KEY POINTS:
Wairarapa Bush hooker Joe Harwood will captain the New Zealand Heartland XV rugby squad named today to tour the United States.
NZRU general manager of community and provincial union rugby Brent Anderson said the mini-tour would be a fitting reward for those involved.
"Getting selected for this team is recognition for outstanding performances in this year's Heartland Championship."
The side will be coached by former Manawatu and Horowhenua-Kapiti coach Peter Kemp, assisted by Wanganui head coach Guy Lennox, and managed by Crusaders manager Tony Thorpe.
New Zealand Heartland XV squad
Michael Broadhurst (Poverty Bay), Coll Campbell (Poverty Bay), Brenton Connell (Mid Canterbury), Cameron Crowley (Wanganui), Jon Dampney (Mid Canterbury), Daniel Dwyer (Mid Canterbury), Michael Fitzgerald (Wanganui), Andrew Gadsby (West Coast), Matthew Gilbert (Wanganui), Jason Gill (Mid Canterbury), Ross Hay (North Otago), Joseph Harwood (Wairarapa Bush, Captain), Scott Leighton (Poverty Bay), Hamish McKenzie (North Otago), Leon Mason (Wanganui), Kevin Moore (Buller), Hayden Rasmussen (Thames Valley), Jason Rickard (Mid Canterbury), Corey Simpson (West Coast), Eric Smith (South Canterbury), Andrew Stephens (Buller), Lasa Ulukuta (West Coast).
A further two players will be added to the squad once travel documentation requirements have been completed.
Schedule
November 2 v Pacific Coast Grizzlies San Francisco
November 8 v USA Select XV, Salt Lake City
- NZPA
