Ranfurly Shield challengers name squad

The Mid-Canterbury rugby squad to challenge for the Ranfurly Shield on home turf have been named.

Mid Canterbury co-coaches Craig Dunlea and James Jowsey have picked a 24-man squad for the August 4 showdown with holders Canterbury at the Ashburton Showgrounds, and have belief that their boys can do it.

‘‘If you’re not in it, you can’t win it,’’ Dunlea said. ‘‘We’ve got quite an exciting squad and I feel as long as we keep belief in ourselves we can do it. Canterbury are quite a young side so we want to put as much pressure on as we can.’’

The Mid-Canterbury squad features some potential debutants, including Rakaia duo Tom Hanhan-Carter and Tom Heywood. Heywood was a member of the New Zealand Under-19 Heartland squad last year, while Hanham-Carter has been instrumental at first-five at club level this year and on target with his goal kicking.

A loan player at first-five last year, Jared Percival is now in the squad as a local, having started the season for Old Boys in Christchurch and finishing it for Celtic in Ashburton. It will be the first Ranfurly Shield challenge in Ashburton since 2002. Mid Canterbury will play Southland in Waikouaiti on Saturday as a dress rehearsal.