Initial 2014 ITM Cup Squad Announced
Waikato has named a squad of 31 players for the 2014 ITM Cup season.
Halfback Brad Weber has been named as the Waikato captain for 2014 in a squad that features 13 uncapped players.
One more player is to be added to the squad with another five to be included in a wider training group at a later date.
There are six new caps among the forwards including Joe Walsh, Jacob Skeen and James Tucker, while locks Luke Katene and David Morgan, both returning to the province, are named in a Waikato squad for the first time.
Experienced prop James McGougan has also been added and Josh Hohneck returns after last appearing for Waikato in 2008.
In the backs there are seven new faces including recent signings Jordan Payne and Albert Nikoro, while Declan O’Donnell returns after missing 2013 with injury.
Others backs selected for the first time are Troy Lobendahn, Harrison Levien, Damian McKenzie, Anton Lienert-Brown and Regan Ware.
Waikato All Blacks Liam Messam and Tawera Kerr-Barlow are expected to unavailable for the duration of the ITM Cup season due to their international commitments.
“We are pleased to be able to name this squad early to give us the best lead in possible for the 2014 ITM Cup,” Waikato head coach Johnny Walters said.
“I am looking forward to getting this group together and working hard over the next couple of months so we hit the season running.”
Waikato’s pre season consists of three matches – versus North Harbour at Raglan (July 30), versus Taranaki at Hamilton (August 2) and versus Hawke’s Bay at Napier (August 9), before kicking off their ITM Cup campaign away to Wellington on August 16.
Initial 2014 Waikato ITM Cup Squad:
FORWARDS:
Adam Burn (Hamilton Old Boys)
Whetu Douglas (University)
Hame Faiva (University)
Josh Hohneck (Fraser Tech)
Zak Hohneck (Otorohanga)
Marty Holah (Hamilton Marist)
Zane Kapeli (Hamilton Marist)
Luke Katene (Hautapu)
James McGougan (Hamilton Old Boys)
Brayden Mitchell (Morrinsville Sports)
David Morgan (University)
Nick Ross (Hamilton Old Boys)
Jacob Skeen (University)
Ben Tameifuna (Hamilton Old Boys)
James Tucker (Hamilton Marist)
Josh Tyrell (Hamilton Marist)
Loni Uhila (Hamilton Marist)
Joe Walsh (University)
BACKS:
Dylan Collier (Otorohanga)
Wharenui Hawera (Hamilton Marist)
Harrison Levien (Hamilton Marist)
Anton Lienert-Brown (University)
Troy Lobendahn (Fraser Tech)
Semisi Masirewa (Morrinsville Sports)
Damian McKenzie (University)
Albert Nikoro (Te Awamutu Sports)
Declan O’Donnell (Hamilton Old Boys)
Jordan Payne (Hamilton Marist)
Regan Ware (Hamilton Old Boys)
Joe Webber (Hamilton Marist)
Brad Weber [captain] (Morrinsville Sports)
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