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Teams named for Super Rugby Aupiki's undefeated clash

42 days ago

CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 09: Alana Bremner of Matatu leads her team onto the field during the round two Super Rugby Aupiki match between Matatu and Hurricanes Poua at Apollo Projects Stadium on March 09, 2025 in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

This season’s undefeated heavyweights the Blues and Matatu have named their respective teams for round three’s mighty Super Rugby Aupiki clash.

Likewise, the winless Chiefs Manawa and Hurricanes Poua have revealed their teams as they look to get on the board in 2025.

The Chiefs Manawa are set to host the matchup and have the benefit of some returning bodies in the form of Grace Kukutai and Logan Hauraki. For the Wellingtonians, Te Rauoriwa Gapper and Rangimarie Sturmey make their first starts of the season.

The Blues have also made some changes, with Harono Te Iringa and Paris Mataroa adding excitement to the forward pack, each making their starting debuts in blue, with Portia Woodman-Wickliffe starting in the centres as opposed to her more familiar position of wing.

Matatu have injected some pace into the outside channels, with Charlotte Va’afusuaga and Hollyrae Mete named to start the big bout.

Matatu

Marcelle Parkes
Georgia Ponsonby
Amy Rule
Laura Bayfield
Chelsea Bremner
Alana Bremner (c)
Lucy Jenkins
Kaipo Olsen-Baker
Maia Joseph
Hannah King
Charlotte Va’afusuaga
Grace Brooker
Amy du Plessis
Hollyrae Mete
Kaea Nepia

Reserves

16. Tegan Hollows
17. Pip Love
18. Eilis Doyle
19. Emma Dermody
20. Fiaali’i Solomona
21. Kelsyn McCook
22. Noami Sopoaga
23. Keighley Simpson

Unavailable due to injury: Moomooga Palu, Chey Robins-Reti

Blues

Chryss Viliko
Atlanta Lolohea
Harono Te Iringa
Maiakawanakaulani Roos (c)
Maama Vaipulu
Paris Mataroa
Dajian Brown
Liana Mikaele Tu’u
Tara Turner
Ruahei Demant
Jaymie Kolose
Sylvia Brunt
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe
Katelyn Vahaakolo
Braxton Sorensen-McGee

Reserves

16. Grace Gago
17. Awhina Tangen-Wainohu
18. Cheyenne Nauna Tuli-Fale
19. Holly Greenway
20. Elizabith Moimoi
21. Kahlia Awa
22. Krysten Cottrell
23. Patricia Meliepo

Unavailable due to injury: none

Chiefs Manawa

Kate Henwood
Luka Connor
Santo Taumata
Jade Coates
Charmaine Smith
Grace Kukutai
Martha Mataele
Kennedy Tukuafu (c)
Ariana Bayler
Kelly Brazier
Tenika Willison
Azalleyah Maaka
Mererangi Paul
Ruby Tui
Renee Holmes

Reserves

16. Vici-Rose Green
17. Krystal Murray
18. Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu
19. Logan Hauraki
20. Chyna Hohepa
21. Holli O’Sullivan
22. Hazel Tubic
23. Shoshanah Seumanutafa

Unavailable due to injury: Rosie Kelly (calf, short-term), Leata Puni-Lio (shoulder, short-term), Tanya Kalounivale (finger, mid-term, 4-6 weeks)

Hurricanes Poua

Ngano Tavake
Forne Burkin
Angel Mulu
Samantha Taylor
Jackie Patea-Fereti
Olioli Mua
Elinor-Plum King
Layla Sae
Paige Lush
Tea Rauoriwa Gapper
Harmony Kautai
Rangimarie Sturmey
Monica Tagoai
Ayesha Leti-I’iga
Cassie Siataga

Reserves

16. Denise Aoilupotea
17. Natalie Delamere
18. Lavinia Lea
19. Joanah Ngan Woo
20. Kahurangi Sturmey
21. Raedeen Blake
22. Leilani Hakiwai
23. Teilah Ferguson

Unavailable due to injury: Iritana Hohaia (calf), Payton Takimoana (knee), Shakira Baker (Ankle), Karli Faneva (knee)

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Comments on RugbyPass

RedWarriors 8 minutes ago

How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

Doyle was in charge of IRFU refs through the law change in 2009 and was thereafter an elite (professional) referee coach. The law change was made in the pro era. This has nothing to do with an amateur interpretation. It has everything to do with the law being applied as intended.

145 Go to comments

RedWarriors 10 minutes ago

How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

The law is the Intention of the law when there is a dispute. If there is evidence that this is the intention then its a check mate and the big Unions who want these splits should argue for a law change. Based on what Doyle says the law is 5-3.

145 Go to comments

PR 10 minutes ago

Glasgow hit back at Stephen Donald's 'absolutely unfounded' comments

Shame, still beating the SR drum even though it has a tiny viewership and a fraction of the talent that you get in NH comps.

What’s undeniable is that Barrett is playing alongside much better players at Leinster than he would in NZ. And he is playing in more difficult conditions - from the Highveld in SA to freezing conditions in Scotland - which prepares you better for Test rugby than hopping over the Tasman for another game of touch rugby.

In stead of having a go at the NH you should just say thank you for making Barrett an even better player. We’ll do the same for with Rieko Ioane. You’re welcome.

6 Go to comments

IkeaBoy 11 minutes ago

How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

Coward

145 Go to comments

RedWarriors 12 minutes ago

How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

Its rugby and rugby is giverned by laws and one of those laws is under question. As with all laws if there is dispute over its interpretation then the Intention of the law decides its interpretation. Owen Doyle has clarified what the intention of the law was which was specialized subs in backs and forwards in a 5-3 split.

Doyle represented IRFU referees when the law change was made in 2009. He says Unions are split on this. If Doyle knows what the intention was then we can assume that all Unions do and that those arguing for the correct interpretation will use that legal slam dunk.

This has nothing to do with the merits of the idea of a 6-2, 7-1, or 8-0 split. It just means that those who argue for a 5-3 will win if that was the intention. Ofcourse a law change can be applied to allow for these other splits, but if Doyle is correct it will require a law change.

145 Go to comments

IkeaBoy 12 minutes ago

How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

Well how exactly can we currently judge their performance in the 2027 RWC??????

It’s two years away, Ed.

Not this year. Not the next year. It’s the year after

145 Go to comments

IkeaBoy 14 minutes ago

How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

18 year old… boys?????

That’s called a contradiction in terms, boss.

SYRINGE-BOKS

145 Go to comments

IkeaBoy 14 minutes ago

How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

At what point does a post become a rant? Refer to my previous.

145 Go to comments

GrahamVF 15 minutes ago

Glasgow hit back at Stephen Donald's 'absolutely unfounded' comments

Watchings Reds vs Blues. Either the Reds goal line defence is out of this world or the Blues can’t finish/ In a period of six minutes they were over the Reds line four times but couldn’t score. Really bad forward attacking play.

6 Go to comments

IkeaBoy 15 minutes ago

How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

I’ll try to make this as simple as possible, G-Man.

The Boks weren’t compliant with the then current protocols. They were testing but by totally different standards to everyone else. They were windows95 while the rest of the sporting world was Windows10. It’s akin to marking your own homework.

The amended protocols - which Russia were the only other signatories not to be compliant with - included updated banned substances, the ability to test historic samples & B samples as far back as the 2019 RWC and tighter restrictions around medical exemptions.

The 4 boks to have gotten caught between those 2 RWC cycles were all recovering from injuries…

Again, re: Irish KIDS - none of the home nation unions test anyone other than professional athletes!

145 Go to comments

WI 18 minutes ago

How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

Would you call that freely? Yes, the tries have a skillset of their own attached to them. Would not call it freely. They did outscore France in that game thought, which is in and off itself something to admire.

145 Go to comments

IkeaBoy 22 minutes ago

How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

You missed the part about the lab getting shut down in Bloemfontein in March last year - FOR THE SECOND TIME. Got stripped of it’s accreditation.

As previously explained, few schoolboys in Ireland would be 18, as in an ADULT. The vast majority of their active schools players are classed as MINORS. Not just in law, in every sense. The youngest grade governed by the IRFU is U19 and is overseen by a union who has never not been WADA compliant. Ever.

It’s obviously the norm to not test children in amateur sports.

145 Go to comments

RedWarriors 22 minutes ago

How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

If there is doubt about the interpretation of laws then the Intention of the law is the law.

This is what SUPREME courts do. The black and white must reflect the intention of the law. If the intention of the law was 5-3, then thats the law. That is the entire basis of how law is interpreted. You are arguing against centuries of legal norms. You should stop making stuff up to suit your argument.

145 Go to comments

RedWarriors 26 minutes ago

How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

Owen Doyle was a referee until 1994. He was in charge of the IRFU referees through the last replacement change (from 7 to 8 re[placements in 2009). He was subsequently an elite referee coach before becoming a journalist in the last few years.

The changes were made in 2009 very much the professional era.

The proposal that the IRFU agreed with is below. It is disappointing that you attempt to distort facts that contardict your argument.

In any Law whether legislation for running a State or for World Rugby the intention of the law when drafted is what counts. Now you can put your hands over your ears and sing ‘La, La, La’ because this contradicts your article in some respects but you can’t make up facts you don’t like. You’re argument that 7-1 splits etc should be allowed is a different one. My argument is because the INTENTION of the law was 5-3 then new laws will need to be drafted for less than 3 backs on the bench. If World Rugby ignore the law to the tune of ridiculous PR nonsense like ‘Its discriminating against South Africa’ then the entire basis for faith in laws becomes eroded. Big Unions will interpret laws to suits themselves at odds with their intention knowing that World Rugby won’t defend their laws.

I was part of the law group that determined the IRFU’s position on how things work currently. In short, we agreed with what was being proposed. It was to ensure that there must be three specialist frontrow players on the bench, plus a secondrow, and a backrow player, hence five. The backs were allowed to cover the specialist positions of nine and ten. Finally, one utility back would be permitted, making up the three.

145 Go to comments

IkeaBoy 28 minutes ago

How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

This is news to me!!! Game changer.

I must have been the only Irish rugby fan unaware of their record at RWC knockouts.

145 Go to comments

IkeaBoy 30 minutes ago

How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

Yep! I live with one.

Draft dodgers

145 Go to comments

IkeaBoy 31 minutes ago