Young trio signed by Hurricanes until 2021

The Hurricanes continue to position their squad well for the future by adding three more promising players to their roster for at least the next two seasons.

Lock Liam Mitchell (23), fullback Chase Tiatia (23) and utility back Danny Toala (20) are the latest group to have signed with the club until 2021.

Their decision follows closely on from promising prop Xavier Numia (20), openside flanker Du'Plessis Kirifi (22), and lock James Blackwell (23) also committing to the Hurricanes for the same period with Vince Aso (24) and Alex Fidow (21) signing on until at least the 2022 Investec Super Rugby season.

Tiatia has quickly become an established selection since he was given an opportunity as injury cover following a long period of training with the Hurricanes while Mitchell has also impressed in his rookie season and has appeared in every match to date along with Blackwell.

Toala, meanwhile, has been a real stand-out for the Hurricanes Hunters and Under-20 sides. He was on the cusp of making his Hurricanes debut against the Stormers in March when named on the reserves bench without making it on to the field.

Hurricanes general manager of rugby Ben Castle said it was great news for the Hurricanes to have a real commitment from these talented young men.

"It is really pleasing for the club to announce further signings. These players have great futures ahead and we are delighted they will be part of the Hurricanes family over the next few seasons." he said.

Hurricanes head coach John Plumtree felt the latest group of players would add significantly to the stability of the squad moving ahead.

"We know a lot of players move on during a Rugby World Cup cycle so it is really important to have a group of players who want to establish themselves in the Hurricanes jersey and play a big part in our plans moving forward," he said.

-Hurricanes Rugby

Unbeaten Hurricanes Hunters to face Japan A

The Hurricanes Hunters will have a chance to end their season unbeaten when they meet Japan A in Tokyo on Saturday.

The match is the second time the two sides will meet after the Hunters won their first encounter 52-31 in Porirua last month.

Hunters coach Darren Larsen has made nine changes to his starting XV from the last match.

Hurricanes Super Rugby squad member Peter Umaga-Jensen returns to the run on side after he scored a try off the bench at Jerry Collins Stadium.

He is joined by fellow squad members Alex Fidow, Geoff Cridge, Salesi Rayasi and Heiden Bedwell-Curtis who will captain the side.

Rayasi and No 8 Teariki Ben-Nicholas were two of the stand-out players against the Jamie Joseph coached Japan A side in their first meeting with both men scoring a brace of tries.

The Hunters bench features a number of promising players who have been involved in the Hurricanes development programme at age-group level, including former Wairarapa Bush halfback Isaac Bracewell who started in the Hurricanes Heartland Under-20 side.

"This is a massive opportunity for a large number of players who get the chance to play an international side," Larsen said.

"It also allows them to experience preparing and playing overseas alongside fully fledged professionals."

The Hurricanes Hunters squad to face Japan A is:

15 Ben Werthmuller
14 Mark Telea
13 Pepesana Patafilo
12 Peter Umaga-Jensen
11 Salesi Rayasi
10 Piri Paraone
9 Kemara Hauiti-Parapara
8 Teariki Ben-Nicholas
7 Mateaki Kafatolu
6 Heiden Bedwell-Curtis (c)
5 Geoff Cridge
4 Tom Parsons
3 Alex Fidow
2 James O'Reilly
1 Sitiveni Paongo

Reserves

16 Tyrone Thompson
17 Tim Farrell
18 Tietie Tuimauga
19 Veikoso Poloniati
20 Caleb Delaney
21 Shamus Hurley-Langton
22 Isaac Bracewell
23 Kienan Higgins
24 Ollie Sapsford
25 Aki Makita

Hurricanes partner with Ricoh Black Rams

The Hurricanes are excited to announce a three-year partnership with leading Japanese club Ricoh Black Rams.

A long-time supporter and partner of the Hurricanes, Ricoh have extended that partnership in an agreement that is set to benefit both clubs.

The partnership, which has recently commenced, will see players, coaches and high performance staff from Ricoh Black Rams spend time in the Hurricanes environment throughout the term, including while the Investec Super Rugby tournament is being played.

On certain occasions, high performance staff from the Hurricanes will also travel to Tokyo to work with the Black Rams as they prepare and play in the Japan Top League.

The partnership has already been put into practice this week with the Hurricanes training at Ricoh as they prepare to face the Sunwolves in Good Friday's Super Rugby match at Chichibunomiya Stadium.

Hurricanes chief executive Avan Lee, who is in Japan, believed the partnership was an exciting step forward for the two clubs.

"We have had a strong commercial partnership with Ricoh New Zealand and we are delighted to formalise this agreement which will benefit the Hurricanes and the Ricoh Black Rams in Japan," he said.

"It's a massive year ahead for rugby in Japan with the Rugby World Cup and we look forward to supporting the Black Rams and growing our presence here."

As well as the Hurricanes playing the Sunwolves, the Hurricanes Hunters will face Japan A in the return leg of their home and away fixtures on Saturday.

The Hunters, who defeated Japan A in Porirua in March, have named Black Rams midfielder Aki Makita in their squad after he spent several weeks training in Wellington with the Hurricanes.

-Hurricanes Rugby

Two changes to Hurricanes side to face Highlanders

Just two changes have been made to the Hurricanes starting XV to face the Highlanders in the round eight Investec Super Rugby match in Dunedin on Friday night.

Hurricanes head coach John Plumtree has named Kane Le'aupepe to start at lock after the 26-year-old impressed off the bench in his first appearance for the club in last week's loss to the Crusaders.

Le'aupepe, who came into the Hurricanes squad as injury cover, replaces Liam Mitchell who moves to the reserves bench following a heavy workload in his first season of Super Rugby.

The other change to the starting side is at centre where Jordie Barrett moves in from the wing with Matt Proctor moving to the bench.

The change means a start on the right wing for Wes Goosen who will make his 30th appearance for the Hurricanes.

The bench stays largely the same with the exception being the reserve halfback's spot with Finlay Christie replacing Richard Judd.

TJ Perenara retains the captaincy with Dane Coles ruled out for a second week with a minor calf injury.

"While we were disappointed with the result against the Crusaders the coaching group still found some positives in how we played, especially the way we performed up front," Plumtree said.

"The challenge for us now is to get the rest of our game to where it needs to be against what will be a really motivated Highlanders team who will be desperate to play well in front of their home fans."
 
Kick-off at Forsyth Barr Stadium is 7.35pm .

The Hurricanes squad to face the Highlanders is: 

15 Chase Tiatia
14 Wes Goosen
13 Jordie Barrett
12 Ngani Laumape
11 Ben Lam
10 Beauden Barrett 
9 TJ Perenara (c)
8 Reed Prinsep
7 Ardie Savea
6 Vaea Fifita
5 Kane Le'aupepe
4 James Blackwell
3 Ben May
2 Ricky Riccitelli
1 Fraser Armstrong

Reserves

16 Asafo Aumua
17 Chris Eves
18 Jeff To'omaga-Allen
19 Isaia Walker-Leawere
20 Liam Mitchell
21 Du'Plessis Kirifi
22 Finlay Christie
23 Matt Proctor

-Hurricanes Rugby

Unbeaten Hurricanes Hunters to face Japan A

The Hurricanes Hunters unbeaten record in 2019 will go on the line for their last two matches when they face Japan A home and away.

The first of those matches kicks off at Porrirua's Jerry Collins Stadium on Friday while the second game is scheduled for Saturday, April 20 in Tokyo.

Six of the Hunters starting XV have played for the Hurricanes in this year's Investec Super Rugby competition.

They include Hurricanes squad member Fletcher Smith who will start at first five-eighth.

Smith will combine in the halves with Finlay Christie while the midfield combination of Danny Toala and Billy Proctor have operated well together when afforded the opportunity.

Up front, there is plenty of experience in the loose forwards with Heiden Bedwell-Curtis and Sam Henwood starting while new Hurricanes recruit Xavier Numia is at loosehead prop.

Hurricanes squad member Peter Umaga-Jensen, who played 30 minutes of Wellington club rugby last week, has been named on the bench.

Kick-off at Jerry Collins Stadium in Porirua is 2pm.

The Hurricanes Hunters squad to face Japan A is:

15 TBC
14 Mark Telea
13 Billy Proctor
12 Danny Toala
11 Salesi Rayasi
10 Fletcher Smith
9 Finlay Christie
8 Teariki Ben-Nicholas
7 Sam Henwood
6 Heiden Bedwell-Curtis 
5 Tom Parsons
4 Veikoso Poloniati
3 Ross Geldenhuys
2 James O'Reilly
1 Xavier Numia

Reserves

16 Kianu Kereru-Symes
17 Sitiveni Paongo
18 Tietie Tuimauga
19 Caleb Delaney
20 Mateaki Kafutolu
21 Kemara Hauti-Parapara
22 Peter Umaga-Jensen
23 Ollie Sapsford

Fifita and Riccitelli to bring up 50th appearances

Hurricanes forwards Vaea Fifita and Ricky Riccitelli will make their 50th appearances for the club in Friday night's New Zealand derby showdown against the two-time defending Super Rugby champion Crusaders.

The pair have been named to start the match at Westpac Stadium in a largely unchanged side from the one which defeated the Stormers last round.

Senior players TJ Perenara and Ngani Laumape return to the Hurricanes starting XV after they missed the Stormers match.

They are the only changes Hurricanes head coach John Plumtree has made although there is one positional shift which sees Jordie Barrett move from the midfield to the right wing in place of Wes Goosen.

Goosen, who really impressed scoring two tries against the Stormers, has been named on the bench.

Riccitelli, who made his debut for the Hurricanes against the Brumbies in 2016, will start after Dane Coles was ruled out with a minor calf injury.

Fifita, who made his debut against the Blues in 2015, has again be named at blindside flanker.

The return of Perenara has seen Richard Judd move on to a reserves bench which features the recall of experienced prop Chris Eves and exciting young loose forward Du'Plessis Kirifi.

Plumtree was really pleased with the character shown against the Stormers.

"The leaders involved in that match really stood up, for the whole week really, and we will need that again in what is a great challenge for us against the Crusaders," he said.

"We expect TJ and Ngani to add a lot to that leadership group and they will also bring a lot of energy. It's a match we are really looking forward to along with our fans who we hope can give us a real advantage."

 
Kick-off at Westpac Stadium is 7.35pm .

The Hurricanes squad to face the Crusaders is: 

15 Chase Tiatia
14 Jordie Barrett
13 Matt Proctor
12 Ngani Laumape
11 Ben Lam
10 Beauden Barrett 
9 TJ Perenara (c)
8 Reed Prinsep
7 Ardie Savea
6 Vaea Fifita
5 Liam Mitchell
4 James Blackwell
3 Ben May
2 Ricky Riccitelli
1 Fraser Armstrong

Reserves

16 Asafo Aumua
17 Chris Eves
18 Jeff To'omaga-Allen
19 Isaia Walker-Leawere
20 Du'Plessis Kirifi
21 Richard Judd
22 Jackson Garden-Bachop
23 Wes Goosen