Six Gizzy boys in championship playoffs

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

SHERIDAN Rangihuna is the first of six Gisborne rugby players in action this weekend in the Mitre 10 Cup semifinals.

Rangihuna, from the Gisborne Boys’ High School “class of 2011” and his Wellington Lions teammates play Northland in Wellington tonight in the Championship Cup semis bidding to win promotion to the premiership.

Rangihuna is one of three changes made by Lions head coach Chris Gibbes from the team who beat Northland 36-18 only a week ago at the same venue in what was the final match of the regular season. Rangihuna won the hotly contested No.9 jersey from Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, who moves to the reserves.

The duo have shared the starting duties all season, with Hauiti-Parapara starting six matches and Rangihuna to make his fifth start in the semifinal.

Samoan test loose forward Galu Taufale returns to the Lions squad in place of All Black Vaea Fifita, who has returned to his national duties, while Asafo Aumua reclaims his starting role at hooker.

George Bridge, who played rugby for Ngatapa Nippers, Awapuni Primary School and Gisborne Intermediate before attending Lindisfarne College, Hawke’s Bay, then moving to Christchurch, is next up. Bridge will be a key man for Canterbury when they play North Harbour in Christchurch tomorrow afternoon. Bridge, a fullback/winger, has scored six tries and is leading the defenders-beaten stats.

Rangihuna’s 2011 GBHS teammates Toa Halafihi and Donald Maka, along with GBHS old boys Jared Profitt (2012), Adrian Wyrill (2010) and Charlie Ngati (2005) are in the Taranaki 22 to play Tasman in the premiership semifinal in New Plymouth tomorrow night.

Halafihi, a No.8, has been in dynamic form this season, and on Wednesday was named Taranaki player of the year and players’ player of the year.