Position in 2019
Premiership winners
Talking points
Lock Chelsea Bremner won the Fiao’o Faamausili Medal in 2019 for Player of the Year and was duly rewarded with a Black Ferns contract, while her older sister Alana, has been named to captain the Canterbury side this season. Expect the Bremner sisters, along with prop Pip Love to lead the forwards while the experienced Lucy Anderson moves from the midfield to number eight.
Kendra Cocksedge controls the backline from halfback with Black Fern Grace Brooker in the midfield and the potent Liv McGoverne at fullback. Grace Steinmetz, who has spent time in the Black Ferns Sevens camp will add to her lone provincial cap and should be an exciting prospect in the Canterbury backline.
Canterbury hold the JJ Stewart Trophy and will defend it at home matches against Otago, Wellington and Tasman.
Incoming players
Fresh from winning the Canterbury club competition, Tayla Simpson is named in the squad for the first time. She is among six debutants in the squad including teenager Atlanta Lolohea, Amy Milnes, Isabella Waterman, Sophie O’Cain and Easter Savelio.
Outgoing players
Canterbury lose more than 100 caps-worth of experience with former captain Steph Te Ohaere-Fox missing this season due to the recent birth of her daughter. Injuries see Becky Davidson and Mel Puckett sidelined while Taylor Curtis has joined Auckland and Estelle Uren has also left the region.
Players to watch: Atlanta Lolohea & Amy Rule
17-year-old schoolgirl Atlanta Lolohea joins older sister Martha in the Canterbury squad and comes into the team with big wraps. The Villa Maria College student will be part of a dynamic loose forward trio for the defending champions.
20-year-old prop Amy Rule is a player with a bright future and will be looking to impress in her second season with Canterbury. Rule debuted off the bench in the opening match last year before cementing her place in the starting line-up for the remainder of the season. A powerful scrummager and fierce competitor, Rule will link with Black Ferns prop Pip Love to form an uncompromising front row.
Canterbury squad
Taylor Aldridge, Lucy Anderson, Chelsea Bremner, Alana Bremner (C), Grace Brooker (VC), Olivia Coady, Kendra Cocksedge, Sam Curtis, Sarita De Gouw, Terauoriwa Gapper, Trina Greenslade, Lucy Jenkins, Hannah King, Atlanta Lolohea, Martha Lolohea, Phillipa Love, Alice Matthews, Liv McGoverne, Amy Milnes, Cindy Nelles, Sophie O’Cain, Greer O'Rourke, Nina Poletti, Georgia Ponsonby, Pip Prendergast, Nicole Purdom, Amy Rule, Easter Savelio, Cassie Siataga, Tayla Simpson, Angie Sisifa, Grace Steinmetz, Rebecca Todd, Isabella Waterman
Coaches: Blair Baxter (Head coach), Tom Christie, Whitney Hansen, Melissa Ruscoe (Assistant coaches)
Canterbury draw
Manawatu v Canterbury
Saturday 12 September
12pm Central Energy Trust Arena
Canterbury v Otago
Saturday 19 September
2.05pm Orangetheory Stadium
Hawke’s Bay v Canterbury
Saturday 26 September
4.35pm McLean Park
Canterbury v Wellington
Saturday 3 October
4.35pm Orangetheory Stadium
Canterbury BYE
Canterbury v Tasman
Sunday 18 October
12pm Rugby Park