Southlander set for Super Rugby debut
Will Stodart - a robust and hard-running loose forward - has been named on the Highlanders bench for the game against Melbourne on Saturday night.
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Will Stodart is in line to make his Super Rugby debut against the Melbourne Rebels in Melbourne on Saturday night.
Stodart is a born and bred Southlander who began his rugby journey while living at Myross Bush.
That was before he then headed to Christchurch to board at St Andrews College during his final two years of secondary school.
Stodart then moved to Dunedin to study where he linked with the Otago Rugby Union’s academy programme. At just 20-years-old he is now contracted to the Highlanders.
There’s some hope in Southland - as Sean Withy has - Stodart may at some point return home and line up for his home province in the NPC.
Stodart - a robust and hard-running loose forward - has been named on the Highlanders bench for the game against Melbourne on Saturday night.
It will be the first of two games in Australia with the Highlanders to take on the Queensland Reds in Brisbane the following week.
Speaking last year when Stodart was captain of the Highlanders U20s, he acknowledged his desire to play in the top flight for the southern Super Rugby team.
“Playing for the Highlanders would be pretty surreal, growing up and watching them week in week out with Dad and the family.
“It’s a pretty awesome club. I think with the Highlanders brand and the people they have around, and the environment, playing for the Highlanders would be pretty awesome, it would be a massive dream of mine.”
The Highlanders have also named another potential debutant on the bench in the form of Wellington lock Hugo Plummer.
Plummer was originally called down to Dunedin to join the wider training group.
“Both of our potential debutants, Will and Hugo, have been diligent in their training and shown potential in their performances with the Bravehearts and I know they are both excited at the prospect of debuting for the Highlanders,” Highlanders coach Clarke Dermody said.
In another notable change for the Highlanders visit to Melbourne young first five-eighth Ajay Faleafaga will start in the No 10 jersey.
“We’ve been impressed by Ajay’s performances off the bench so far and he has earned his chance to direct the team against the Rebels this weekend,” Dermody said.
Meanwhile, Southland midfielder Matt Whaanga has picked up a spot of the bench for Saturday night, while prop Ethan de Groot will also come off the bench.
Fellow Stag Sean Withy will start on the blindside flank.
Kick-off on Saturday night’s game is 9.35pm (NZ time).
Highlanders team to play the Rebels
Daniel Lienert-Brown
Henry Bell
Saula Ma’u
Oliver Haig
Pari Pari Parkinson
Sean Withy
Billy Harmon (C)
Nikora Broughton
Folau Fakatava
Ajay Faleafaga
Jona Nareki
Sam Gilbert (VC)
Jonah Lowe
Timoci Tavatavanawai
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
RESERVES
Ricky Jackson
Ethan de Groot
Rohan Wingham
Hugo Plummer*
Will Stodart*
James Arscott
Matt Whaanga
Connor Garden-Bachop
Injured/unavailable: Fabian Holland (HIA protocols), Tom Sanders (HIA protocols), Hugh Renton (ankle), Jermaine Ainsley (back), Nathan Hastie (shoulder).