Northern Wanganui go for the Shield

Roman Tutauha

The first representative rugby team of 2017 has been named as the sub-union Northern Wanganui squad to play Central Hawkes Bay this Sunday has been announced.

The Bebbington Shield will be on the line in Dannevirke - the prize contested since 1922 by sub-union teams from the Hawke's Bay, Wanganui, Wairarapa-Bush, Horowhenua-Kapiti and Manawatu unions.

This 30 man squad consists of 13 McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu players, eight members of PGG Wrightson/Balance Taihape and nine Utiku Old Boys.

The coaching/management group is Marty McGrath, Kerry Whale and Matt Gilbert, with players named who are unavailable asked to contact them by tomorrow.

Rangitikei sub-union challenged Central Hawkes Bay for the Shield in 2014, being hammered 65-10 in Waipukurau, after losing the same game 28-5 the year before in Takapau.

The Northern Wanganui team is
F Hammond, R Tutauha, K Parker, I Rowe, K McNaught, C Hawera, C Hart, J Hughes, T Brown, C Carmichael, C Pene, K Green, S Waara (Ruapehu); H Bennett, M Brown, R Iorns, J Flaws, D Whale, W Crottrol, J Barrett, D Gallien (Taihape); R Broughton, G Coogan, M Crawford, J Hirini, M Navas, H Payne, D Ratana, S Stratton, J Haywood (Utiku).