On Sunday, the Mid Canterbury Development and the Mid Canterbury Heartland sides were named. There were thirty players named in the Heartland side with Southern's Adam Williamson and Methven's Tyler Blackburn named as the side's co-captains. The Development side also named a thirty-player squad, but no captains have been named yet. Both sides kick off their pre-season this weekend with the Heartland side playing Ellesmere and the Development side up against Canterbury Pasifika.

The biggest surprise in the Heartland side was the inclusion of former Highlander and Crusader number eight, Nasi Manu. Nasi is returning from overseas and has settled back in Ashburton. He played last season for the Hino club, in the Japan One League Division two competition. His experience and leadership qualities will be hugely influential on and off the field, especially for those who have been named in the Heartland team for the first time.

Also named is overseas player Quinn Ngawati, who most recently played for Rugby New York team that won the 2022 Major League Rugby Championship in the US under kiwi player/coach Andy Ellis. Quinn has a New Zealand father and Canadian mother and has close ties to the region through extended family. He is excited by the opportunity to further his rugby development and is looking forward to contributing to the Hammers 2022 Heartland campaign. He has one cap for Canada and has also played rugby league for the now defunct Toronto Wolfpack. 

The other loan player is Waitangi Tuisuga from Canterbury, who played this year for the Sumner Rugby Club in Christchurch. Waitangi is an exciting midfield back and will compliment our local talent in the backline. Lastly, Hunter Stewart who currently plays for the Shirley Rugby Club, is a familiar face to Mid Canterbury fans, having played all his junior rugby at Allenton Rugby Club. Hunter is classified as a player of origin for the Heartland side. 

Heartland Head Coach, John Sherratt said "The coaching crew are excited to get to work with a group of great men will wear the jersey with pride." The remainder of the Heartland group are local players, representing the senior Mid Canterbury clubs. The Heartland side begin their pre-season this weekend against Ellesmere.

The Development side has a good mix of Senior players and Senior B players. Several of the development players have experience in the Heartland side, so that'll be a massive bonus for them, to be able to call on that experience. The Union's long term plan is to ensure our representative pathways are robust and provide our local players with meaningful competition at the performance level. The Development side is an important part of that pathway, many of these players were very close to making this year's Heartland team. 

The Development side begin their pre-season this weekend when they face Canterbury Pasifika on Saturday. With six games in their calendar, including three games that will be curtain-raisers to Heartland home games, their campaign is an awesome opportunity to showcase the up and coming talent. 

Article added: Tuesday 02 August 2022