Aseli, Lasa make Heartland XV
Fiji Times - Thursday, November 05, 2009 8:46 PM
TWO Fijian players from the Wanganui club have made the Heartland XV that will face a New Zealand Marist Selection in a special fixture next Saturday.
Aseli Tikoirotuma (wing) and Lasa Ulukuta (number eight) were selected in the team after their impressive performance in the Heartland Championship.
A total of eight players from the Wanganui team which won the Meads Cup have been named in the Heartland XV side.
The team was selected by former All Blacks selector Earle Kirton and Heartland XV coach Guy Lennox (Wanganui) and assistant coach Grainger Heikell (Poverty Bay).
New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) General Manager of Provincial Union and Community Rugby Brent Anderson welcomed the team naming as great recognition for the Heartland players and a celebration of Heartland rugby talent.
"There is a huge honour in rugby to be able to pull on the black jersey and play for a national side that represents the best of community and Heartland rugby," Anderson said.
"It's also a great tribute to the provinces that nine of the 12 unions that played in the 2009 Heartland Championship are represented in this side.
"While it was initially thought a Heartland XV would not assemble this year, it's great that we have been able to offer the team a one-off match against a team made up of Marist players from throughout the country and we thank NZ Marist for fielding a team for the Heartland XV to play."
One player remains to be named and will be confirmed late this week.
The Heartland Championship is the lower level competition below the New Zealand National Provincial Championship.
Heartland XV: Cole Baldwin (Wanganui), Josh Cornish (West Coast), Cameron Crowley (Wanganui), Jon Dampney (Mid Canterbury), Aarin Dunster (King Country), James Ferguson (West Coast), Jason Forrest (North Otago), Matthew Gilbert (Wanganui), David Gower (Wanganui), Fraser Hammond (Wanganui), Ben Hewitson (South Canterbury), Scott Leighton (Poverty Bay), Lei'ataua Limuloa-Tahafee (North Otago), Kevin Moore (Buller), Sione Ngatu (Poverty Bay), Nick Olson (Wairarapa Bush), Kane Quinlan (King Country), Jason Rickard (Mid Canterbury), Peter Rowe (Wanganui), Aseli Tikoirotuma (Wanganui), Lasa Ulukuta (Wanganui).
