Canterbury Rugby Representative sides represented throughout XV’s squad to take on New Zealand Heartland

Players from 13 Clubs and six of Canterbury’s senior representative sides feature in the Canterbury XV squad to take on the New Zealand Heartland XV in Methven next week, showcasing the incredible depth present throughout Canterbury Rugby.

Four players with NPC experience feature, with prop Carisbrook Toomalatai, halfback Joel Lam and hookers James Mullan and Nick Hyde amongst the squad, while fellow halfback Nic Shearer, named in the NPC squad this season, returns from a broken thumb with his inclusion in the XV's squad.
 
The side also features a couple of players who showcased their talents on loan in the Bunnings Heartland Championship, with West Coast and Sydenham’s Tumama Tu’ulua and Buller and Lincoln University’s George Reeves, with both relishing the opportunity to go head-to-head with their teammates.
 
The team will be led by the Canterbury Rugby Game Development team and Head Coach Riki Tahere, with Mark Croft, Nathan Brown and Craig Mullan as Assistants, providing the four coaches with an opportunity to continue their own personal coaching journeys. Amongst the coaching crew will also be Canterbury winger Manasa Mataele, who will continue his own individual pathway into coaching.
 
“It’s an excellent opportunity for a number of our squad to have the opportunity to play first class rugby in the Canterbury colours.” Said Head Coach Tahere, “We’ve got a great range of experience and backgrounds here, with boys’ playing their rugby across Canterbury.”
 
“We’re really excited about the opportunity of taking on the Heartland XV, the Heartland competition is such a special part of our provincial rugby system, and we can't wait to see both teams showcase their skills come Wednesday next week.”
 
The match in Methven kicks off at 4pm on the 1st of November, with the fixture also being livestreamed by New Zealand Rugby.
 
Canterbury XV squad:
 
Props:
Liam Pratt (Lincoln University/B’s)
Ben Alexander (Darfield/Ellesmere)
Carisbrook Toomalatai (New Brighton/NPC)
Josh Duckworth (Ashley/North Canterbury)
 
Hookers:
James Mullan (Sydenham/NPC)
Nick Hyde (Glenmark Cheviot/NPC)
 
Locks:
Tumama Tu’ulua (Sydenham/West Coast)
Jayden Sa (Shirley/U19)
Connor Smith (Kaiapoi/North Canterbury)
Josh Loader (Sumner/B’s)
 
Loose Forwards:
Joe Taylor (Marist Albion/B’s)
Johnny Lee (Lincoln University/U19)
Jack Coulthard (University/U19)
George Reeves (Lincoln University/Buller)
 
Halfbacks:
Nic Shearer (Marist Albion/NPC)
Joel Lam (Burnside/NPC)
 
First Fives:
Callum Summerfield (Lincoln University/U19)
James White (University/B’s)
Jack MacLeod (Sydenham/Waitaha)
 
Midfield:
Kynan Stowers-Smith (Shirley/B’s)
Kurtis Macdonald (Sydenham/U19)
Dawson Smith (Lincoln University/Waitaha)
 
Outside Backs:
Jae Broomfield (University/B’s)
Cam Rawling (Marist Albion/U19)
Isaac Hutchinson (Marist Albion/U19)
Terrence Graham (Sumner/B’s)