Rugby: Talented Taniwha quartet all the Presidents' men

Kara Pryor (centre) and brother Dan will join the team. Photo/Alex Woods

A quartet of Taniwha players has been recruited to turn the "whipping boys" of the Taniwha Shield into a competitive team.

The Pryor brothers, Dan and Kara, will team up with Whiria Meltzer and Dan Hawkins to coach the Presidents team in the annual competition, which starts today and runs until Saturday at the Kaiwaka Sports Complex.

Northland Rugby Union chief executive Jeremy Parkinson said the Presidents team had essentially been picked by them to try and create a more competitive Shield.

Including teams from Mangonui, Northern Wairoa, Bay of Islands, Hokianga, Rodney/Otamatea, and Whangarei, the Presidents are made up of a combination of players who weren't selected for the other teams.

"There is a Presidents team which is made up of unlucky boys who had missed out on the teams that come together," he explained. "Traditionally they've been the whipping boys of the tournament, with in excess of 50 points against them for most games.

"This year, the Northland Rugby Union has taken on this mantra of resourcing and putting this team together and we've managed to organise the Pryor boys, Kara and Dan, Whiria Meltzer, and Dan Hawkins to coach it."

Parkinson said the gesture had been well received by the community, hopefully up-skilling several players in the process.

"It has taken away, I suppose, the disappointment of these kids not making the other teams, but are playing in the Presidents team coached by Northland ITM Cup players."