Hurricanes name team to face Fijian Drua in Lautoka
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The Hurricanes have named their team for their round three Super Rugby Pacific match against the Fijian Drua at Churchill Park in Lautoka on Saturday.
The side features a potential debutant and a handful of changes to the team that defeated Moana Pasifika 52-10 in last week’s season-opening win in Wellington, including four new faces in the starting lineup.
Two of those changes come in the front row, where props Pouri Rakete-Stones and Tevita Mafileo join vice-captain Asafo Aumua up front.
The forward pack is otherwise unchanged, with Hugo Plummer partnering newly-capped Hurricanes lock Warner Dearns in the second row, while Devan Flanders, Peter Lakai, and Brayden Iose make up the loose forward trio.
A fresh halves partnership sees All Blacks halfback Cam Roigard promoted to the starting team alongside first-five Callum Harkin, who shifts to the No 10 jersey from fullback.
It will be the first time Harkin has started at first-five for the Hurricanes, and comes a week after starring there throughout much of the Moana Pasifika match following a first half injury to starting playmaker Brett Cameron.
Harkin’s place at fullback is filled by last week’s hat-trick hero Josh Moorby as part of a backline reshuffle that sees Bailyn Sullivan moved from centre to right wing to accommodate All Blacks midfielder Billy Proctor, who starts alongside captain and second-five Jordie Barrett.
Sullivan and Moorby are joined in the outside backs by left wing Fehi Fineanganofo.
The reserves are headlined by first-five Lucas Cashmore, who is in line to make his Hurricanes debut.
A member of last year’s squad, injury prevented Cashmore from taking to the field for the Hurricanes in 2025. After being farewelled from the club at the end of last season, the 23-year-old returned after a long-term injury to fellow playmaker Harry Godfrey.
Cashmore is one of several new names on the bench, including lock Isaia Walker-Leawere and utility back Ngane Punivai, both of whom are named to play their first matches of the campaign after overcoming pre-season injuries.
Jacob Devery and Brad Shields are the only players retained on the bench, where they are joined by props Xavier Numia and Siale Lauaki, and halfback Ereatara Enari.
“It’s a reasonably settled 23 with some opportunities for a couple of guys to start and for Ngane and Izzy to come back from injury,” Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw said.
“The changes to the props are reward for the two boys that came on and played well. We expect it to be tough going up front in Lautoka, so having Jacob, Xavier, and Siale come on in the second will add a good impact.
“For Cashy, it’s great for him to finally make his debut. He’s in his second season with us now, had a tough run with injuries last year that took him out of two thirds of the season.
“He played well for Bay of Plenty last year, he’s been training here since the start of pre-season, so we have full confidence in him and Callum to play as the 10s in the team.”
Laidlaw added that he expects his side to face a motivated Drua team this weekend.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge. We know what we’re walking into with their home record, certainly in Lautoka and it being a day game,” Laidlaw said.
“That’s really sharpened our attention and preparation. We’ve been preparing throughout the pre-season for the conditions, so we’re ready to play in front of their passionate home fans.
“We also know they’ve had a slow start to the year, and they’re going to be really keen to get back on track with a home game against us, so we’re certainly under no illusions about what we’re heading into.”
With the team due to fly from Fiji to Sydney ahead of next week’s match against the Waratahs, an additional four players – hooker Vernon Bason, prop Pasi Tosi, flanker Du’Plessis Kirifi, and midfielder Jone Rova – will also travel for the nine-day round-trip.
The Hurricanes will fly from Wellington to Nadi on Thursday evening, with kick-off for Saturday’s match in Lautoka scheduled for 4:35pm NZT.
HURRICANES TEAM TO PLAY FIJIAN DRUA (Hurricanes caps in brackets)
- Pouri Rakete-Stones (53)
- Asafo Aumua (76 – vice-captain)
- Tevita Mafileo (58)
- Hugo Plummer (9)
- Warner Dearns (1)
- Devan Flanders (57)
- Peter Lakai (38)
- Brayden Iose (52)
- Cam Roigard (48)
- Callum Harkin (11)
- Fehi Fineanganofo (13)
- Jordie Barrett (112 – captain)
- Billy Proctor (69)
- Bailyn Sullivan (41)
- Josh Moorby (39)
- Jacob Devery (18)
- Xavier Numia (77)
- Siale Lauaki (5)
- Isaia Walker-Leawere (79)
- Brad Shields (129)
- Ereatara Enari (13)
- Lucas Cashmore (debut)
- Ngane Punivai (15)
UNAVAILABLE DUE TO INJURY
Caleb Delany (calf): 1 week
Du’Plessis Kirifi (calf): 1 week
Jai Tamati (ankle): 8-10 weeks
Brett Cameron (knee): TBC – awaiting specialist review
Harry Godfrey (knee): Expected to miss season
Ruben Love (ankle): 3-5 weeks
Josh Timu (foot): 6-8 weeks
Kini Naholo (knee): 1-3 weeks
Clark Laidlaw and two players will be available to speak to media at Wellington Airport from 3pm tomorrow.
