Set of six to make Wellington Lions debuts
Six players could make their Wellington debut against the Manawatu Turbos, but the team named by Lions head coach Chris Gibbes for the opening round of the Mitre 10 Cup won't lack for experience.
Fullback Trent Renata, second five Regan Verney, wing Ben Lam and openside Du'Plessis Kirifi have been named to start in Palmerston North on Sunday, while halfback Kemara Hauiti-Parapara and loose forward Teariki Ben-Nicholas are in the reserves.
Of the four Lions debutants name to start, only Old Boys University bolter Verney and 20-year-old Waikato recruit Kirifi can be classed as Mitre 10 Cup rookies.
Renata has 66 matches for Waikato and several seasons of Super Rugby under his belt, while former Auckland representative Ben Lam is a current Hurricane, who has also played for the Blues.
Even Verney, 24-years-old and in just his second season of rugby union, has plenty of experience after spending years cutting teeth in Australian rugby league at the level just below the NRL.
"It is a new-look squad, but there is a lot of experience in the group," Gibbes said. "There are eight current Super Rugby players and a lot of rugby knowledge in the leadership group. The guys are excited to get out there and get the season started."
The Lions squad features seven members of the 2017 Hurricanes team in captain Brad Shields, wings Julian Savea and Lam, centre Wes Goosen, locks Sam Lousi and James Blackwell, and reserve halfback Kemara Hauiti-Parapara. First-five Jackson Garden-Bachop played for the Melbourne Rebels.
Hauiti-Parapara, who played for the Hurricanes against the British & Irish Lions earlier this year, is set to achieve the rare feat of making his provincial debut after his Hurricanes debut.
He is one of four members of the 2017 New Zealand Under-20s squad in the Wellington line up along with hooker Asafo Aumua, prop Alex Fidow and reserve lock Isaia Walker-Leawere.
The other Lions rookie the squad is Old Boys University loose forward Ben-Nicholas, himself a former New Zealand Under-20s representative.
Wellington and Manawatu both play in the Championship division of the Mitre 10 Cup along with Hawke's Bay, Otago, Bay of Plenty, Southland and Northland.
Manawatu beat Wellington 50-28 in Palmerston North last time the two unions played each other, in 2016.
Sunday's match kicks off at 4.35pm and will be refereed by Shuhei Kubo.
The Wellington Lions team to play the Manawatu Turbos at Central Energy Trust Arena on Sunday, August 20 is:
