Exciting new faces prevalent in Canterbury’s first FPC team of the season

10 debutants headline Canterbury’s first Farah Palmer Cup, presented by Bunnings Warehouse team, as Canterbury prepares to welcome the Wellington Pride to the team’s home at Rugby Park.  

Head Coach Jimmy Sinclair and Captain Marcelle Parkes will lead a side packed in both experience and excitement, as Canterbury look to defend the JJ Stewart Trophy for another season.  

“We’ve got a really exciting group of players at our disposal,” said Sinclair, “being able to call on our experienced players to lead, while also unleashing some of our young talent creates a fantastic opportunity for us in week 1 against Wellington.” 

The starting side can also call on the Super Rugby experience earned by the likes of Martha Mataele and Di Hiini, to name only two, to provide significant impact on the field.  

“A number of the squad have had engagement with the Canterbury environment, and we’re lucky to benefit from this through the experiences they have had and now can impart that new knowledge on our wider squad too.” 

Maddi Robinson, Laura Bayfield, Holly Wratt-Groeneweg, Winnie Palamo and Hayley Hutana will start as debutants, while Sally-Jane Houlahan, Rosie Buchanan-Brown, Keighley Simpson, Jamee and Erana Te Moananui will have the opportunity to add their name to Canterbury's impressive honours board off the bench.  

“Even in this group of 10 debutants, we have the likes of Laura Bayfield, Hayley Hutana, Rosie Buchanan-Brown and Keighley Simpson all with experience in the Farah Palmer Cup, so we know that despite being new to the red and black jersey, they will be able to unleash their talent and add their style to the game on Saturday” Sinclair said.  

The weekend’s side also has a significantly family feel, with Mataele and sister Atlanta Lolohea starting, and the impact bench containing the Te Moananui and Simpson sisters all named to play together. 

Saturday’s match kicks off at 12:05pm at Rugby Park, St Albans. Entry is just $5 at the gate for Adults, and free for U16’s.