• The game will be the second instalment of the Canterbury FPC NPC Doubleheader at Eden Park.
• Six debutants named in gameday 23.

Auckland begins their campaign for an 18th National Provincial Title when they welcome Canterbury to Eden Park on Sunday afternoon. The two provinces have given rugby fans around New Zealand a number of high-quality fixtures over their rich history.

Head Coach, Alama Ieremia has named six debutants in his game-day 23 for the opening round while also calling on his experience in pivotal areas of the field.

Alex Hodgman, Leni Apisai and Marcel Renata will join forces in the front row. Apisai and Renata will return to the Blue and White Hoops after an impressive 2020 NPC season. Hodgman managed two starts for Auckland in 2020 before joining the All Blacks for the international season. 

Scott Scrafton will take up his treasured role in the second row with Auckland Rugby returnee, Jamie Lane.
The only newcomer to the Loose Forward trio will be Eden Number 8 and debutant, Vaiolini Ekuasi. Ekuasi will be coming off a strong Goodyear Club Rugby season, earning his spot in the New Zealand Under20 squad in 2021.

Ekuasi’s NZ Under20 teammate, Corey Evans will don the Blue and White Hoops for the first time in the second-five position. 

Evans will be flanked by his Grammar TEC clubmen, Bryce Heem at centre and newly appointed captain, Harry Plummer at first-five.

Four more debutants will be looking to express their talents on the field come Sunday. Sione Ahio, Jordan Lay, Kitiona Vai and Solomone Kata will be hoping to run out onto Eden Park for their home province and earn their first Auckland cap.

The last time the two sides met was in the last round of the 2020 NPC competition where Canterbury lifted themselves from the jaws of relegation to snatch the game in the dying minutes with a penalty kick.

Kick-off is at 4:35pm following the Auckland Storm taking on Canterbury in the FPC at 2:05pm.

Family packs are available for Sunday with 2 Adults and 2 Children for $30. Tickets can be secured through ticketmaster.co.nz.  

Auckland team v Canterbury

1. Alex Hodgman

2. Leni Apisai

3. Marcel Renata

4. Scott Srafton

5. Jamie Lane

6. Adrian Choat

7. Blake Gibson

8. Vaiolini Ekuasi

9. Jonathan Ruru

10. Harry Plummer

11. Salesi Rayasi

12. Corey Evans

13. Bryce Heem

14. AJ Lam

15. Zarn Sullivan

16. Soane Vikena

17. Jordan Lay

18. Sione Ahio

19. Sione Tuipulotu

20. Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa

21. Kitiona Vai

22. Taufa Funaki

23. Solomone Kata