The SKYCITY Hamilton Waikato Women’s team has been announced ahead of the 2018 Farah Palmer Cup season.

SKYCITY Hamilton remains as the front of jersey and official sponsor continuing their successful relationship from last season.

This year’s squad will again be captained by experienced front rower and new mother Sosoli Talawadua, who has amassed a total of 27 games for the province.

The squad features 32 club players with 19 returning players from the 2017 Farah Palmer Cup campaign. Among the squad are three World Cup winning Black Ferns players, Sosoli Talawadua, Toka Natua and current Black Fern, Chelsea Alley.

Returning to the squad after their strong club rugby season are players Ana Marster, Ashlee Gaby-Sutherland and Kennedy Simon. Marsters has missed the last few seasons after taking time off due to family commitments; Ashlee Gaby-Sutherland is back in the team after helping to guide Melville to victory in the Gallagher Women’s Premiership and Kennedy Simon also returns after her stint in Japan.

The SKYCITY Hamilton Waikato Women’s Head Coach, Wayne Maxwell, said “We are looking to build on our success from last season, the team last year achieved some great things with our biggest milestone being the first ever win over Auckland. This season, the goal is to develop more of our players from provincial players to higher honours.”

The squad is a mixture of talent from the six different club teams that competed in this seasons’ Gallagher Women’s Premiership. Gallagher Women’s Premiership runners-up, Hamilton Old Boys, have the most representatives with thirteen players followed by University(10) and Gallagher Cup winners, Melville, with six players. Country clubs, Otorohanga, Southern United and Taupiri all have one player that features in this year’s team.  

The SKYCITY Hamilton Waikato Women’s 2018 Farah Palmer Cup season kicks off in Hamilton against Counties Manukau on Saturday September 1.

Team below...

2018 SKYCITY Hamilton Waikato Women’s Farah Palmer Cup Squad

Forwards

Natalie Delamare - University

Victoria Edmonds - University

Karli Faneva - Melville

Ashlee Gaby-Sutherland - Melville

Nyesha Hamilton - Hamilton Old Boys

Nikki Harpur - Southern United

Emma-Lee Heta - University

Grace Houpapa-Barrett - Melville

Tanya Kalounivale - Hamilton Old Boys

Leomie Kloppers - Hamilton Old Boys

Stacey Littleworth - University

Lena Mitchell - Hamilton Old Boys

Toka Natua - University

Tyler Reid - Taupiri

Kennedy Simon - Hamilton Old Boys

Sosoli Talawadua - University

Awhina Tangen-Wainohu - Hamilton Old Boys

Azusa Yama - Hamilton Old Boys

Backs

Chelsea Alley - University

Ariana Bayler - Hamilton Old Boys

Hannah Brough - Otorohanga

Donna Fermanis - Hamilton Old Boys

Ryleigh Hayes - Melville

Lonita Lavemai - Melville

Ana Marsters - Hamilton Old Boys

Danielle Paenga - Melville

Rena Parone – University

Kanyon Paul - Melville

Teirea Te Aho - Hamilton Old Boys

Makaia Riki Te Kanawa - Hamilton Old Boys

Dionne Treadway - Hamilton Old Boys

Awa Whitiora - University

Calista Wihone - University

Article added: Thursday 09 August 2018