University

Last year: Joint champions

Coach: Pete McIntyre (second year), assistant Roy Hawker

Squad. —

Forwards: Ben Reidy, Angus Williams, Ben Smith, Callum Hardie, Dale Jarden, Gus McPherson, Hadleigh Morgan, Henry Bell, Jack McHugh (captain), James Bolton, Josh Hill, Josh Policarpio, Kilipati Lea, Mamea Taimalie, Matt Shirley, Ricky Jackson, Sam Dickson, Sean Withy, Travis Egerton, Trent Freeman.

Backs: Andrew Smylie, Brandon Maitland, Calvin Vari, Cam Gerlach, Cam McClea, Chris Johnston, Connor McLeod, Devin Lawson, Emeka Ilogu, Graham Urquhart, JP Lawson, Ama Anderson, Kieran McClea, Kody Edwards, Mike Williams, Nathan Giles, Patrick Atkinson, Taylor Haugh, Tyler Beary.

The students have retained the bulk of their side from last year, and should be right in the fight.

University led the competition for the whole season last year, and then shared the final after it and Harbour could not be separated after extra time, with the scores locked at 3030.

Coaching team Pete McIntyre and Roy Hawker return and will want to win the title outright. The side is just going to be taking it one game at a time and aiming to peak for the business end of the season.

Josh Timu has signed for the Sunwolves, while key forwards Josh Hill and Sam Dickson are trialling for the NZ under20 side. Should they make it they will be away for the bulk of the season.

Props Callum Hardie and Angus Williams are back, as is Kilipati Lea. Henry Bell — who played on the flank for University Colts and John McGlashan College — has decided to move to hooker and will be one to watch with interest.

Big lock Ben Reidy is back, and so is the experienced Dale Jarden. Jack McHugh will captain the side again and flanker Sean Withy has made the premier squad, straight out of Southland Boys’ High School.

The backs are much the same as last year, apart from the departure of winger Gavin Stark, who has gone to Bay of Plenty. Welshman Patrick Atkinson has landed in

Dunedin and will duel for the first fiveeighth position. Taylor Haugh and Calvin Vari will again be key men, while Mike Williams will want to keep improving. Halfback Graham Urquhart will be pushing others.