Team naming: Pride of Waikaia to captain Stags
Mike McKee takes over from regular captain Josh Bekhuis who has been rested for the round seven game against Canterbury.
Mike McKee is about to have the honour of captaining the Southland Stags.
The 30-year-old lock has been named captain for the Southland Stags’ showdown with Canterbury in Christchurch on Sunday.
McKee takes over from regular captain Josh Bekhuis who has been rested for the round seven game.
Impressively 37-year-old Bekhuis played in all but 10 minutes of the Stags 2022 season and has started in all six of the Stags game to date in 2023.
McKee hails from Waikaia in northern Southland and made his way to the Stags setup in 2015 via the Eastern-Northern Barbarians in club rugby.
Apart from a stint with Counties, and some time out with injury, McKee had been a regular in the Southland NPC setup since his debut in 2015.
He is now closing in on 50 games for Southland. He has also played at Super Rugby level for Moana Pasifika.
The Stags decision-makers have made plenty of changes for the trip to take on Canterbury on Sunday.
In a boost tight-head prop Morgan Mitchell returns after missing the past two games following a head knock against Otago.
Hooker Nic Souchon will get his first start in a Stags jersey with Jack Taylor moving to the bench, while Leroy Ferguson replaces Hayden Michaels in the No 7 jersey.
In the backline regular wing Viliami Fine gets a shot at centre with Noah Foster taking his spot on the wing.
Outside back Rory van Vugt returns from injury and has been named on the bench, while halfback Jahvis Wallace will get a chance from the bench against Canterbury.
Prop Shaun Stodart was originally named to return after missing the loss to Counties but picked up an injury in the captain’s run on Saturday and youngster Hunter Fahey again will be on the bench.
SBS Bank Southland Stags team to play Canterbury:
1. Jonah Aoina
2. Nic Souchon
3. Morgan Mitchell
4. Mike McKee (c)
5. Danny Drake
6. Shneil Singh
7. Leroy Ferguson
8. Blair Ryall
9. Connor McLeod
10. Dan Hollinshead (vc)
11. Michael Manson
12. Tevita Latu
13. Viliami Fine
14. Noah Foster
15. Gabriel Hamer-Webb
Reserves:
16. Jack Taylor
17. Hunter Fahey
18. Hamdahn Tuipulotu
19. Hayden Michaels
20. Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa
21. Jahvis Wallace
22. Greg Dyer
23. Rory van Vugt