Northern | US

Eight debutants to feature in Matatu and Hurricanes Poua clash

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 3: Alena Saili of New Zealand runs with the ball tackled by Isabella Nasser of Australia in the final of the HSBC SVNS rugby tournament on December 3, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Martin Dokoupil/Getty Images)
Comments
Comment

Eight debutants are set to take the field in Upper Hutt on Sunday when the Hurricanes Poua host their first home game of the season against Matatu.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Wellington-based club, whose squad was given a major refresh coming into the 2026 season with nearly 20 new faces, fell to a 7-42 defeat to the Blues in round 1 and has named five debutants this week, three of whom are set to start.

Tegan Willocks, who played for Matatu last season, will start at hooker, joined by Canadian prop Brooke Rempel in the starting front row, who will also make her debut for the club. Former Chiefs Manawa flanker Keelah Bodle will start in her Poua debut at openside, with Litia Bulicakau and Hinemaringi Scott earning potential debuts off the bench.

VIDEO

Matatu enjoyed a historic and victorious start to their 2026 campaign with a 52-26 win over the Chiefs Manawa in front of a record crowd at Christchurch’s new One New Zealand Stadium last week, and have named three potential debutants on the bench for round 2.

There’s plenty of international experience in the new trio, with Abigail Paton, fresh off her USA debut in the Pacific Four Series, providing impact at halfback, and Black Ferns Sevens duo Maia Davis and Alena Saili covering the rest of the backline.

Matatu team to play the Hurricanes Poua

  1. Maddi Robinson
  2. Nat Delamere
  3. Pip Love
  4. Laura Bayfield (VC)
  5. Paris Lokotui
  6. Fiaali’i Solomona
  7. Elinor-Plum King
  8. Kaipo Olsen-Baker
  9. Maia Joseph
  10. Hannah King
  11. Binky Muamua
  12. Grace Brooker (C)
  13. Amy du Plessis
  14. Winnie Palamo
  15. Poppy Baxter

Reserves

16. Holly Greenway
17. Marcelle Parkes
18. Santo Taumata
19. Emma Dermody
20. Sarah Jones
21. Abigail Paton (debut)
22. Maia Davis (debut)
23. Alena Saili (debut)

Hurricanes Poua team to play Matatu

  1. Ngano Tavake
  2. Tegan Willocks (debut)
  3. Brooke Rempel (debut)
  4. Sam Taylor – co-captain
  5. Stacey Niao
  6. Anahera Hamahona
  7. Keelah Bodle (debut)
  8. Greer Muir
  9. Iritana Hohaia
  10. Renee Holmes
  11. Ayesha Leti-I’iga
  12. Kokako Raki
  13. Leilani Hakiwai
  14. Keira Su’a-Smith
  15. Arene Landon-Lane

Reserves

ADVERTISEMENT

16. Keiana Roffey
17. Angel Mulu
18. Faythe Finau
19. Brianna Wallace
20. Lily Murray-Wihongi
21. Litia Bulicakau (debut)
22. Te Rauoriwa Gapper – co-captain
23. Hinemaringi Scott (debut)

Injury list

Molly Scuffil-McCabe
Jordyn Tihore
Rangimarie Sturmey

Related

RugbyPass App Download

News, stats, live rugby and more! Download the new RugbyPass app on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android) now!


Whether you’re looking for somewhere to track upcoming fixtures, a place to watch live rugby or an app that shows you all of the latest news and analysis, the RugbyPass rugby app is perfect.

LIVE: France XV v England XV on RugbyPass TV

Don’t miss it: France XV v England XV – live and free on RugbyPass TV & RugbyPass app. 17:15 BST, 19 June 2026.

Watch Live
Friday 19th June 2026 - 17:15 BST, 18:15 CET
ADVERTISEMENT
Play Video
LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Long Reads

Comments on RugbyPass

N
NH 2 hours ago
Can Australia look to the greats of yesteryear to kickstart the next generation of innovation?

But, Nick what would that identity be for Australia? Everyone keeps harping back to this ‘australian way’ while they wave their hands in lofty notions but very few people seem to be able to articulate a particular style… Is it the free wheeling offload, open style of ella and campese (impossible with modern D), the defensive doggedness of the muggleton era RWC (considered unaustralian), or was it the slick set plays and multi-phase plays of larkham, gregan and eddie jones (this would be my pick if you asked me as someone from the younger gen)? Firstly, id argue that these ‘eras’ are all now long gone and both the world and australia has changed and they aren’t something we can ‘go back to’. The other thing I’d say is that what worked then almost certainly wouldn’t work now given changes in defences etc. I think that Rennie’s attack, when it worked, using powerful ball carriers and overwhelming defenses in short attacking raids in 3-4 phase combos is probably what can work with what is a modern, multicultural australia that heavily relies on pasifika power for any remaining rugby excellence.

I think the more interesting question you touch on is what would innovation look like in the australian space? Where could australia push the frontier? Rassie did it with sheer physicality and rush D at the boks. All blacks did it with electric counter attacking and offloads. Where can Australia find a point of difference and extract advantage from it? Historically this has been to look to league and bring some of that style, or some players from it… Can that work now? Probably not… Whats next? What does aus have naturally in spades more than others? What it looks like I don’t know, but we are in another era where Australia seems to be innovating across sports at the olympics and overperforming given our size/resources. Brumbies and aus tapped into this around 2000, maybe they can again. I think it has to come from this underdog, rag tag type style though that australians love to tap into…



...

287 Go to comments
Close Panel
Close Panel

Edition & Time Zone

{{current.name}}
Set time zone automatically
{{selectedTimezoneTitle}} (auto)
Choose a different time zone
Close Panel

Editions

Close Panel

Change Time Zone

Close
ADVERTISEMENT
Copied to clipboard

Share Article close