CHIEFS MANAWA

THE TEAM TO BEAT

Chiefs Manawa will start as favourites with a squad full of Black Ferns and Black Ferns Sevens stars, plus an Olympic gold medal-winning coach.

CHIEFS MANAWA

Coach: Allan Bunting Captain: Les Elder

Home ground:

FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton Website: www.chiefs.co.nz

Tickets:

www.chiefs.co.nz/game-tickets

Contact:

PO Box 4292, Hamilton East 3247. Phone 0800 424 4337 Email: info@chiefs.co.nz

FOLLOW ME: Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu makes a break for the Chiefs women against the Blues women last year.

CHIEFS MANAWA SQUAD

FORWARDS: Luka Connor, Victoria Edmonds, Les Elder, Carla Hohepa, Grace Houpapa-Barrett, Tanya Kalounivale, Angel Mulu, Kennedy Simon, Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, Pia Tapsell, Santo Taumata, Jayjay Taylor, Harono Te Iringa, Kelsie Wills. BACKS: Chelsea Alley, Ariana Bayler, Kelly Brazier, Georgia Daals, Stacey Fluhler, Chyna Hohepa, Maia Joseph, Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, Kendra Reynolds, Hazel Tubic, Ruby Tui, Renee Wickliffe, Portia Woodman. CAMPAIGN PREVIEW: The close bond between new Chiefs Manawa coach Allan Bunting and Chiefs men’s coach Clayton McMillan goes back to their days at Rotorua Boys’ High and playing together in the same Whakarewarewa and Bay of Plenty Steamers teams. That synergy has played a part in developing the new team identity for Manawa – the merging of the words mana and wa - hine. It was all about building the team’s identity and developing a name that connected the Chiefs’ people and places – past and present. “It was important for our name to come from within the Chiefs story, but also hold an opportunity for us to create our own identity, something to make our own and to be really special moving forward,” says Bunting. “It is a name at the moment, but how we behave on and off the field will truly make that name. “I am a Bay of Plenty boy and have close connections with the Chiefs Mana and there is something really special about that. It was not just rugby. The ladies in this area have been watching them for a while too. “With all the talent in this area it was somewhere I wanted to be. There is also real space for growth and one of my intentions is seeing potential in someone and bringing that to life.” Chiefs Manawa will start the inaugural season of Super Rugby Aupiki as favourites. With 16 past or present Black Ferns included in the squad, there is no doubt they will be the team to beat. Four of those Black Ferns, Ruby Tui, Kelly Brazier, Stacey Fluhler and Portia Woodman, played under Bunting for the Black Ferns Sevens team that won gold at the Tokyo Olympics last August. Bunting’s initial squad also includes inspirational Black Ferns captain Les Elder and experienced international backs Chelsea Alley, Hazel Tubic and Renee Wickliffe.

Just three players in the squad have been recruited from outside the Chiefs region. Bunting is excited with the quality and depth of talent he has to work with.

“We are certainly blessed with the talent we have in our squad. A lot of genuine experience at the highest level balanced out with exciting younger talent, [all] with the potential for me to help grow as leaders and not just as rugby players. “We have an abundance of skilful leaders. Les Elder is an experienced Black Ferns captain who will have a massive influence. We have the players that have come over from the sevens, plus we also have from the Chiefs region Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, Hazel Tubic and Kelly Brazier – [who] is another one who has played a lot of both codes. “With this group we have the opportunity to create a tightly connected, very competitive environment where we can truly make the most of what is in front of us and most importantly enjoy doing it. “The expectation for me is how we turn up every day, bringing your authentic best and then usually the rugby takes care of itself.” Bunting sees the Super Rugby Aupiki competition as a game changer for creating aspirational pathways for women throughout New Zealand. “It is an amazing opportunity for women’s rugby. The players will be training hard over a longer time and have more rugby through the year. “With more quality players they can focus on their own job and it is another opportunity for holistic growth in women’s rugby, plus with the World Cup ahead it is an opportunity to see some players play with more pressure around and expectation.”