Former All Blacks hooker Hika Elliot will add another black jersey to his collection.
Elliot was yesterday named in a Heartland XV squad that features the rare sight of precisely zero North Otago players.
The four-test All Black charged about with vigour for South Canterbury, impressing the man who pulls double duty as his provincial coach and the Heartland XV coach.
“He’s excited to be part of this squad," Nigel Walsh said.
“He brings leadership on and off the field and knows what it means to wear the black jersey. I know he’ll do whatever he can to help the squad but at the same time, will just be one of the boys.”
Elliot is joined by no fewer than seven of his South Canterbury team-mates, some consolation for their long winning streak in the Heartland Championship coming to an end last weekend.
He is one of 15 potential debutants in the 25-man squad thanks to a combination of retirements, injuries and performances that could not be ignored.
Nine players — six from Thames Valley, three from Mid Canterbury — will clash in the Meads Cup final this weekend.
North Otago’s disappointing season is reflected in their absence from the squad.
The Old Golds missed out on the playoffs for the first time since 1999, and the unfortunate result is they fail to supply a single player to the Heartland XV for the first time since it was first selected in 2006.
The players assemble next week for games in Whanganui against a New Zealand Māori Selection (October 29) and the New Zealand Barbarians (November 2).
“We want to do ourselves and all the Heartland unions proud — we represent all of them," Walsh said.
"It will be challenging with so many new players but they are an exciting bunch so we welcome the work we need to do and hopefully will play some exciting rugby."
Heartland XV
The squad
Anthony Amato, Tokoma’ata Fakatava, Paula Fifita, Hika Elliot, Finlay Joyce, Siu Kakala, William Wright, Clarence Moli (South Canterbury), Matty Axtens, Quinn Collard, Toddy Doolan, Sione Etoni, Oneone Faafou, Te Huia Kutia (Thames Valley), Ethan Robinson, Tyler Rogers Holden, Peceli Malanicagi (Whanganui), Kaleb Foote, Kristian Gent-Standen (King Country), Poleka Itielu, Dallas Wiki (Horowhenua-Kapiti), Adam Williamson, Declan McCormack, Raitube Vasurakuta (Mid Canterbury), Logan Wakefield (Wairarapa-Bush)
