The 2022 Auckland Storm squad has been confirmed for the Farah Palmer Cup season.

Head Coach Willie Walker has named a squad ladened with young talent as the group of Wahine Toa look to continue the story of the most successful women’s provincial rugby team.

The Auckland Storm 2021 FPC season was cruelly cut short due to the COVID-19 outbreak in New Zealand. The Auckland-wide lockdown caused the Blue and White Hoops to finish their 2021 campaign with a 3-1 record. Walker and his squad hope to honour their Auckland Rugby community and commercial partners with a complete campaign this season.

Last season, in a New Zealand first, Auckland Rugby forged a partnership with Auckland’s most iconic landmark to support the continued growth of female rugby in the region. Sky Tower has signed on with Auckland Rugby to cement themselves as a leading light in supporting females in sport to go alongside their commitment to World Cup 2021 (being played in 2022) in Auckland.

The 2022 Auckland Storm squad will be bolstered by six Black Ferns looking to continue leading their home province, beginning with a season opener against Counties Manukau on July 16 in Auckland.

The Coleman Shield success of Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club has been complemented with strong number of players included in the squad. Marist’s selections are spearheaded by Utility Back and Black Fern, Patricia Maliepo, Halfback Luisa Togotogoroa and Tongan international Mele Hufanga.

The forward pack will be led by 75-cap veteran Aleisha-Pearl Nelson, Ponsonby captain Cristo Tofa and Saphire Abraham, all players with Black Ferns experience. Young talents Cilia-Marie Po’e and Chryss Viliko will undoubtedly express their dominance up front.

Eloise Blackwell will once again join the Auckland squad at Lock with new Black Fern and nib Blues Forward of The Year Maiakawanakaulani Roos locking next to the experienced head.

A dynamic selection of loose forwards will be in plenty for coach Walker. Black Ferns Liana Mikaele-Tu’u and Tafito Lafele have an abundance of talent to display, and the experience of Ponsonby Rugby Club members Charmaine McMenamin and Shannon Leota will be vital in big situations.

Halfback Luisa Togotogorua was instrumental in her club’s Coleman Shield victory and will steer into her third season for the Auckland Storm. Tongotongorua will be joined in the halfback ranks by Mel Pucket who is coming off a Super Rugby Aupiki season with the nib Blues.

Black Ferns Captain and Auckland Storm veteran Ruahei Demant will pull the strings from first-five eighth. The College Rifles Club member will be in her ninth season with the Blue and White Hoops. Black Ferns teammate Patricia Maliepo will receive minutes in the first-five position while providing worthy cover in almost all other positions in the backline.

Coleman Shield top try scorers Katelyn Vaha’akolo and Mele Hufanga will star in the midfield for the Storm. The physicality and footwork of both players have been appreciated on the international stage and in multiple codes.

Vaha’akolo is coming off a 16 try-haul in the Coleman Shield season and an NRLW campaign with the Newcastle Knights. Katelyn travelled back to her hometown of Auckland following her NRLW season to run out for the Kiwi Ferns against Tonga at Mt Smart Stadium. The dual-code athlete will join brother and Otago winger Freedom Vaha’akolo as another brother-sister combo in the provincial rugby competitions.

The Auckland Storm will not be short of pace in the backfield with College Rifles backs Sam Curtis and Jade Bowen. Bowen enters the squad for the first time after international experience on the touch field.

Head Coach Walker has added the knowledge of Francis Stowers to his coaching group. Stowers links up with the team as Forwards Coach, joining Auckland Rugby and Black Ferns legend Anna Richards as Backs Coach and Will Hafu as Assistant Forwards Coach.

Walker is excited to get his FPC campaign underway after a disrupted 2021 season.

“Firstly, congratulations to the girls who have been named in the 2022 squad. Coming off the back of a hotly contested Coleman Shield season and FPC pre-season, the coaching group has had to make some challenging decisions. I’m excited to see this group express their skill and flare this season in what will be an exciting year for women’s rugby in New Zealand.”

On August 6, the Auckland Storm fixture against Manawatu will be a part of a tripleheader that will encompass a celebration of rugby in Auckland.

The game will be played alongside the Auckland NPC “Battle of The Bridge” against North Harbour and a special Gallaher Shield Final, celebrating 100 years of our Premier Men’s competition at the garden of Eden.

The second Triple Header at Eden Park will be on August 27 where the Auckland Storm face Wellington, the Auckland NPC team will welcome Otago, and the two top Auckland Secondary Schools will battle it out for the prestigious 1A title.

The Auckland Storm will play host to Counties Manukau and Manawatu and will be on the road to Canterbury, Bay of Plenty and Waikato.

2022 Auckland Storm Squad

Abby Lockhart

Alakoka Po’oi

Aleisha-Pearl Nelson

Angelica Vahai

Charmaine McMenamin

Chaz Tumu-Makaio

Chey Tuli

Chryss Viliko

Cilia Marie Po’e

Cristo Tofa

Daynah Nankivell

Elizabeth Moimoi

Eloise Blackwell

Jade Bowen

Jess Dermody

Katelyn Vaha’akolo

Kiritapu Demant

Liana Mikaele Tu’u

Luisa Togotogorua

Maama Vaipulu

Maiakawanakaulani Roos

Mel Puckett

Mele Hufanga

Patricia Maleipo

Ruahei Demant

Sam Curtis

Saphire Abraham

Shannon Leota

Shonte To’a

Sophie Fisher

Suli Halifi

Sylvia Brunt

Tafito Lafaele

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