North Otago squad named for challenge

NORTH Otago has named a large squad to begin preparations for the Ranfurly Shield challenge next month.

The 37player squad will start training tomorrow night.

The defending Meads Cup champion has been given a challenge by Ranfurly Shield holder Hawke’s Bay in Napier on June 30.

As part of the preparations for the challenge, North Otago will take on King Country in Oamaru on June 5.

No club rugby will be played in North Otago that weekend as it is Queen’s Birthday weekend.

King Country is undertaking a tour of the South Island.

It was struggling to find teams to play, but North Otago is keen for the game.

North Otago coach Jason Forrest said he had been pleased with the standard of club play so far this season.

Some good young players were coming through and games were by and large quite close.

The first round of the competition has just finished and the next round starts on Saturday.

North Otago challenged Canterbury for the shield last season and lost 717.

North Otago won the Heartland Championship in 2019.

It was not played last year because of the Covid19 pandemic.

Forrest said there was no intention to use imported players for the shield challenge.

When games were played against the other Hanan Shield unions last season, it had been a good experience for young players. Imported players may be used later in the season.

There was still some experience in the side with Sam Sturgess and Marcus Balchin named while veteran back Lemi Masoe was keen to play. Former captain prop Ralph Darling was still deciding whether to play at the representative level.

No captain has been named for the squad.