Rugby Director Pita Alatini is pleased to announce the players that have made the Pakuranga United Puma Development team for their trip to Bangkok to play in the Bangkok 10’s from the 28th February to the 1st March. The Board has put in place this Tour as an important recruitment and retention tool to ensure the development of Pakuranga Rugby and it is intended to have a tour like this annually to give players in our area something to strive for in their rugby be they an up and coming youngster or a wily old veteran. The Tour shall be led by Premier Manager Ken Johns with Rugby Director Pita Alatini to Coach the side.

The side sees the return to the club of former U21 Championship Captain Jordan Payne who has returned from stints playing with Waikato, The Chiefs, NEC Green Rockets (in Japan) and most recently the Cornish Pirates in England. Another new comer to the club and one to watch in 2020 is young Memphis Ngaruhe who has come to the club from Northland were he was in the Emerging Taniwia squad in 2019. Memphis is a young 10 who the club is looking to nurture in 2020. Three of our 2019 U20 side Sam Beere, Carter Hackett and Sione Takai take their 1st steps into the Puma programme and they are joined by some seasoned Premiers players Desmond Spooner, George Taina, Sam Shearer and led by the grand daddy of them all Timote Militoni who has been with the club for well over a decade.  

The full squad is: Michaile Van Wyk, Gerald Van Wyk, Jerry Samania, George Taina, Memphis Ngaruhe, Sam Beere, Mathew Gorrie, Callum Dimond, Will Rew, Carter Hackett, Byron Thomas, Des Spooner, Jordan Payne, Hawaii Ahokovi, Sione  Takai, Sam Shearer & Timote Militoni.

Article added: Friday 24 January 2020