• 24-man squad to play matches against Brumbies A and Waratahs A sides
• Opportunity for players to experience a High Performance environment for the first time
• Club and Super Rugby players to come together well in advance of Mitre 10 Cup

The Auckland Contenders Tour will get underway in earnest this week with the side due to depart on Wednesday.

They will face the Brumbies A team in Canberra first-up in what is sure to be an eye-opener for some in the squad who are yet to do long distance to and from games, while also experiencing a much higher level of opposition than they may be used to.

The Waratahs will then look to bring the heat a week later with what is likely to be close to their full-strength side courtesy of a bye week from the Super Rugby competition.

The 24-strong touring squad will have first crack at showing their wares to the Mitre 10 Cup coaching staff before the club season even begins, and Mitre 10 Cup Head Coach Alama Ieremia is clear as to what his expectations are for the next two weeks.

“We’re looking to continue with the momentum we built through last year’s campaign. Being able to expose these players to a High Performance also accelerates their learning and will ready them if and when they’re called upon during the Mitre 10 Cup.”

The tour also provides a clear opportunity for players to develop and gain an understanding of the rigours of professional football outside of the usual competition window.

The development of the coaches is also a bonus of the trip away, with regular Assistant Coach Tai Lavea gaining the mantle of Head Coach for the tour with Alama Ieremia taking a relative backseat.

“This is an opportunity I’m really looking forward to” said Lavea. “Having worked with a number of these players during last campaign, it’s now exciting to be able to take them on a tour such as this, and test them and myself against quality opposition in a different part of the world.”

Within the squad there is a healthy mix of club regulars and fringe Super Rugby players, and Lavea sees this as an early opportunity for the two sets of players to mix as a collective, months in advance of any formal Mitre 10 Cup team gatherings.

“There was a real emphasis last year for us on getting our Club and Super Rugby players on-board as one. This tour now gives us a unique opportunity to do the same again although much earlier and in a touring environment which will undoubtedly bring them closer as a unit, which can only bode well for later on in 2019.”

Contenders squad: (* denotes player available for Waratahs game only)

Leka Tu’ungafasi (Grammar TEC)

Mike Sosene-Feagai (Mt Wellington)

Jarred Adams (Suburbs)

Jamie Lane (Ponsonby)

Samuel Slade (Ponsonby)

Cameron Suafoa (College Rifles)

Aleks Dabek (Ponsonby)

Malgene Ilaua (TBC)

Frank Malu (Mt Wellington)

Antonio Ripata (University)

Rob Cobb (Ponsonby)*

Scott Scrafton (Grammar TEC)*

Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa (Ponsonby)

Ezra Meleisea (Pakuranga)

Pele Cowley (Suburbs)

Oliver Polson (Grammar TEC)

AJ Lam (Grammar TEC)

Matt Johnson (TBC)

Tevita Latu (University)

Hawaii Ahokovi (Pakuranga)

Ethan Thompson (Suburbs)

Paul Richardson (Grammar TEC)

Junior Matautia (Waitemata)

Jordan Trainor (Ponsonby)*

Game 1:

Auckland Contenders v Brumbies A

Friday 22 February, 8pm (NZT), Campese Oval (Queanbeyan Rugby Club)

Game 2:

Auckland Contenders v Waratahs A

Friday 1 March, 7.30pm (NZT), David Phillips Sports Complex