The Hurricanes have named a stacked side for their first DHL Super Rugby Pacific (SRP) outing for 2024 against the Western Force in Perth this Saturday morning (12am NZDT).
The team includes exciting young halfback Jordi Viljoen, who is set to make his SRP debut starting in the number nine jersey. All Blacks halfback Cam Roigard returns to the side off the bench after missing the Hurricanes two preseason matches due to a minor injury.
With regular captain Brad Shields ruled out of this match, Asafo Aumua and Jordie Barrett have been named as co-captains.
Starting in the Front Row are Xavier Numia, Aumua, and Pasilio Tosi. They will be joined by Caleb Delany and Isaia Walker-Leawere in the Second Row; with Devan Flanders, Du’Plessis Kirifi, and Peter Lakai rounding out the loose Forwards.
Halfback Viljoen will be partnered by Brett Cameron at First-Five.
All Black Jordie Barrett and Billy Proctor will form an experienced midfield; while Kini Naholo, Josh Moorby, and Ruben Love will bring a lot of power and pace to the backline.
Hurricanes Head Coach Clark Laidlaw said settling on a starting XV after their two preseason hit outs wasn't easy but is excited with the side they have put together heading into their match against the Force.
“There were some tight selection decisions for the coaches in the end, but we’re really happy with the team that will run out in Round One,” Laidlaw said.
“This is the first game of the competition, so we’re excited to see the starting group run out, but more importantly it’s going to take 23 players to get the job done. We’ve got a lot of respect for the Force and we’re under no illusions around how good of a performance we’re going to have to put out on the field to come away with a win. It’s going to take a squad effort to get the performance we’re after.”
The match against the Force will also see Billy Proctor achieve a major milestone with the classy centre set to play his 50th game for the club – a milestone his brother and former Hurricane midfielder Matt Proctor also achieved.
Proctor said, “It’s a massive honour to play 50 games for the Hurricanes. It’s the team I grew up watching and it was always my dream to play just one game for the Hurricanes. But to be able to bring up 50 games this weekend and join my brother in the 50 club is something pretty special.”
The Hurricanes match against the Western Force kicks off at 12.00am NZDT on Saturday morning, 24 February; (7.00pm local time, Friday 23 February), at HBF Park in Perth.
Hurricanes SRP Round One team to play Western Force
- Xavier Numia
- Asafo Aumua (cc)
- Pasilio Tosi
- Caleb Delany
- Isaia Walker-Leawere
- Devan Flanders
- Du’Plessis Kirifi
- Peter Lakai
- Jordi Viljoen (Debut)
- Brett Cameron
- Kini Naholo
- Jordie Barrett (cc)
- Billy Proctor (50th game)
- Josh Moorby
- Ruben Love
Replacements
- James O’Reilly
- Pouri Rakete-Stones
- Tyrel Lomax
- Justin Sangster
- Brayden Iose
- Cam Roigard
- Riley Higgins
- Salesi Rayasi