New Zealand Rugby League is pleased to announce the following players have been selected to represent the New Zealand Residents team who will take on the England Community Lions on November 1st at Trusts Arena in Auckland.

The game will be televised live on SKY Sport with kick-off scheduled for 6:35pm.

First name Surname Region Club

Francis Leger Akarana Pt Chevalier

Simon Luafalealo Akarana Glenora

Sala Falelua-Malio Akarana Mt Albert

Josiah Afu Akarana Northcote

David Bhana Akarana Northcote

Eiden Ackland Akarana Mt Albert

Siliga Kepaoa Akarana Pt Chevalier

Matti Tuitama Akarana Pt Chevalier

Penitito Ilalio Canterbury  Linwood

Jope Tagicakibau CanterburyRiccarton

Tevin Arona Canterbury Hornby

Brad Campbell Canterbury Hornby

Michael Butson Canterbury Northern Bulldogs

Alex Todd Canterbury Linwood

Geronimo Doyle Counties Otahuhu

Connor Purcell Counties Otahuhu

Nicholas Halalilo Counties Mangere East

Jerome Flood Waikato Ngaruawahia

Role First name Surname Region

Head Coach Andrew Auimatagi Canterbury

Assistant Coach Phil Gordon Akarana

Assistant Coach Spencer Taplin Counties

Head Trainer Jamie Williamson Counties

Manager Alana Lockhorst Southland

This Residents squad is made up of the best from the NZRL National Men’s competition, many of whom have already achieved professional or international rugby league success.

Canterbury’s Tevin Arona was just named in the Cook Island Nines squad and will take the field this coming weekend in the inaugural World Nines. David Bhana is no stranger to the professional league, before his retirement due to injury two years ago, he captained the Warriors U20s, the Junior Kiwis in 2013, was named in the NRL 20s team of 2013, played professionally for the Newcastle Knights and also represented NZ Māori.

Akarana playmaker, Aiden Ackland, has played 33 times scoring 62 points for the Warriors Jersey Flegg / Holden Cup team and Head Coach Andrew Auimatagi, coached the Canterbury Bulls to the NZRL 2019 Premiership final this year and also doubled as Linwood Keas’ Head Coach, guiding them to victory three years running.

The sought after fixture will be the closing bout of the first-ever England Community Lions tour down under. The England Community Lions will also come up against a North Island Championship Selection at Owen Delany Park in Taupo on October 24 and the New Zealand Māori Residents XIII team in Rotorua on Sunday, October 27.

Greg Peters, CEO of NZRL, says this fixture will further showcase the undeniable regional talent on offer.

“It’s extremely exciting to see a team of such calibre named, not only for the players but for the game in general. The more opportunities we give to our local players and coaching staff, the better the game gets and to come up against a quality international side is a bonus. Congratulations to all who made the team.”

The first weekend of November will be jam-packed with New Zealand Rugby League action at all levels, as the Residents take on the England Community Lions on Friday 1st closely followed by the much-anticipated clash between the Great Britain Lions and Kiwis on Saturday 2nd November.

Article added: Tuesday 15 October 2019