Steamers Announce 2016 Mitre 10 Cup Squad
2016 Steamers Team Announced
The Bay of Plenty Steamers management today have named their 2016 squad
for the upcoming 2016 Mitre 10 Cup season.
Head coach Clayton McMillan believes they have assembled a squad with a good
blend of enthusiastic debutants and experience, with 24 capped players in the
team.
“We’ve selected an outstanding group of men, hardworking, competitive, and
highly motivated to perform.”
“The fourteen new faces, will give us an exciting blend of youth and experience
and importantly, depth throughout,” said McMillan.
There are 24 players returning to the Steamers which include Italian
international Kelly Haimona and New Zealand All Black sevens player Teddy
Stanaway.
The fourteen new players who have been selected in the Steamers squad will be
expected to make their Mitre 10 Cup debut this season. Including four
international sevens players’, Joe Webber, Regan Ware, Isaac Te Aute and Hugh
Blake.
Within the 37 man squad ten of the twelve premier club sides are represented
from across the Bay of Plenty.
“This team represents our region. The quality of club rugby has improved, and
as a result, we have a competiton that’s going down to the wire and brought a
lot of excitement back to our club scene. The by product of that is more
players have been given an opportunity to shine, and this is reflected in the
final squad”
“The team understand the demands and challenges ahead, but have prepared
accordingly and are ready to meet those challenges head on.
“We are not a team of household names but are determined to create a legacy of
success, bring some mana back to the jersey, and earn the respect of our
supporters and stakeholders by playing a brand of rugby synonymous with the Bay
of Plenty.”
Bay of Plenty Rugby Union’s CEO Mike Rogers said “The Mitre 10 Cup is the
toughest provincial rugby competition in the world and every year it throws up
some amazing new young talent. The tradition and pride associated with
representing your community is hugely important to everyone involved.
The Bay of Plenty is a fantastic region and we are determined to show the rest
of the Country how proud we are of the Bay.”
2016 Bay of Plenty
Steamers Squad:
Hookers:
Nathan Harris – Te Puke Sports (26), Liam Polwart* – Greerton Marist, Joseph
Royal – Rotoiti (29), Sabastian Siataga – Mount Maunganui (8)
Props:
Siegfried Fisi'ihoi – Rotoiti (18), Jordan Lay* – Whakarewarewa, Aidan Ross –
Te Puke Sports (3), Solomona Sakalia – Mount Maunganui (19), Pingi Tala'apitaga
– Tauranga Sports (34), Jeff Thwaites – Te Puna (6)
Locks:
Troy Callander – Greerton Marist (7), Shahn Eru – Te Puna (7), Keepa
Mewett – Tauranga Sports (17), Culum Retallick – Tauranga Sports (92)
Loose Forwards:
Matty Axtens* – Mount Maunganui, Hugh Blake* – Te Puke Sports, Sam Cane –
Tauranga Sports (18), Mitchell Karpik* – Mount Maunganui, Jesse Parete* –
Arataki, Henry Stowers* – Arataki, Eru Wano-Smith* – Whakarewarewa, Joe Tupe –
Greerton Marist (23)
Half backs:
Luke Campbell* – Te Puke Sports, Ruki Tipuna – Rangataua (12), Te Aihe Toma –
Te Puna (25)
First five-eights:
Kelly Haimona – Whakarewarewa (15), Dan Hollinshead – Te Puke Sports (19)
Midfield backs:
Lalakai Foketi – Rangataua (10), Terrence Hepetema – Te Puna (1), Teddy
Stanaway – Mount Maunganui (1), Joe Webber* – Te Puke Sports
Outside backs:
Te Rangi Fraser – Whakarewarewa (10), Monty Ioane* – Greerton Marist, Elijah
Nicholas – Whakatane Marist (6), Chase Tiatia – Rangataua (11), Isaac Te Aute*
– Mount Maunganui, Regan Ware* – Arataki
Injury Cover:
Leigh Hughes* – Mount Maunganui
Steamers Management:
Head Coach: Clayton McMillan
Assistant Coach: Rodney Gibbs
Assistant Coach: David Hill
Manager: Wayne Brill
Strength and Conditioning Trainer: Brad Mayo
Physiotherapist: Damian Banks
Assistant Physiotherapist: Corey Stunell
Doctor: Turuki Tahuri
Video Analyst: Mark Roberts
*Denotes Steamers debut
() Denotes Steamers caps