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Super Rugby Aupiki teams named as Blues seek perfect season

NELSON, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 15: Ruahei Demant of the Blues is tackled during the round three Super Rugby Aupiki match between Matatu and Blues at Trafalgar Park on March 15, 2025 in Nelson, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Round 4 of Super Rugby Aupiki is upon us and there’s a chance for the Chiefs Manawa and Hurricanes Poua to enact revenge for their respective round 2 losses, with the benefit of hosting the contests.

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For Matatu, it’s a chance to bounce back after their first loss of the Aupiki season last week against the Blues, who continue the hunt for a perfect, unbeaten season against the side that pushed them the closest this year, the Chiefs.

“We’ve been working hard to improve week by week, and I’m really pleased with the effort the squad is putting in,” said Blues head coach Willie Walker.

“We know Chiefs Manawa will bring a lot of intensity, and we’re expecting a physical contest. It’s a great opportunity for us to keep growing as a team and put out a strong performance on Saturday.”

A milestone will be reached this week as both Chiefs Manawa captain Kennedy Tukuafu and halfback Ariana Bayler will become the first players to reach 20 Super Rugby Aupiki appearances, having played every game of the four seasons to date.

Hurricanes Poua team to play Matatu

  1.  Ngano Tavake
  2. Jayme Nuku
  3. Nina Poletti
  4. Samantha Taylor
  5. Jackie Patea-Fereti
  6. Olioli Mua
  7. Elinor-Plum King
  8. Layla Sae
  9. Iritana Hohaia
  10. Te Rauoriwa Gapper
  11. Harmony Kautai
  12. Rangimarie Sturmey
  13. Leilani Hakiwai
  14. Ayesha Leti-I’iga
  15. Cassie Siataga

Reserves

16. Denise Aiolupotea
17. Angel Mulu
18. Forne Burkin
19. Joanah Ngan Woo
20. Paige Lush
21. Kahurangi Sturmey
22. Monica Tagoai
23. Isabella Waterman

Matatu team to play Hurricanes Poua

  1. Pip Love
  2. Georgia Ponsonby
  3. Amy Rule
  4. Laura Bayfield
  5. Chelsea Bremner
  6. Alana Bremner
  7. Lucy Jenkins
  8. Kaipo Olsen-Baker
  9. Maia Joseph
  10. Hannah King
  11. Fia Laikong
  12. Grace Brooker
  13. Amy du Plessis
  14. Winnie Palamo
  15. Kaea Nepia

Reserves

16. Tegan Hollows
17. Marcelle Parkes
18. Moomooga Palu
19. Emma Dermody
20. Fiaali’i Solomona
21. Kelsyn McCook
22. Hollyrae Mete
23. Keighley Simpson

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Blues team to play Chiefs Manawa

  1. Chryss Viliko
  2. Atlanta Lolohea
  3. Aldora Itunu
  4. Maiakawanakaulani Roos (c)
  5. Maama Vaipulu
  6. Holly Greenway
  7. Dajian Brown
  8. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u
  9. Tara Turner
  10. Krysten Cottrell
  11. Jaymie Kolose
  12. Ruahei Demant
  13. Sylvia Brunt
  14. Portia Woodman-Wickliffe
  15. Braxton Sorensen-McGee

Reserves

16. Grace Gago
17. Awhina Tangen-Wainohu
18. Harono Te Iringa
19. Eloise Blackwell
20. Taufa Bason (debut)
21. Kahlia Awa
22. Kerri Johnson
23. Patricia Maliepo

Chiefs Manawa team to play Blues

  1. Kate Henwood
  2. Vici Rose-Green
  3. Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu
  4. Jade Coates
  5. Charmaine Smith
  6. Chyna Hohepa
  7. Martha Mataele
  8. Kennedy Tukuafu (c)
  9. Ariana Bayler
  10. Kelly Brazier
  11. Mererangi Paul
  12. Kiriana Nolan
  13. Azalleyah Maaka
  14. Ruby Tui
  15. Tenika Willison

Reserves

16. Grace Houpapa-Barrett
17. Krystal Murray
18. Santo Taumata
19. Logan Hauraki
20. Mia Anderson
21. Holli O’Sullivan
22. Rosie Kelly
23. Shoshanah Seumanutafa

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RedWarriors 2 hours ago
Ulster boss Richie Murphy levels accusation at Leinster after heavy loss

There’s a lot to unpick in your comment but let’s start with the obvious and that is that you clearly don’t know what the budgets are and therefore cannot state that they are equal.

Neither do you.


Now you mention stadia, sure Ravenhill and the RDS are comparable but Leinster don’t play most of their games at the RDS anymore, do they?

They play most of their matches in the Aviva because the RDS is being redeveloped for capacity. You’re assertion that Leinster will not play in the RDS again is utter hogwash and a conspiracy theory (if even that).


So fanbase, sure Leinster have a larger fanbase and that’s a direct result of being, by a considerable distance, the largest urban population on Ireland, aided further by the absence of any top tier football teams that similar cities across other countries have. Once again an inherent advantage over the other provinces.

The population of Leinster is 2.9 million. The population of Ulster is 2.3 million. The population of the Dublin Urban area is about 1.3 million. If you quote 2 million at me, we can go for an 80 mile walk over the Wicklow mountains, not meet a house and not leave the ‘Greater Dublin Area’. If you were Irish you would know this. The population of Belfast urban area (including Bangor etc) is about .75 million. Not a major difference. Most of the soccer in Ireland is played in Dublin City so not an inherent advantage. A fact you just ‘Made up’ right?


Now Belfast has an element of this but it’s very much smaller in scale. Munster and Connacht, pretty negligible by comparison.

Yes, there are less private schools in Belfast but Ulster contributors here are clear that it is how they are managed. If you are saying the private school rugby playing population in Munster is negligable then you haven’t a clue. Any Cork player is private. Any Limerick player more or less community. Anyone who knows anything about Irish rugby knows this. Where do you think ROG POM and all those Cork guys came from? FEE paying schools.


Now what does that tell us about budgets when Munster were told to release Snyman last year who just happened to end up at…Leinster!

Munster were NOT told to release Snyman. They had 4 overseas players and were told to reduce it to 3, as all provinces must. They chose to Keep Jean Kleyne and release Snyman. That was a cock up by Munster but how can you blame Leinster for this? Leinster are allowed no more than 3. When Barrett goes, then they are entitled to bring in Ioane. Munster and other provinces will benefit from this sabbattical template Leinster use. Yet it is now being used to attack Leinster again?


Obviously you are free to comment about Irish rugby. But please stop with the BS.

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