Rugby: Key lessons for Tuis trio

Magpies assistant coach Danny Lee supervises Ashley Emerson, left, and Rose Campbell during a warm-up drill at the camp. Photo / Paul Taylor

Three of the younger members of the Hawke's Bay Tuis will have some of the most up-to-date rugby knowledge to pass around when the season begins tomorrow.

Karamu High School loose forward Tamia Edwards, outside back Talon Robinson, and Taikura Rudolf Steiner School student Niamh Jefferson who also plays for the Karamu side at centre, are among 27 players at the Hawke's Bay Rugby Football Union's inaugural three-day under-18 girls representative camp which ends at Lindisfarne College today.

"The new initiative is part of a worldwide push to develop the female game in this age group so they can strive for higher honours. In Hawke's Bay's case it's the Tuis and then either the Black Ferns or New Zealand Sevens team," Tuis and Hawke's Bay under-18 girls coach Terangi Maeva said.

The representative camps have been in place for the Bay's under-14, 16 and 18 male teams since 2008 and have played a key role in improved success for those sides.

"A highlight of the camp was a visit by Magpies assistant coach Danny Lee and several Magpies players during some of the coaching sessions. They covered core skills, the contact area and breakdown play," Maeva said.

Lee said he was excited by the talent on display.

"We've got Year 9 to Year 13 students who are all in the same team so we had to make sure they could all understand the basic core skills. From our point of view we are pleased women's rugby is in good hands and it's good for the future."

Mental skills, nutrition workshops, fitness testing, team expectations and culture were other topics on the camp programme. The Hawke's Bay under-18 girls team will play Taranaki, Wellington, Manawatu and Wanganui this season.

Maeva will have Tuis frontrower Sharlena Maui as her assistant coach with the under-18 team.

Her Tuis team, which isn't playing in the Women's National Provincial Championship this season, will play two 40-minute games against Manawatu and Bay of Plenty at Taupo's Owen Delaney Park tomorrow. The following Saturday they will play Manawatu and Wellington in Palmerston North.

These games are among the early steps in the Hawke's Bay union's quest to have the Tuis back in the WNPC next year.

"By taking a step back to channel existing and potential players into a long-term player development pathway, the focus will be placed on skills, game sense and fitness standards for 2016 with a view to re-entry into the WNPC in 2017 ready to put a stamp on the competition," union development officer Jarvy Aoake said earlier this year.

Maeva is excited about the mix of youth and experience in her Tuis squad. Edwards will start at openside flanker.

Robinson will start on one wing and Maeva has high hopes for another promising winger, Felicity Powdrell, who like Robinson, is in her second season as a Tui.

Halfback Gemma Woods, who has played 35 first class games for the Tuis, second five-eighth Jaimee Edwards and Clive player-coach, utility back Te Maari MacGregor, will provide plenty of experience in the backline. MacGregor played the last of her 38 first class games for the Tuis in 2012.

Former Tuis player-coach Chanel Huddleston, who played the last of her 64 first class games for the side in 2014, will again provide valuable experience.

"We've got several players who didn't play last year for various reasons. I'm excited about our three under-18 players who are making the step up. In terms of rugby knowledge they are quite mature and it's good for the future," Maeva said.

Tuis squad for tomorrow: Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, Melanie Te Whaiti, Natalie Cotton, Selena Hamlin, Marley Te Ahuru, Jamie Heather, Rebekah Hurae, Christine Lauvao-Araia, Te Aroha Hunt, Tamia Edwards, Jana Harris, Chanel Huddleston, Felicity Powdrell, Jaimee Edwards, Tori Lauvao-Araia, Talon Robinson, Te Maari MacGregor, Lara Kendrick, Niamh Jefferson, Sylvia Bockman, Jess Bennett, Gemma Woods, Kaylah Clarke-Winiata, Whitney Olsen, Ra Mason, Kandice Kemp Collins.