Teenager to debut for Southland Stags
The 2023 New Zealand Secondary Schools midfielder has been named on the bench for the Stags round seven showdown against Auckland.
Promising teenager Tayne Harvey is set to get his first shot at NPC rugby on Sunday with the Southland Stags.
The 2023 New Zealand Secondary Schools midfielder has been named on the bench for the Stags round seven showdown against Auckland.
Harvey attended Palmerston North Boys’ High School but was signed by the Highlanders on a development contract.
He then decided to align with Southland with the prospect of playing for the Stags in the NPC.
The potential of getting a shot at playing in the NPC earlier than he would with Otago was part of the decision.
That looks set to be the case with Harvey now likely to debut off the bench in his first year out of school.
Harvey played his club rugby for the Dunedin club in Dunedin this year where he studies at Otago University.
However, he linked with the Southland Under-19 team for the representative season where he impressed under the guidance of Scott Eade.
Harvey has also spent time during the NPC campaign training with the Stags. He is physically strong for a teenage midfielder which should help his transition into the NPC arena.
Not surprisingly the Stags have made a raft of changes to the 23 which lost to Wednesday night as they eye their third game in ten days on Sunday.
Nic Souchon gets the start at hooker, Hamdahn Tuipulotu comes in to start at tighthead prop.
Tuipulotu will go head to head with his brother Tito who has been named to start on the loosehead side of the scrum for Auckland.
Leroy Ferguson and Semisi Tupou Ta’eialoa come in to start in the looseforwards for the Stags.
Sean Withy has carried a massive workload through the first seven games and gets a needed rest. Josh Bekhuis will captain the Stags in Withy’s absence.
Lachie Albert returns to start at halfback with Jay Renton dropping out of the 23, while there’s been a change at first five-eighth with former Counties, Bay of Plenty, and Waikato Jason Robertson slotting into the No 10 jersey.
With Viliame Fine sidelined following his red card Charlie Powell moves from the midfield to the wing with Angus Simmers coming in to start at centre.
Jake Strachan replaced Rory van Vugt at fullback who has had a big workload.
SBS Bank Southland Stags team to play Auckland
1.Jack Sexton
2.Nic Souchon
3.Hamdahn Tuipulotu
4.Josh Bekhuis (c)
5.Daniel Maiava
6. Blair Ryall
7.Leroy Ferguson
8.Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa
9.Lachie Albert
10.Jason Robertson
11.Charlie Powell
12.Isaac Te Tamaki
13.Angus Simmers
14.Michael Manson *
15.Jake Strachan
16.Jack Taylor
17.Joe Walsh
18.Sean Paranihi
19.Dylan Nel
20.Hayden Michaels
21.Liam Howley
22.Byron Smith
23.Tayne Harvey ^
* Blazer Game (15th game)
^ Potential Debut Game
Not considered due to injury: Hunter Fahey, Paula Latu, Morgan Mitchell, Faletoi Peni, Shneil Singh, Rory van Vugt, Matt Whaanga, Connor Collins, Woody Kirkwood