Position in 2019
5th in Premiership
Talking points
Kelly Brazier, Michaela Blyde, Alena Saili, Mahina Paul and Risaleaana Pouri-Lane will all suit up for the Bay of Plenty Volcanix in the Farah Palmer Cup this year. With 394 World Sevens Series caps between them, they’ll provide a huge boost to this already talented squad. The Black Ferns Sevens players join Black Ferns skipper and new Mum, Les Elder, experienced Black Ferns winger Renee Wickliffe, hooker Luka Connor and Black Ferns contracted player Kelsie Wills.
The Volcanix squad also has some young talent to compliment the vast experience. 11 players in their squad are under 20 year-olds. Ruby Tawa, Brooklyn Teki-Joyce, Hope Parata Kingi, Lisa Egberts and Esra Van Ramele are all in the environment for the first time this year. Former Northern Mystics netball player and Black Ferns Sevens development player Mererangi Paul joins her sister, Mahina, in the squad.
Coach Rodney Gibbs said the group have had to add extra training sessions on top of their club commitments and he has no doubt his team will be very competitive in this year’s competition.
Last year, the Volcanix lifted the Chiefs Country Cup for the first time, with a victory over Waikato. They’ll be determined to hold onto it for another year when they host Waikato on Saturday 19 September at Rotorua International Stadium.
Incoming players
Kelly Brazier, Michaela Blyde, Risaleeana Pouri-Lane, Alena Saili, Mahina Paul, Kiki Tahere
Outgoing players
Christie Yule
Player to watch: Kelsie Wills
Already a member of the Black Ferns contracted squad this year, Kelsie Wills is well and truly on the radar for higher honours. The former beach volleyballer, who represented New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games in 2018 only started playing rugby last year. She had a breakthrough campaign in 2019 for the Volcanix and she’s expected to be even better this season. With Black Ferns and Auckland Storm lock Charmaine Smith having to retire due to injury earlier this year, Wills certainly has a lot to play for in the Farah Palmer Cup. Especially with the Rugby World Cup on home soil just around the corner.
Bay of Plenty Volcanix squad
Amanda Aldridge, Michaela Blyde, Kelly Brazier, Luka Connor, Natalie Delamere, Lisa Egberts, Les Elder, Karli Faneva, Tynealle Fitzgerald, Hope Garner, Abbey Grainger, Destony Iraia, Baye Jacob, Azalleyah Maaka, Sela Moata’ane, Angel Mulu, Hope Parata-Kingi, Mahina Paul, Mererangi Paul, Risaleeana Pouri-Lane, Kendra Reynolds, Olivia Richardson, Alena Saili, Kiki-Kiani Tahere, Ruby Tawa, Brooklyn Teki-Joyce, Layla Te Riini, Esra Van Ramele, Braxton Walker, Kura Waller, Renee Wickliffe, Kelsie Wills
Coaches: Rodney Gibbs (Head coach), Brendon Phillips (Assistant coach)
Bay of Plenty Volcanix draw
Bay of Plenty BYE
Saturday 5 September
North Harbour v Bay of Plenty
Friday 11 September
4.35pm North Harbour Stadium
Bay of Plenty v Waikato
Saturday 19 September
4.35pm Rotorua Int Stadium
Bay of Plenty v Taranaki
Saturday 26 September
2pm Blake Park
Auckland v Bay of Plenty
Saturday 3 October
2pm TBC
Counties Manukau v Bay of Plenty
Saturday 10 October
2.35pm Navigation Homes Stadium
Bay of Plenty v Northland
Saturday 17 October
2pm Blake Park