Tairawhiti represented

Renee Holmes runs out for Waikato. Picture supplied

Five Gisborne-East Coast women have been named in squads ahead of the Farah Palmer Cup (FPC) rugby competition.

Three local players were named in the Waikato squad announced on Wednesday afternoon, with Gabby Wainohu named in the squad for the first time, joining Renee Holmes and Kelsey Teneti.

Holmes and Teneti have established themselves as key players in the Waikato squad and will be hoping to build on the success the team had last year, when they finished runners-up.

Teneti played on the wing and Holmes was at fullback for the Chiefs in the first women's Super rugby game.

Last year Holmes earned her first cap for the Black Ferns, wearing the No.15 jersey when they played the Barbarians.

They will be joined in competition by Black Fern Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, from Te Araroa, who has been named in the Counties Manukau Heat squad and Black Fern Charmaine McMenamin, who has been named in the Auckland Storm squad.

The FPC competition starts today, with Auckland Storm playing Bay of Plenty Volcanix at 12.05pm, and Canterbury playing Counties Manukau Heat at 2.05pm.

Tomorrow, Wellington Pride play Otago Spirit at 11.35am.

All matches of the 2021 FPC season will be shown live on Sky Sport.