Kubunavanua a drawcard for Development

EARNED HIS SPOT: Whanganui's Samu Kubunavanua will get his chance for the Hurricanes Development team against the Chiefs Development squad at City College tomorrow. PHOTO/FILE

ONE Whanganui expat and a current star have been chosen "on merit" to run out for the Hurricanes Development team for the game against the Chiefs Development at City College tomorrow afternoon.

The Ngamatapouri, Steelform Wanganui and sevens star Samu Kubunavanua will start on the left wing for the Hurricanes Development squad's third match of the season, having previously played their Crusaders and Blues counterparts.

It is a rapid advancement after coming to Whanganui just two winters ago at the invitation of Utiku Old Boys in Taihape.

Malcolm, the former Wanganui High School student who would have played on the City College grounds in his youth, will start at No10 as he continues his ambition of becoming a fully-fledged professional out of the Manawatu union.

He plays for the University club and narrowly missed selection for the New Zealand Under-20 team last year.

Hurricanes coach Darren Larsen said six fully contracted Hurricanes will play the match, with the rest having NPC experience.

Kubunavanua's inclusion was not just a draw card for the local supporters.

"It's his chance on merit," said Larsen.

"You get the nod because you're good enough - he played well in the Heartland series, as recognised by NZ Rugby [with Try of the Year award].

"Our club runs out of our Heartland unions as well as our Mitre 10 Cup unions so it's good to get that out there amongst them."

Kubunavanua will be one of three players yet to play in the Development team, with Larsen saying they run very specific game-plans and structures which fit in with what the full Hurricanes team is doing in Super Rugby, meaning anyone called up as injury cover adapts quickly.

Therefore, the match tomorrow with the Chiefs will be a pretty close approximation to what local fans would watch on Sky TV on a Friday and Saturday evening.

Due to the priority of Super Rugby, players are often coming and going, with the Hurricanes and Chiefs no different.

"Up until five minutes ago, this team's changed again," said the coach yesterday.

It will be a fully fledged matchup with 23-man squads and two 40 minute halves.

The match is the first time the Hurricanes Development team have played in Whanganui since beating the Fiji Warriors 38-20 in a Pacific Rugby Cup game in March 2013.

-Kickoff is at 2.30pm.