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The four leaders of Super Rugby Aupiki which starts this weekend PHOTOl ACTION PRESS\/NZR<\/p>\n
Rugby Aupiki returns with double-defending champions the Blues the leading contender again but there’s plenty of competition from Hurricanes Poua plus previous winners the Chiefs Manawa and Matat\u016b. <\/p>\n
Satuirday 13 June, 2:05 pm<\/p>\n
Referee: Erin Doherty (2nd Aupiki Match)<\/p>\n
The Blues are stacked with 10 current or former Black Ferns in their starting XV and another four on the bench. Captain Maiakawanakaulani Roos hasn\u2019t missed a minute of Aupiki and locks the scrum with Maama Vaipulu, who was in form during the Black Ferns Pacific Four series win in April.<\/p>\n
The loose forwards are headlined by world-class Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, with 2025 breakout Taufa Bason aiming to continue her momentum. Amarante Sititi, sister of All Black Wallace Sititi, approaches the game with similar vigour. Former Black Fern Tafito Lafaele returns after a stint in the NRLW.<\/p>\n
Outstanding Black Ferns Ruahei Demant, Sylvia Brunt and Braxton Sorensen-McGee are now joined by Mererangi Paul. Paul was the Black Ferns’ leading try scorer in the Pacific Four and has moved from Chiefs Manawa.<\/p>\n
The Blues’ overall Aupiki record is 15 wins and 8 defeats, with 12 victories in the past two seasons. In 2025, they won both matches against the Poua 50-10 and 49-26. In the first win, former Black Ferns front rower Grace Gago, who will come off the bench for the Blues, scored two tries.<\/p>\n
Blues coach Willie Walker feels that hard work to grow the game is paying dividends.<\/p>\n
\u201cA few seasons ago, we had a big focus on growing our base and talent from our region and it\u2019s been great to see those players now go on to higher honours and still be a part of our group.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Poua\u2019s last competition win against the Blues was in 2023, but they won a pre-season joust in inclement weather in Heretaunga 26-14.<\/p>\n
Mo\u2019omo\u2019oga Ona Palu, Te Rauoriwa Gapper, Lily Murray-Wihongi and Kokako Raki scored tries in a hearty display. All four players feature on Saturday, with Black Fern Palu, a 2023 championship winner from Matat\u016b, bolstering the Poua scrum. <\/p>\n
Gapper has won four Farah Palmer Cup Premierships with Canterbury. The 34-year-old slots in at second five-eighth as co-captain alongside Black Ferns XV lock or flanker Samantaha Taylor, 23.<\/p>\n
After two seasons without a win, the Poua have a new remit under new coach M\u0101ori All Black Hayden Triggs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy coach this team? It\u2019s a great challenge, a chance to grow my own pedagogy, but, more importantly, to bring new energy and new ideas and make a difference. The performances over the past two seasons aren\u2019t good enough. There are many reasons for that. We\u2019ve reviewed them and will learn from them. There is a huge desire and intent to be better.\u201d <\/p>\n
In an attempt to shake things up, the Hurricanes have selected Black Ferns fullback and new recruit Renee Holmes at first-five, while Iritana Hohaia shifts from halfback to fullback, a position she has played for Taranaki. <\/p>\n
Halfback Molly Scuffil McCabe, who has played for Ireland, tackling machines Greer Muir and Neve Anglesey, and Black Fern Ayesha Leti-I\u2019iga, who has scored 202 tries in 82 games for her club Ories, are ones to watch.<\/p>\n
One New Zealand Stadium, Christchurch::<\/p>\n
Saturday 13 June, 4:05 pm<\/p>\n
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (13th Aupiki Match)<\/p>\n
Chiefs Manawa beat Matat\u016b 17-15 in the first Aupiki match on March 10, 2022, in Hamilton. The closeness of that tussle has fuelled their rivalry, with Manawa leading 4-3 and six matches decided by eight points or fewer.<\/p>\n
A key clash in the scrum will be between new Black Ferns Veisina Matutariki-Fakalelu (tighthead Manawa) and Matat\u016b loosehead Maddi Robinson. Robinson won Aupiki with the Blues in 2024 and has 12 wins in 15 games for Canterbury. Matutariki-Fakalelu had a barnstorming 2025 Aupiki campaign, ranking in the top ten for carries and offloads.<\/p>\n
The Chiefs’ scrum and lineouts have historically been powerful. They\u2019ll use both as weapons for strike attacks and piggyback penalties. Fijian international Jade Coates, <\/p>\n
Black Ferns blindside Mia Anderson, and Bay of Plenty Jessie Wharekura are key performers here, along with Black Ferns co-captain Kennedy Tukuafu and three-time Waikato FPC winner Chyna Hohepa.<\/p>\n
Matat\u016b should hold their own up front. Watch for the 2023 top tackler and Black Fern Lucy Jenkins, Black Ferns Player of the Year 2024 Kaipo Olsen-Baker, and lock Paris Lokotui making her debut after winning the ANZ championship with the Central Pulse.<\/p>\n
Manawa\u2019s backline is comparatively green compared to the hosts’. Carys Dallinger runs the cutter after playing for Australia. Lela Ieremia has scored 15 tries and enjoyed 19 wins with Waikato. <\/p>\n
Matat\u016b\u2019s backline boasts the well-established midfield combination of Amy Du Plessis and Grace Brooker, back to captain after her stint in AFLW.<\/p>\n
Coach Mia Anderson feels there’s plenty to play for. <\/p>\n
“The Manawa and Matat\u016b rivalry is intense. We are quite different culturally and in the way we play. There\u2019s a lot of respect there. The Blues have the most Black Ferns and experience of winning Aupiki. They\u2019re the team to beat. We’re working hard to create an exciting game plan and culture that works for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
nib Blues Team \u2013 Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Round 1<\/p>\n
1. Cilia-Marie Po\u2019e-Tofaeono<\/p>\n
4. Maiakawanakaulani Roos<\/p>\n
6. Amarante Sititi (debut)<\/p>\n
8. Liana Mikaele-Tu\u2019u (20th game)<\/p>\n
11. Sariyah Paitai (debut)<\/p>\n
12. Hollyrae Mete-Renata (debut)<\/p>\n
14. Mererangi Paul (debut)<\/p>\n
15. Braxton Sorensen-McGee<\/p>\n
Reserves: 16. Grace Gago (20th game), 17. Nijiho Nagata, 18. Harono Te Iringa, 19. Eloise Blackwell, 20. Tafito Lafaele, 21. Danny-Elle Fesolai (debut), 22. Ffion Penney (debut), 23. Hazel Tubic (debut)<\/p>\n
Hurricanes Poua Team \u2013 Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Round 1 <\/p>\n
4. Brianna Wallace (debut)<\/p>\n
6. Sam Taylor (10) \u2013 co-captain<\/p>\n
9. Molly Scuffil-McCabe (debut)<\/p>\n
11. Ayesha Leti-I\u2019iga (12)<\/p>\n
12. Te Rauoriwa Gapper (8) \u2013 co-captain<\/p>\n
14. Wikitoria Viljoen (debut)<\/p>\n
Reserves: 16. Keiana Roffey (debut), 17. Ngano Tavake (7), 18. Faythe Finau (debut), 19. Lily Murray-Wihongi (debut), 20. Anahera Hamahona (debut), 21. Fia Laikong (3), 22. Kokako Raki (debut), 23 Arene Landon-Lane (1)<\/p>\n
Matat\u016b Team \u2013 Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Round 1<\/p>\n
Matat\u016b team – Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Round 1 <\/p>\n
Reserves: 16. Holly Greenway, 17. Marcelle Parkes, 18. Wikitoria Rogers** , 19. Sophie Kerr** , 20. Sarah Jones, 21. Kelsyn McCook, 22. Charntay Poko, 23. Charlotte Va’afusuaga <\/p>\n
Chiefs Manawa Team \u2013 Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Round 1`<\/p>\n
3. Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu<\/p>\n
13. Shoshanah Seumanutafa<\/p>\n
Reserves: 16. Nicole Purdom*, 17. Amber Mundell*, 18. Lonita Ngalu*, 19. Leata Puni-Lio, 20. Olivia Holten*, 21. Tynealle Fitzgerald, 22. Madison Flutey*, 23. Reese Anderson<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The four leaders of Super Rugby Aupiki which starts this weekend PHOTOl ACTION PRESS\/NZR Rugby Aupiki returns with…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":730004,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[567],"tags":[64,63,760,85],"class_list":["post-730003","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-rugby","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-rugby","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/730003","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=730003"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/730003\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/730004"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=730003"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=730003"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=730003"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}