Curtis ups Manawatu’s representation
Ambrose Curtis’ call up to the Blues pre-season training squad opens the door for Manawatu to potentially have a player at all five Kiwi Super Rugby franchises in 2017.
If Curtis can get on the field for the Auckland-based team, it will be the first time the province has achieved the feat.
In the past two seasons, Manawatu has had players at four of the five franchises, with no-one at the Crusaders in 2015 and the Blues in 2016.
New sevens strip
Both Manawatu’s men’s and women’s sevens teams will be running around in a new strip this year
The new jerseys were designed by Manawatu and New Zealand star Selica Winiata.
The new uniform debuted at the Central region tournament at Levin on the weekend.
Touring cricketers
A touring Indian cricket team will play three cricket matches in Palmerston North this week.
Players from the Indian Twenty20 Cricket Federation’s Cricket Academy in Punjab will be playing a 40-over match and two Twenty20 games on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday against a Manawatu XI at Fitzherbert Park.
The Indian team is captained by Ishan Malhotra, who has played for Indian Premier League teams the Mumbai Indians and Deccan Chargers.
They will train with former Black Cap Jacob Oram.
Rough year for golfers
Marton’s Lachie Mcdonald was the best of Manawatu’s trio of rookie professionals on the Australasian PGA Tour in 2016.
Mcdonald finished 79th on the final order of merit standings with earnings over $17,000 for the year.
It didn’t get him a 2017 tour card, but puts him through to the final round of Q-school in January. Manawatu’s Josh Munn finished the tour 103rd, while Levin’s Tyler Hodge was 123rd.