Players from Japan, Dunedin in Herden's Old Golds mix
Some old, some new, some borrowed, some Blue Revs.
New North Otago coach Luke Herden has spread the net widely to name his first Heartland Championship squad.
Herden has named a bumper 35-strong squad containing four Japanese players, a handful of potential loan players from Dunedin and some intriguing newcomers from the local ranks.
Significantly, he and assistant coaches Kilifi Fangupo and Ralph Darling will welcome back seasoned forwards Hayden Tisdall, Kelepi Funaki and Junior Fakatoufifita, all of whom are proven Heartland performers and were sorely missed last year, when the Old Golds broke a record 25-year streak and missed the playoffs.
"They're X-factor players," Herden said.
"They also do a lot of the gruntwork and give us a lot of go-forward, and they've also got a lot of experience.
"Tizzy's just a workhorse, Kelepi could play at a higher level, and Junior as well. When we get them going, they'll be very good."
The newcomer with the highest pedigree is Danny Tusitala.
The 33-year-old halfback has played five tests for Samoa and has extensive NPC and Major League Rugby experience.
Another feature of the squad is the selection of front-rower Gaku Shimizu and versatile back Kippei Taninaka, who played for Valley this year, and inside backs Kodai Okazaki and Kenta Iemura, who spent time in Dunedin with the Harbour club.
The Valley link is from coach Barry Matthews' relationship with former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, now guiding Toyota Verblitz, while the Harbour players hail from Shizuoka Blue Revs (Yamaha), where former Old Golds trainer Adam Keen now works.
Iemura and Okazaki, in particular, will be keenly monitored, as last year's regular 9-10 combination, Jake Matthews (shoulder surgery) and Greg Dyer (Southland), are absent.
"They've got a great skillset, and a very quick catch-pass, things that will benefit our squad and how we want to play," Herden said.
North Otago have suffered in recent years from not being able to find some stability with their loan players.
They largely looked outside Dunedin in 2024 but Herden, a Dunedin teacher who is immersed in the local rugby scene, is confident two Zingari-Richmond players, flanker Flavius Roberts-Vili and centre Ben Fakava, and University prop Steve Salelea will provide good value.
"I think it's important, when we get loan players, that they understand their role and are committed to North Otago.
"In the past, we might get a player in for a couple of weeks and then Otago might want them back and we have to start again.
"We're looking for players on the pathway to playing for Otago, and our goal is to develop them and have them hit the ground running."
All-rounder Ben McCarthy returns to the squad, but the St Kevin's old boy is no longer listed as a player of origin.
That system has been dismantled and Heartland squads will now be allowed a maximum of four loan players — previously three plus an origin player — in their match-day squad.
Interesting newcomers from Citizens Shield rugby include Kurow forward Mitch Morton, Valley flanker Robbie Lailvaux and Athletic Marist lock Asaeli Ngahe, while Maheno first five Lachie Kingan returns to the Old Golds after a long absence.
Experienced loose forward Cameron Rowland, a co-captain with Mat Duff last year, is being looked at as an option at hooker.
New father Duff has made himself unavailable, while the other major loss from last year is classy centre Hayden Todd.
The Old Golds have one preseason game, against Otago Country in Wānaka, before their Heartland opener in Whanganui on August 16.
North Otago
Heartland squad
Forwards: Cam Rowland, Hayden Tisdall, Gaku Shimizu, Jake Greenslade, Kelepi Funaki, Mateo Qolisese, Paea Pala, Steve Salelea, Temesia Bolavucu, Anthony Docherty, Asaeli Ngahe, Epineri Logavatu, Apenisa Tuiba, Faran Poasa, Mitch Morton, Flavius Roberts-Vili, Junior Fakatoufifita, Robbie Lailvaux, Sailosi Vea, Savenaca Rabaka.
Backs: Danny Tusitala, Kippei Taninaka, Kodai Okazaki, Seru Cavuilati, Isaac Clunie, Kenta Iemura, Lachie Kingan, Ben Fakava, Matia Qiolevu, Posiano Kamoto, Tini Feke, Ben McCarthy, Ben Paton, Hopoate Finau, Seva Druma.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
17 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Players from Japan, Dunedin in Herden's Old Golds mix
Kenta Iemura, pictured in action during the Town v Country game at Maheno on Saturday, is a newcomer in the North Otago squad. Photo: Masi Photography Some old, some new, some borrowed, some Blue Revs. New North Otago coach Luke Herden has spread the net widely to name his first Heartland Championship squad. Herden has named a bumper 35-strong squad containing four Japanese players, a handful of potential loan players from Dunedin and some intriguing newcomers from the local ranks. Significantly, he and assistant coaches Kilifi Fangupo and Ralph Darling will welcome back seasoned forwards Hayden Tisdall, Kelepi Funaki and Junior Fakatoufifita, all of whom are proven Heartland performers and were sorely missed last year, when the Old Golds broke a record 25-year streak and missed the playoffs. "They're X-factor players," Herden said. "They also do a lot of the gruntwork and give us a lot of go-forward, and they've also got a lot of experience. "Tizzy's just a workhorse, Kelepi could play at a higher level, and Junior as well. When we get them going, they'll be very good." The newcomer with the highest pedigree is Danny Tusitala. The 33-year-old halfback has played five tests for Samoa and has extensive NPC and Major League Rugby experience. Another feature of the squad is the selection of front-rower Gaku Shimizu and versatile back Kippei Taninaka, who played for Valley this year, and inside backs Kodai Okazaki and Kenta Iemura, who spent time in Dunedin with the Harbour club. The Valley link is from coach Barry Matthews' relationship with former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, now guiding Toyota Verblitz, while the Harbour players hail from Shizuoka Blue Revs (Yamaha), where former Old Golds trainer Adam Keen now works. Iemura and Okazaki, in particular, will be keenly monitored, as last year's regular 9-10 combination, Jake Matthews (shoulder surgery) and Greg Dyer (Southland), are absent. "They've got a great skillset, and a very quick catch-pass, things that will benefit our squad and how we want to play," Herden said. North Otago have suffered in recent years from not being able to find some stability with their loan players. They largely looked outside Dunedin in 2024 but Herden, a Dunedin teacher who is immersed in the local rugby scene, is confident two Zingari-Richmond players, flanker Flavius Roberts-Vili and centre Ben Fakava, and University prop Steve Salelea will provide good value. "I think it's important, when we get loan players, that they understand their role and are committed to North Otago. "In the past, we might get a player in for a couple of weeks and then Otago might want them back and we have to start again. "We're looking for players on the pathway to playing for Otago, and our goal is to develop them and have them hit the ground running." All-rounder Ben McCarthy returns to the squad, but the St Kevin's old boy is no longer listed as a player of origin. That system has been dismantled and Heartland squads will now be allowed a maximum of four loan players — previously three plus an origin player — in their match-day squad. Interesting newcomers from Citizens Shield rugby include Kurow forward Mitch Morton, Valley flanker Robbie Lailvaux and Athletic Marist lock Asaeli Ngahe, while Maheno first five Lachie Kingan returns to the Old Golds after a long absence. Experienced loose forward Cameron Rowland, a co-captain with Mat Duff last year, is being looked at as an option at hooker. New father Duff has made himself unavailable, while the other major loss from last year is classy centre Hayden Todd. The Old Golds have one preseason game, against Otago Country in Wānaka, before their Heartland opener in Whanganui on August 16. North Otago Heartland squad Forwards: Cam Rowland, Hayden Tisdall, Gaku Shimizu, Jake Greenslade, Kelepi Funaki, Mateo Qolisese, Paea Pala, Steve Salelea, Temesia Bolavucu, Anthony Docherty, Asaeli Ngahe, Epineri Logavatu, Apenisa Tuiba, Faran Poasa, Mitch Morton, Flavius Roberts-Vili, Junior Fakatoufifita, Robbie Lailvaux, Sailosi Vea, Savenaca Rabaka. Backs: Danny Tusitala, Kippei Taninaka, Kodai Okazaki, Seru Cavuilati, Isaac Clunie, Kenta Iemura, Lachie Kingan, Ben Fakava, Matia Qiolevu, Posiano Kamoto, Tini Feke, Ben McCarthy, Ben Paton, Hopoate Finau, Seva Druma.
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
King, Andrew poised to debut for Tall Blacks in Asia Cup
A member of Otago basketball's royal family and a son of St Kevin's College have been named in the Tall Blacks squad for the Asia Cup. Both rising guard Mojave King and former Otago Nuggets centre Jack Andrew will be on debut when New Zealand play at the tournament in Jeddah next month. They will be joined by fellow newcomer Dontae Russo-Nance, who played for the Nuggets last year but is now with the Manawatu Jets. The selection of Dunedin-born King, in particular, in the 11-man Asia Cup squad is a significant moment for New Zealand hoops. King, 23, the son of Nuggets great Leonard King and former Otago basketballer Tracey Paul, and grandson of late Otago hoops stalwart John Paul, has spent more of his life in Australia but he has declared his hand for the land of his birth. He became just the third New Zealander drafted into the NBA when he was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 47th overall pick in the 2023 draft, and his rights are now with the New Orleans Pelicans. King, who plays for the Tauranga Whai in the NBL, has impressed Tall Blacks coach Judd Flavell. "We always knew that Mojave was very talented," Flavell said. "When you look at the Tall Blacks in the past, we've had to have a guy that can score, shoot the ball and get hot. And we know Mojave can put on 10-12 points in a short period of time." King averaged 8.5 points for the Breakers in the Australian league last season. He then averaged 22.2 points for the Whai, shooting at a decent 38% clip from three-point range. "His role for us is going to be scoring," Flavell said. "Mojave has that unique skillset that I think past Tall Black teams have really leaned on to carry some of that scoring load." There will be whoops of joy around the halls of an Oamaru school at Andrew's debut selection. Andrew, 24, was a stand-out at St Kevin's before playing 80 games for the Nuggets — helping them win the NBL championship in 2022 — and having two spells with the Perth Wildcats. He flourished when he moved to the Taranaki Airs this year, posting 13.9 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game . "Jack has had a phenomenal jump this season," Flavell said. "He just really seemed to grow in confidence as well. For a big man to actually run and have a high activity rate — that's something that we really like about him. "He's been the first man down the floor, he's been active on the glass, and he's had great success in tandem with Carlin (Davison) off the pick and roll. I think those two have been one of the most dynamic duos." Leading Tall Blacks including Shea Ili, Tai Webster, Hyrum Harris and Yanni Wetzell are unavailable for the Asia Cup, leaving Jordan Ngatai (84 caps) and Tohi Smith-Milner (69) as the senior men. New Zealand are in group D with Chinese Taipei, the Philippines, and Iraq. Before the tournament, they have three games in China at the Solidarity Cup and Four Nations tournaments, for which they will also have New Zealand under-19 star Hayden Jones, Jordan Hunt and Luca Yates on the roster. One of those three players will become the 12th and final member of the Asia Cup squad. Tall Blacks Asia Cup squad Jack Andrew, Taylor Britt, Flynn Cameron, Max Darling, Carlin Davison, Ben Gold, Mojave King, Taine Murray, Jordan Ngatai, Dontae Russo-Nance, Tohi Smith-Milner Gold has been selected for Asia Cup only. Jordan Hunt, Hayden Jones and Luca Yates will join squad for preceding Solidarity Cup and Four Nations.
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Queenstown's first couple of ice hockey
Queenstown ice hockey is much the richer for a couple from the sport's powerhouse nations, the United States and Canada. Both 37, Kellye Nelson and Colin McIntosh coincidentally both arrived in Queenstown in 2017, each intending on just a short stay. However, they soon met and fell for each other, and have since become huge contributors to Queenstown's two national league teams — and have also started representing their adopted country. From Lino Lakes in Minnesota, in the US, Kellye's backyard was, literally, a lake that froze in winter, "so that's where I found my love for skating". "And you kind of had to play ice hockey if you lived in Minnesota." She did dabble in other sports — she and her dad even started lacrosse at her high school — but hockey won out. As for its attraction, Kellye, who was coached by her dad, says "I'm very competitive and I love being able to get in there — you're essentially learning a new way to walk — but for me it's more the community and the teammates I've met". "I've never met a bad hockey player." Kellye played division three for an American university but was also away from the sport while studying in Prague, in the Czech Republic. After a year in Australia she had a five-year sales job in the US, and was then sitting out a non-compete period for another job when she decided instead to take a break in NZ — "I remembered NZ was a place Americans could do a working holiday before they were 30". Arriving in early 2017, she started at a surf camp up north before wending her way to Queenstown, not even knowing there was ice hockey here. Meanwhile, Colin also grew up with the sport, playing road hockey and ice hockey with his three brothers in La Pas, Manitoba. "Hockey was my life, still is. It's just the best sport in the world." As to why, "it's the hardest sport to play, the skill it takes is just insane". Having played professionally in North America and Europe, he heard from a friend about the Stampede, then after making inquiries was contacted by stalwart player Mike McRae. Two weeks later he was on a flight to Queenstown to become a Stampede import. He'd only intended staying a season, but meeting Kellye, who'd started managing the ice rink, changed things. After that Stampede season they travelled to Germany to play there before returning in 2018 — Colin then had the following offseason in Sweden. While Colin's Stampede career's so far run to 100-plus games with 100-plus goals, Kellye initially played two seasons for Dunedin-based Southern Storm before founding the Wakatipu Wild. From day one she's been the captain and McIntosh the coach — they note many players take some time to realise they're a couple. "It's been a lot of hard work and tapping my friends to support us because it's not a cheap sport," Kellye says. Colin notes the Wild's just continued improving year upon year. He experienced a very tough 2022 when he couldn't play after developing pericarditis in reaction to a Covid vaccine. "There were times where my heart rate was 200 beats per minute, just walking from the couch to the kitchen [was hard]. "There were a good six months of darkness because I couldn't leave the house, couldn't go to the rink, and that rink's always been my solace." When he returned to play he was 15kg-20kg overweight, and only got back to his best the past two seasons. He's again been able to help the Stampede stay on stop, and, this year, his second with the Ice Blacks, was their player of the tournament at their division's worlds in Dunedin. "To do that in front of my dad was definitely an honour." Having waited longer for her citizenship — "I was one of the first Kiwis to pledge the oath to the king" — Kellye made her Ice Fernz debut at this year's worlds, also in Dunedin. For this couple, though, encouraging others to step up has been as important as their own contributions. Colin even has his own equipment business, Enigma Hockey, aimed at selling gear as cheaply as possible. Kellye's also been thrilled to have her parents over recently for the first time in eight years, "and I got to play with dad on one of the social league nights — he even scored a goal". Managing Harcourts' holiday homes division, she's not planning to live in North America again. However, Colin, operations director for the Whakatipu Youth Trust, misses family back home, and while Queenstown's "definitely a long-term spot, I just don't know if I could live here forever".
