New Zealand Maori Squad Named.....

New Zealand Maori coaches Donny Stevenson and Shane Howarth today announced the New Zealand Maori squad for the 2007 Churchill Cup tournament in England. The squad is (province and iwi):

Callum Bruce - Otago, Ngati Kahungunu
Keith Cameron* - Otago, Te Whanau Apanui
Aled de Malmanche* - Waikato, Tainui
Tamati Ellison - Wellington, Ngati Porou
Hosea Gear - Wellington, Ngati Porou
Brendan Haami - Taranaki, Te Ati Awa
Glen Horton* - Otago, Tuwharetoa
Jason Kawau* - Southland, Ngati Apa
Tanerau Latimer - Bay of Plenty, Ngai Te Rangi
Angus Macdonald - Auckland, Ngapuhi
Luke Mahoney - Wellington, Te Ati Awa
Ben May* - Tasman, Tuhoe
Liam Messam - Waikato, Ngai Tuhoe
Kristian Ormsby - Counties Manukau, Ngati Maniapoto
Shannon Paku - Wellington, Ngai Tuhoe
Isaac Ross* - Canterbury, Kai Tahu
Chris Smylie - Otago, Ngati Mutunga
Warren Smith - Bay of Plenty, Ngati Kahungunu
Dwayne Sweeney* - Waikato, Tainui
Anthony Tahana - Bay of Plenty, Te Arawa
Pehi Te Whare - Southland, Ngati Maniapoto
Hayden Triggs* - Manawatu, Ngati Kahungunu
Rua Tipoki (captain) - Canterbury, Te Whanau Apanui
Hoani Tui* - Wellington, Ngati Apa
Scott Waldrom - Taranaki, Ngati Porou
Craig West* - Waikato, Ngati Apakura

* Denotes new cap

A total of 10 new players have been included in the squad for the tournament, which will be held from 18 May – 2 June.

New Zealand Maori coach Donny Stevenson said the squad was well-balanced with a good mix of experienced players and newcomers.

“This is the beauty of this team - we are able to give young players the opportunity to play international rugby. A couple of the new players came to our attention during last year’s Air New Zealand Cup, which highlights the importance and value of this domestic competition,” Stevenson said.

The Churchill Cup tournament has previously been held in North America but will this year be staged in England.

“There is an air of excitement about the change of venue. This is new territory for us but that is the exciting challenge. We hope that the strong expat Kiwi community in the UK will come out and support us,” Stevenson added.

It will be the first time since 1998 that New Zealand Maori will play in the United Kingdom after playing matches in Scotland that year.

adidas Head of Rugby Nick Drake said the apparel supplier was delighted that one of New Zealand’s most iconic rugby teams would be in action in England.

“This will be a fantastic opportunity to see one of the world’s most exciting teams playing in England. New Zealand Maori are more than just a rugby team – they represent one of the unique cultures of New Zealand's society and we are proud to be associated with the team. We wish them the very best of luck in defending the Churchill Cup,” Drake said.

TV3 will televise New Zealand Maori pool matches and the final live.

Churchill Cup tournament (kick off times local)
Friday 25 May: New Zealand Maori v Canada, Northampton at 8.00pm
Tuesday 29 May: New Zealand Maori v Ireland A, Exeter at 8.00pm
Saturday 2 June: Churchill Cup finals day, Twickenham