Wellington Lions Name 2023 Squad to Defend Bunnings NPC Title
Wellington Lions Head Coach Tamati Ellison has named his 40-man squad tasked with defending the Bunnings NPC title, kicking off this weekend.
The squad features All Blacks Ardie Savea and Dane Coles, as well as 20 players who saw the field in Super Rugby this season.
Returning to the squad is England international Brad Shields, who is home after a long stint overseas, as does halfback Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, who spent the 2022 season with Otago.
Ellison said he was pleased with the depth in the squad, across the board.
“We’ve got a lot of strength covering each position, which is a good problem to have when it comes to selection each week.”
Peter Lakai and Siale Lauaki return after playing at the Under 20 World Championships in South Africa, Bradley Crichton and Dominic Ropeti also saw game time pre-World Championships against Australia.
Over half of the championship winning side from 2022 returns to the squad, with all eyes set on defending the title, as well as protecting the Ranfurly Shield for the year.
The strength of Wellington club rugby also shines through across the squad, with seven players selected for the first time off the back of the club season.
“We’ve seen a lot of exciting young players in the club competition, and again left us with some hard selection decisions, but we believe those picked from club rugby have what it takes once called upon” said Ellison.
In the forwards, Tawa’s Akira Ieremia earns a call up, while the spread of club talent across the backs is impressive. Petone’s Tjay Clarke joins the squad for the first time alongside Chicago Doyle, Joe Faleafaga, Sam Howling, Kyle Preston and Isi Saumaki.
Jubilee Cup Final MVP Dominic Ropeti, Hugo Plummer and Bradley Crichton are in, off the back of signing their first contracts with the Lions.
Melbourne Rebels prop Cameron Orr jumps over the ditch to join the squad, for some added firepower and experience in the front row.
The Wellington Rugby Academy also gains some more graduates into the squad, the likes of Chicago Doyle, Sam Howling and Isi Saumaki paving the way to success for Academy members welcomed in from outside of the Wellington region, a pleasant sight for Ellison.
“It’s great to welcome in the academy graduates, not only those who are locals, but the players who have committed to the move to Wellington. Again this shows the strength in our Academy and that the pathway is alive and well.”
After two successful Ranfurly Shield defences to kick off season 2023, the team get their Bunnings NPC title defence underway away to Manawatu, on August 5th.
Wellington Lions 2023 Squad:
Ha’amea Ahio - Johnsonville
Asafo Aumua - Avalon
Dominic Bird – Upper Hutt Rams
Sam Clarke – Paremata-Plimmerton
Tjay Clarke - Petone
Dane Coles - Pōneke
Bradley Crichton – Northern United
Caleb Delany – Old Boys University
Chicago Doyle - Marist St Pats
Joe Faleafaga - Paremata-Plimmerton
Losi Filipo - Petone
Connor Garden-Bachop – Northern United
Sione Halalilo – Oriental-Rongotai
Kemara Hauiti-Parapara - Tawa
Riley Higgins - Petone
Sam Howling - Pōneke
Akira Ieremia - Tawa
Du’Plessis Kirifi – Northern United
Peter Lakai - Petone
Siale Lauaki - Tawa
Ruben Love - Wainuiomata
Aidan Morgan – Marist St Pats
Xavier Numia – Oriental-Rongotai
James O’Reilly – Hutt Old Boys Marist
Cameron Orr - Western Suburbs
Pepesana Patafilo - Tawa
TJ Perenara- Northern United
Hugo Plummer – Tawa
Kyle Preston - Old Boys University
Billy Proctor – Marist St Pats
Dominic Ropeti - Oriental-Rongotai
Isi Saumaki - Tawa
Ardie Savea – Oriental-Rongotai
Julian Savea – Oriental-Rongotai
PJ Sheck - Tawa
Brad Shields – Petone
Josiah Tavita-Metcalfe – Northern United
Peter Umaga-Jensen – Wainuiomata
Ethan Webster-Nonu – Paremata-Plimmerton
Keelan Whitman – Marist St Pats