RUGBY - Coach calls boys home

Rudi Wulf's selection ahead of Rene Ranger in the All Black squad announced yesterday capped off a positive week for Northland coach Bryce Woodward as he plans this year's campaign.
While the taciturn Woodward was unlikely to be tossing back the champagne, he'll be relieved to have one of his main strike weapons available to play in the Air New Zealand Cup season opener on July 31.
Wellsford powerhouse Ranger was selected for the Junior All Blacks to play in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup alongside Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and Japan, which will be all over by July 3, rather than the Tri-series that clashes with the Air NZ Cup.
Rounding out a good weekend for Woodward was a sparkling performance by another of his 2009 recruits, Troy Woodman, playing for Hora Hora on his return from overseas.
Woodman missed the last season for Northland, playing in Western Australia, but has returned to Whangarei to push his Super 14 claims for next year. If his form on Saturday was anything to go by, he could be one of Northland's top try scorers this season.
"I've got a few options: either going back to Italy or France but I'd prefer to stay here. My objective is to make the Super 14 next year," Woodman said.
Woodward has been tracking down players with Northland links and checking out their status and availability.
"It's amazing how many people come out of the woodwork when you're looking, it becomes just a matter of following up and seeing what their standard is," he said.
Josh Levi is another former Taniwha player who has been tempted back for the Northland trial on June 17 at Hikurangi.
"Josh is on his way back so that's good news for us and Matt Clutterbuck has made a commitment to come back to play in the trial as well."
Clutterbuck, who comes off a farm near Broadwood is another product of the Northland system. The blindside flanker is in the middle of his final exams at Otago University and was a regular starter for North Otago last year.
Super 14 players Bronson Murray and Jared Payne return home from their from Canterbury sojourn just in time for the trial but Woodward will use them and other senior players such as Dan Goodwin and Nick Collins as assistant coaches for the trial teams, giving Woodward and his assistant Blair Larsen free reign to select the side.
"They'll be available but they won't play in the trial, there's no sense in putting them at risk in a game where they're already guaranteed selection. It also gives someone else a chance to put their hand up," he said.
The selectors will have a number of "spotters" on the night. They will be watching battles develop for trial places in specific positions - and will give their feedback to the selectors.
There are 15 players already confirmed for the year so, with a minimum of 26 to be signed, 11 contracts are still up for grabs in a variety of positions right throughout the Northland team.
NORTHLAND TRIAL TEAMS
South Team: A Davis, M Wallis, C Fernandez, J Davies, R Wright, M Harrison, R Griffin, B Christensen, M Clutterbuck, F Van Loggerenburg, R Waata, S Ward, R Wright, M Tuu'u, L Hamilton, J Levi, J Moimoi, W Dunn, JJ Ranger, B Gilmore, M Cooper, M Wright, L Wendt, K Vette-Welsh, L Munro.
North Team: M Scoles, H Brown, T Windleborn, K Haitana, T Vainakolo, PJ Atkins, S Griffin, S Baker, J Gndolo, A Ritchie, C Eyre, J Cocker, J McKenzie, A Clarke, D Godwin, R Caine, Q Butler, C Walding, S Mafi, D Fakafanua, B Flavell, N Collins, T Jurgensen, J Stewart-Whitihira, H Foy.