Wellington Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper has announced a strong Hurricanes squad for the 2009 Rebel Sport Super 14, including nine new caps.
The Official Hurricanes website reports that Josh Bradnock, Dane Coles, Bryn Evans, Jason Kawau, Daniel Kirkpatrick, Faifili Levave, Karl Lowe, Api Naikatini and Victor Vito. New Zealand Maori representative Kawau is the only player selected from outside the Hurricanes region.
The 2009 Hurricanes squad is as follows:
First Name | Last Name | Position | Height | Weight | DOB | Province |
Jacob | Ellison | Prop | 1.90m | 112kg | 25.02.85 | Wellington |
Tim | Fairbrother | Prop | 1.80m | 115kg | 12.03.82 | Wellington |
John | Schwalger | Prop | 1.87m | 121kg | 28.09.83 | Wellington |
Neemia | Tialata | Prop | 1.87m | 127kg | 15.07.82 | Wellington |
Dane | Coles | Hooker | 1.84m | 104kg | 10.12.86 | Wellington |
Andrew | Hore | Hooker | 1.83m | 110kg | 13.09.78 | Taranaki |
Jason | Eaton | Lock | 2.02m | 111kg | 21.08.82 | Taranaki |
Bryn | Evans | Lock | 1.96m | 115kg | 28.10.84 | Hawke’s Bay |
Jeremy | Thrush | Lock | 1.98m | 113kg | 19.04.85 | Wellington |
Josh | Bradnock | Loose Forward | 1.81m | 97kg | 21.12.82 | Manawatu |
Faifili | Levave | Loose Forward | 1.92m | 92kg | 15.01.86 | Wellington |
Karl | Lowe | Loose Forward | 1.81m | 101kg | 17.09.84 | Hawke’s Bay |
Api | Naikatini | Loose Forward / Lock | 1.95m | 107kg | 04.04.85 | Wellington |
Rodney | So’oialo | Loose Forward | 1.90m | 107kg | 03.10.79 | Wellington |
Victor | Vito | Loose Forward | 1.92m | 110kg | 27.03.87 | Wellington |
Scott | Waldrom | Loose Forward | 1.82m | 95kg | 25.07.80 | Taranaki |
Alby | Mathewson | Scrumhalf | 1.76m | 91kg | 13.12.85 | Wellington |
Piri | Weepu | Scrumhalf | 1.78m | 94kg | 07.09.83 | Wellington |
Daniel | Kirkpatrick | Flyhalf | 1.82m | 90kg | 28.11.88 | Wellington |
Willie | Ripia | Flyhalf | 1.79m | 91kg | 20.08.85 | Taranaki |
Conrad | Smith | Centre | 1.86m | 95kg | 12.10.81 | Wellington |
Jason | Kawau | Midfield Back | 1.86m | 98kg | 05.02.81 | Southland |
Ma’a | Nonu | Midfield Back / Wing | 1.82m | 104kg | 21.05.82 | Wellington |
Hosea | Gear | Wing | 1.89m | 100kg | 16.03.84 | Wellington |
Zac | Guildford | Wing | 1.85m | 93kg | 08.02.89 | Hawke’s Bay |
Cory | Jane | Wing / Fullback | 1.83m | 88kg | 08.02.83 | Wellington |
David | Smith | Wing | 1.79m | 92kg | 12.10.86 | Wellington |
Tamati | Ellison | Utility Back | 1.87m | 97kg | 01.04.83 | Wellington |

I actually don’t think this team is that good.
When they gonna announce the sharks team?
Very strong front row and in the backs from 12 outwards but not to much depth.
I think we are going to see an even weaker bottom 3 or 4 in the Super 14 this coming season.
this is a kak squad.
@Bok-Clyde-Kiwi (Comment 2) : you already know who’s going to be in it, though…
1′s: Beast, Deon
2′s: John, Bis, Skipper
3′s: Jannie, Pat
4′s: Sykes, Hargo
5′s: Muller, Big Al
6′s: JB, Keegan, maybe Skollie?
7′s: Wolla, Blignaut
8′s: Kanko, ???
9′s: Rocket, McLeod
10′s: Pienaar
11′s: JP, Lwazi Mvovo?
12′s: Fransie, Strauss
13′s: Adi, Waylon, Swannie
14′s: Odders, Jordaan?
15′s: Stef
I reckon that’s more or less it… give or take a name or two.
Watch out for this lad though.
Victor Vito
1.92m
110kg
27.03.87
@KSA Shark © (Comment 7) : oh ho! The 7s whizz has decided to try play with the big boys…
Let’s see how clever he feels after getting Wolla’d a few times
@robdylan (Comment 8) :
He is still a youngster, but give him a season or two.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 9) : ok – so still only 21 or 22… he’s the next big thing, isn’t he?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 7) :
Yes him and also Willie Ripia.
But they are desperately short on experience in the loosies (Collins’ name is a glaring ommission) and also at lock.
You can attack their tight 5 I reckon.
@MorneN (Comment 11) : Ripia is still very green, though… ever heard of the other flyhalf?
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=4&art_id=vn20081215103813124C953724
@robdylan (Comment 12) :
Cant say I have Rob, but then we hardly saw any NPC games this year.
@robdylan (Comment 10) :
That is what they say and was apparently very good in the NPC for Wellington.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 15) : and Wellington had a very good NPC as well. And we’ve grabbed another of their coaches
I suspect Weepu might get employed at flyhalf on more than just the odd occasion during the season.
@robdylan (Comment 16) :
we have?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 18) : Chris Boyd?
@robdylan (Comment 19) :
Ah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.sharksworld.co.za/2008/09/23/sharks-bring-another-kiwi-coach-on-board/
Our search function works well.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 20) : it does, doesn’t it?
They appear to be missing a couple of guys from this year’s S14: Jerry Collins, Jimmy Gopperth, Chris Masoe, Shannon Paku, Jeremy Thrush, Tane Tuipiluto, Bernie Upton, Thomas Waldrom.
Only 3 locks, and 8 guys gone from this year is a big change in personnel. I am going to call this team to finish out of the top 4.
@Baldrick (Comment 22) :
well below the top 4 I think.
Thrush is there but all the others are gone.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 23) : yeah, but this is just a preliminary squad. It really means nothing much
@KSA Shark © (Comment 23) : They finished 4th this year with a good squad, I don’t see them making the semis again. Certainly don’t expect them to finish in the bottom 3rd, but certainly around mid to upper table, 5th to 7th. I put Zim$ 100 000 000 000 000 000 (16c) on them to finish 6th.
@Baldrick (Comment 25) : Zim$ 100 000 000 000 000 000 (16c)
Gee their currency has gotten stronger suddenly
@KSA Shark © (Comment 26) : Yeah, apparently there is no more cholera.
@Baldrick (Comment 27) : hey now!
@robdylan (Comment 28) : Sorry, was meant as a humorous dig rather than political.
@Baldrick (Comment 29) : no worries, Baldie…