Revived fixture effectively a trial
The once-beloved Town v Country game is back and will allow Luke Herden an opportunity to crystallise his thinking before announcing his first Old Golds squad on Tuesday.
There was a time when the clash — between Old Boys, Excelsior and Athletic Marist players (Town) and the best from Valley, Kurow and Maheno (Country) — formed a regular and important part of the calendar, usually in the middle of the Citizens Shield club season.
It has been mostly dormant for the best part of a couple of decades so there should be some interest in today's game in Maheno.
That is especially the case for those wondering which loan players Herden will recruit as the Old Golds seek a return to the Meads Cup placings after a few lean years. He has named five players from Dunedin club rugby in the Country squad.
Zingari-Richmond flanker Flavius Roberts-Vili is an energetic type, and clubmate Ben Fakava is a robust midfielder.
First five Kenta Iemura and halfback Kodai Okazaki are from the Shizuoka Revs club in Japan Rugby League One who have spent some time with the Harbour club.
Solid prop Steve Salelea has been in consistent form for University and was on the bench for Otago's preseason game against Southland yesterday.
Eight players from Excelsior will back up from their Citizens Shield victory for Town, and there are 10 from beaten finalists Valley in the Country squad.
A pleasing feature is the selection of leading locals Hayden Tisdall, Kelepi Funaki and Junior Fakatoufifita, all of whom were unavailable for the Heartland Championship last season.
The junior game kicks off at 1pm and the senior Town-Country clash is at 2.30pm.
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Otago Daily Times
5 days 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
18-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Revived fixture effectively a trial
A blast from the past is back to give the new North Otago coach an effective trial this afternoon. The once-beloved Town v Country game is back and will allow Luke Herden an opportunity to crystallise his thinking before announcing his first Old Golds squad on Tuesday. There was a time when the clash — between Old Boys, Excelsior and Athletic Marist players (Town) and the best from Valley, Kurow and Maheno (Country) — formed a regular and important part of the calendar, usually in the middle of the Citizens Shield club season. It has been mostly dormant for the best part of a couple of decades so there should be some interest in today's game in Maheno. That is especially the case for those wondering which loan players Herden will recruit as the Old Golds seek a return to the Meads Cup placings after a few lean years. He has named five players from Dunedin club rugby in the Country squad. Zingari-Richmond flanker Flavius Roberts-Vili is an energetic type, and clubmate Ben Fakava is a robust midfielder. First five Kenta Iemura and halfback Kodai Okazaki are from the Shizuoka Revs club in Japan Rugby League One who have spent some time with the Harbour club. Solid prop Steve Salelea has been in consistent form for University and was on the bench for Otago's preseason game against Southland yesterday. Eight players from Excelsior will back up from their Citizens Shield victory for Town, and there are 10 from beaten finalists Valley in the Country squad. A pleasing feature is the selection of leading locals Hayden Tisdall, Kelepi Funaki and Junior Fakatoufifita, all of whom were unavailable for the Heartland Championship last season. The junior game kicks off at 1pm and the senior Town-Country clash is at 2.30pm.
RNZ News
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Sports Chat for 18 July 2025
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