The Hurricanes have named their team for their season-opening Super Rugby Pacific match against Moana Pasifika at Sky Stadium, Wellington on Friday, proudly delivered by Fiso Group.<\/p>\n
The side features three new caps, including a starting debut for Japan captain Warner Dearns.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He is set to be accompanied in making his maiden Hurricanes appearance by loose forward Arese Poliko and wider training group utility forward Matolu Petaia, both of whom have been named on the bench.<\/p>\n
The soon-to-be-capped trio headlines this week\u2019s lineup, which includes Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua, and Siale Lauaki in the front row.<\/p>\n
Hugo Plummer partners Dearns in the second row, while All Blacks loose forward Peter Lakai will play his first match of the year after being named at openside flanker in a back row that has Devan Flanders at blindside flanker and Brayden Iose at No 8.<\/p>\n
In the backline, Ereatara Enari and Brett Cameron start at halfback and first-five, respectively.<\/p>\n
Jordie Barrett captains the side from second-five, and Josh Moorby has been named at right wing, in what will be the first Hurricanes match for both players since 2024.<\/p>\n
Barrett joins centre Bailyn Sullivan in the midfield, and Moorby forms a back three with left wing Fehi Fineanganofo and fullback Callum Harkin.<\/p>\n
On the bench, Poliko and Petaia are named alongside All Blacks pair Cam Roigard and Billy Proctor, both of whom are in line for their first matches of the year.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Brad Shields has recovered from a finger injury to earn a spot in the reserves, while Jacob Devery, Pouri Rakete-Stones, and Tevita Mafileo will provide cover for the front row.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an exciting week to name our first team for our first home game of the year,\u201d Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter having to sit and watch the competition last week, it\u2019s exciting to finally get a chance play live in front of our home supporters.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a huge crowd against Moana last year, so hopefully we can create that again and put in a performance that gets our fans excited and gets them coming back for the rest of the season.\u201d<\/p>\n
Born in Wellington and raised in Hawke\u2019s Bay, Dearns is primed to play his first official Hurricanes match since it was announced that he would join the club from reigning Japanese champions Toshiba Brave Lupus on a season-long sabbatical deal last June.<\/p>\n
Capable of covering every position across the back row, Poliko\u2019s imminent debut comes in his second season with the Hurricanes.<\/p>\n
His selection caps a unique journey to Super Rugby Pacific. Born in Australia, Poliko moved to Samoa at 12 and grew up playing football. He didn\u2019t play rugby until he was 15, before earning a rugby scholarship to Menzies College in Southland at 16.<\/p>\n
Petaia, meanwhile, is expected to make his Super Rugby Pacific debut after he was picked by the Hurricanes in last year\u2019s wider training group draft.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The 21-year-old is capable of playing lock, blindside flanker, and No 8, and has two seasons of NPC experience with Wellington.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe debutants are all a bit different. Warner has just arrived and is an exciting addition to the squad. He\u2019s fitted in really well and we\u2019re excited to get him into the competition and start growing his game,\u201d Laidlaw said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMatolu\u2019s come in from the wider training group probably earlier than he expected, but with a few niggles up front, he gets his chance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been really impressed by his work ethic and his physicality through the pre-season, so he gets an opportunity off the bench.<\/p>\n
\u201cArese was here all of last year. He\u2019s had to show some real patience, but I think the whole team can\u2019t wait to watch him play.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a really good guy on and off the field, he\u2019s had a strong two NPCs behind him with Taranaki, and we expect him to come on and make an impact.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAll three of them have had slightly different routes to get on the field, but we\u2019re all really looking forward to watching them make their debuts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kick-off for Friday\u2019s match at Sky Stadium is scheduled for 7:05pm, with doors open from 5:30pm,\u00a0and is proudly brought to you by Fiso Group.<\/p>\n
Based in Wellington, Fiso Investment Group focuses on strategic investments and commercial operations across a range of industries, including health and wellness, education, hospitality, and property development.<\/p>\n
They have worked with many companies that are well-known in the Hurricanes region, including Whitby Collegiate, Bodyhaven, Fiso Engineering and Aerospace, Pacific Health Plus, and more.<\/p>\n
The Hurricanes are excited to have them on as our official match day sponsor for our first match of the Super Rugby Pacific season.<\/p>\n
The Hurricanes are also excited to have New Zealand music legend, Frankie Stevens, as MC for Friday\u2019s match, and Porirua all-girl pop group A.R.T performing at half-time alongside Tautua Dance Academy.<\/p>\n