Nareki maintains spot
Two join Super Rugby
JONA Nareki’s impressive performance this season has made him retain his wing position as Josh Ioane has forced his way back into the Highlanders’ starting XV on the back of an outstanding 30 minutes in the Highlanders’ loss to the Chiefs last Saturday.
Head coach Tony Brown has handed Ioane the No 15 jersey in one of several changes to the 23-man squad following a disappointing performance in Dunedin.
However, the Highlanders’ injury curse has struck yet again, with the impressive Connor Garden-Bachop ruled out for the rest of the season with a broken wrist.
Garden-Bachop picked up the injury against the Chiefs, bringing a disappointing end to the wing/ fullback’s strong campaign.
The Highlanders now have Folau Fakatava, Vili Koroi (Sevens), Freedom Vahaakolo, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Fetuli Paea, Garden-Bachop and Solomon Alaimalo (personal reasons) missing from their backline.
Highlanders: Josh Ioane, Ngantungane Punivai, Sio Tomkinson, Scott Gregory, Jona Nareki, Mitch Hunt, Aaron Smith (cc), Kazuki Himeno, Billy Harmon, Shannon Frizell, Josh Dickson, Bryn Evans, Siate Tokolahi, Ash Dixon (cc), Ayden Johnstone.
Reserves: Liam Coltman, Ethan de Groot, Josh Hohneck, Manaaki SelbyRickit, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Kayne Hammington, Michael Collins, James Lentjes
MELBOURNE - Pacific islands teams Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua have been granted conditional licences to join a proposed Super Rugby competition next year, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) said on Wednesday.
The NZR board’s decision is a major step toward the teams joining New Zealand and Australian Super Rugby sides in a new tournament in 2022.
NZR said the Pacific teams’ participation was conditional on their final business plans and Rugby Australia’s support.
“We are moving into the final phase of planning for 2022 and beyond, and we have confidence that Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua will be able to meet the conditions of the licence, which includes final sign off on a sustainable business plan by June 30,” NZR Chief Executive Mark Robinson said in a statement. “In the next two months we will be working with Rugby Australia and the two Pasifika teams to formalise their place in the new competition for what we believe will kick off an exciting, new era for the professional game.”
Rugby Australia said it was “encouraged” by the NZR announcement.
“We look forward to continuing our engagement with NZR on this process as we plan towards 2022,” RA Chief Executive Andy Marinos said in a separate statement.
“Once further conditions around the licences have been met, we look forward to formalising the composition of the teams in what will hopefully prove a new dawn for rugby in the region.”
Fijian Drua, launched in 2017, compete in the lower tier Australian National Rugby Championship and won the title in 2018. An invitational Moana Pasifika squad were beaten 28-21 by the Maori All Blacks in a one-off match last year.