Kia ora,

Super Rugby Pacific is at the business end with our own Brayden Iose and Brett Cameron in the Hurricanes team taking on the Chiefs in tomorrow's semifinal. If you're heading down to the Cake Tin, travel safe and have a great time.  

 Some recent news from Manawatū Rugby:

• Our men's and women's High Performance squads have been in pre-season action ahead of the Turbos and Cyclones teams being finalised for the NPC and FPC. The women beat Hawke's Bay 48-12 on 1 June, while the men had a close 12-19 loss to Wellington this past Wednesday.
• We have a number of new performance staff on board. Michelle Tribe is our new Personal Development manager, Hemi Heta joins us as Mental Skills Coach, and Kate Harvey is our new Nutritionist. Ngatai Walker joins the Turbos coaching team as Skills Coach/Analyst and Muz Sujau is the Turbos Manager.
• We announced our management team for the our Wāhine Development XV. Ethan Henare is coach, Mallory Nikora Townsend and Troy Sherriff are Assistant Coaches, and Kylie Trask is Manager. 

HIGHER HONOURS FOR MANAWATŪ PLAYERS

Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula was recently named in the Flying Fijians squad for the July tests. Isaiah is a product of the Manawatū Rugby Academy who made his Turbos debut last year. He is fresh off an outstanding first season of Super Rugby Pacific with the Fijian Drua in which he was the fourth-highest point-scorer in the competition.  

Logan Wallace, Vernon Bason, and Sam Coles made the New Zealand squad for the World Rugby U20 Championship, which kicks off in South Africa at the end of the month. Logan joins the squad after being a non-travelling reserve for the Rugby Championship U20. Unfortunately, Mosese Bason, who was in the squad for the Rugby Championship U20, was unavailable due to injury.  

NEW WOMEN'S ADVISORY GROUP

We're establishing a new Women's Advisory Group. This group will advocate for and provide advice on women's and girls' competitions, pathways for players, and how to get more females involved in rugby.

Want to get involved? Find more information here and get your expression of interest in by 21 June.

Over the past few weeks we have announced more players who have either re-signed with the Turbos or are back for 2024 on existing contracts.

Brett Cameron signed a new contract that will see him stick with Manawatū through to 2026. Brett has locked up the Hurricanes number 10 jersey this year and has been a key contributor to the team's success. It's a huge boost for the province to have a player of his calibre recommit.    

Malakai Hala-Ngatai, James Tofa, Johan Momsen, and Flyn Yates have all re-signed for 2024 and 2025. Young prop Malakai played for the New Zealand Under 20s last year and is currently with the New England Freejacks in MLR. James, who has played 36 games for the Turbos, has been in fine form for College Old Boys. Lock Johan's high work rate was a great asset to the Turbos last season. He is currently with MLR's Houston Sabrecats. Flyn, who has missed only one NPC game since his debut in 2021, returns to the squad after spending the offseason with the Kamaishi Seawaves in Japan.  

Jason Emery and Josh Taula are back on existing contracts. Jason needs little introduction having racked up 82 games in the green in white during a career that has included stints with the Highlanders and professional teams in Japan and the United States. Josh is a contracted member of the Hurricanes squad who has featured in their development team, the Hurricanes Hunters, this year. 

VACANCY: GOVERNANCE SECRETARY 

We're on the lookout for a Governance Secretary to support our board of directors and management.

This is a voluntary role perfect for someone with proven secretarial skills and administrative experience, particularly in the governance space.

Applications close 26 June. Full details here.