Rugby: Magpies utility back picked for Baabaas squad to play Lions

Magpies utility back Jonah Lowe will fly the Hawke's Bay flag for the NZ Provincial Barbarians in June. PHOTO/FILE

Hawke's Bay Magpies utility back Jonah Lowe will is the Hawke's Bay delegate in the opening game against the Lions in Whangarei in June.

Lowe is in the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians equation of coach Clayton McMillan to signal the start of the DHL NZ Lions Series campaign from June 3.

The 20-year-old K9 Petfoods Clive midfielder, who has 16 caps for his province, is in an exciting mix of players from 15 different provinces.

All Mitre 10 Cup unions and Heartland Championship and Meads Cup champions Wanganui are represented, with veteran Barbarians Club member Peter Rowe at the helm as skipper.

"It was important to us in selecting this team that it was truly representative of New Zealand," said McMillan. "It wasn't an easy task. The amount of talent considered is testament to how strong New Zealand rugby is now. We believe we have found a mix of upcoming players and hardened provincial stalwarts to make an exciting team.

"We have picked the base of a team that is capable of playing an entertaining brand of rugby which fits with the Baabaas tradition of innovation and flair and playing with pure guts and heart."

Of the 19 players named this week, 13 have previously donned the black jersey for either New Zealand Schools, New Zealand under-20s or Maori All Blacks.

The rest of the squad will be confirmed closer to the team's assembly in Whangarei on May 28, as coaches monitor player progress across the country.

Four of the forwards boast Super Rugby experience, as well as exciting Taranaki midfielder Johnny Fa'auli, who has made several appearances for the Chiefs in 2017.