14/3/2018

2018 Access Solutions Pakuranga United Rugby Club Premiers

Last night the 2018 Access Solutions Pakuranga United Rugby Club Premier team was announced to the players by Premier Manager Ken Johns.

The selection process put in place by Head Coach Chad Hopa started early in November with a 48 man wider Training Squad and finished off last Saturday against Kumeu where the squad played across two trial games. “We would like to thank all players that took part in this trial process. We feel we have selected a great mixture of players with previous premier experience, players from the clubs championship winning Premier Development team of 2017 and some exciting new talent. We look forward to an exciting year ahead and doing the club, our sponsors and ourselves proud” said Hopa. “We know the boys who missed out on this initial selection will be pushing hard to make the team over the year through the Premier Development side, competition is a healthy thing” explained Hopa.

The team features several new comers to the squad and the return to the club of a few as well. NZ Secondary Schools Prop Fatongia Paea and NZ Barbarians outside Back Lemeki Namoa lead the charge of the young new comers to the club with the return of Adam Darracott, Michael McBeath from England and Toma Tia from Manukau Rovers other highlights of the squad.

The team now assembles for its pre-season camp on the weekend at Waipu Cove which Hopa says “is a perfect place to bring a team together as one ready for the tough season ahead”

The Access Solutions PURC Premier Development team Coached by Brendon Molloy are playing in the first round of the Waka Nathan at Waitemata this Saturday at 3pm against College Rifles.

2018 Access Solutions PURC Premiers

Forwards

Adam Darracott
Callum Dimond*
Cruise Tito
David Adams
David Whitecliffe-Davies
Eroni Emosi
Ezra Meleisea
Fatongia Paea*
Iosefa Pita*
Michael McBeath
Jarrod Dimond*
Mafi Lagaaia*
Max East
Samuel Toloke*
Sanele Williams*
Timote Militoni
TJ Meleisea*
Toma Tia*

Backs

Cameron James*
Chris Swain
Desmond Spooner
Fea Puamoto*
George Emosi
Hawaii Ahokovi
Ian Vermeulen*
Lemeki Namoa*
Niukula Osika*
Robert Taupau*
Rupert Van der Pol
Samuel Shearer
William Rew

*denotes new cap

On international duties and will join the team once commitments have finished:
George Taina* (Tonga A), Jerry Samania (Spain) and John Akauola-Laula (NZ U 20’s)

In Blues Squad
Dalton Papalii and TJ Faiane

Head Coach- Chad Hopa
Forwards Coach- Nick Evans
S&C/Defence/TA Forwards- Scott Palmer
TA Backs- Tony Alatini
Manager- Ken Johns
Assistant Manager- JP Potgieter
Physio- Alistair Burgess

For more details on the squad please contact Chad Hopa 021 149 9595 who can take calls after 5pm this evening.