Chiefs Manawa captain Kennedy Tukuafu will become the first player ever to reach 20 Sky Super Rugby Aupiki games for one club this Saturday when her side take on the Blues at FMG Stadium Waikato (4.35pm kick-off).
The 28-year-old has appeared in every game the Manawa have played across the four seasons of the Aupiki competition to date and was a member of the club’s inaugural women’s team which took part in an historic one-off match at Eden Park in 2021.
Joining Tukuafu in celebrating a milestone in Round 4 of the Sky Super Rugby Aupiki season is halfback Ariana Bayler, who will hit 20 games in the competition following three seasons with the Manawa and a one-year stint with the Blues.
Bayler also played alongside Tukuafu in the one-off 2021 game.
The squad also includes a debutante on the bench in four-Test Black Fern Rosie Kelly.
The Manawa’s first standalone home game of the year comes on the back of a bumper crowd of 6,000 coming through the gates for last week’s 46-7 victory over Hurricanes Poua, which marked the side’s first victory of the season.
Tickets to the match start at $15 and are available here.
Chiefs Manawa v Blues, Saturday March 22, 4.35pm kick-off at FMG Stadium Waikato
1. Kate Henwood
2. Vici Rose-Green
3. Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu
4. Jade Coates
5. Charmaine Smith
6. Chyna Hohepa
7. Martha Mataele
8. Kennedy Tukuafu (c)
9. Ariana Bayler
10. Kelly Brazier
11. Mererangi Paul
12. Kiriana Nolan
13. Azalleyah Maaka
14. Ruby Tui
15. Tenika Willison
16. Grace Houpapa-Barrett
17. Krystal Murray
18. Santo Taumata
19. Logan Hauraki
20. Mia Anderson
21. Holli O’Sullivan
22. Rosie Kelly
23. Shoshanah Seumanutafa
Chiefs Manawa injury update ahead of Round 4
Tanya Kalounivale, Finger, Short-term
