Leawere to start for Hurricanes, while Pita Gus to start for Chiefs this Friday

Isaia Walker Leawere has been named in the starting line-up for the Hurricanes when they take on the Chiefs this Friday.

Leawere is the son of former Flying Fijians captain, Kele Leawere and started his rugby career for the Wellington Rugby club in 2016.

The 22-year-old will be playing alongside James Blackwell in the lock position with Dane Coles making his first start of the season in the hooker position.

Coles has also been given the captaincy role for this week’s match.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs have welcomed back Damian McKenzie from his All Blacks rest week as he will be starting at fullback.

Also named in the starting line-up for the Chiefs is Fijian born, Pita Gus Sowakula.

The Hurricanes will take on the Chiefs at 6.05pm Friday.

Hurricanes team to face Chiefs

1-Fraser Armstrong, 2-Dane Coles (c), 3-Ben May, 4-James Blackwell, 5-Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6-Devan Flanders, 7-Du'Plessis Kirifi, 8-Gareth Evans, 9-TJ Perenara (cc), 10-Fletcher Smith, 11-Ben Lam, 12-Ngani Laumape, 13-Vince Aso, 14-Kobus Van Wyk, 15-Jordie Barrett

Reserves: 16-Asafo Aumua, 17-Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18-Alex Fidow, 19-Scott Scrafton, 20-Vaea Fifita, 21-Jamie Booth, 22-Billy Proctor, 23-Wes Goosen

Chiefs team taking on the Hurricanes

15. Damian McKenzie, 14. Shaun Stevenson, 13. Tumua Manu, 12. Anton Lienert-Brown, 11. Solomon Alaimalo, 10. Aaron Cruden, 9. Brad Weber, 8. Pita Gus Sowakula, 7. Sam Cane, 6. Lachlan Boshier, 5. Mitchell Brown, 4. Michael Allardice, 3. Ross Geldenhuys, 2. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 1. Aidan Ross.

Reserves: 16. Bradley Slater, 17. Atu Moli, 18. Rebuen O'Neill, 19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20. Mitchell Karpik, 21. Lisati Milo-Harris, 22. Kaleb Trask, 23. Alex Nankivell.

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