

The squad have one final game this season against Turanga Pasifika, with the date to be confirmed.

The Hurricanes Heartland U20s are set to play Manawatu, Wellington and Hawke's Bay U19 teams for the 2021 Central Region Shield in the coming weeks.