12 current or former Black Ferns headline 2022 Farah Palmer Cup Squad
Black Fern Alana Bremner will have a wealth of experience to call on in as she captains the Canterbury Farah Palmer Cup side for a third year, with 11 other current or former Black Ferns alongside, as well as Black Ferns Sevens’ speedster Jorja Miller and Rugby League international Charntay Poko.
The ability of Head Coach Blair Baxter to call on these players means the squad will have an excellent mix of experience, skill and exciting fresh talent, highlighting the best that the international, super and club rugby stages have to offer as Canterbury look to go one better this season.
The backbone of the 2022 squad will be filled by the current Black Ferns, Lincoln University’s Georgia Ponsonby, Amy Rule, Grace Steinmetz, Alana and Chelsea Bremner, Christchurch’s Phillipa Love, Amy Du Plessis and Lucy Anderson and University’s Kendra Cocksedge. Alongside them, Grace Brooker (Lincoln University), Marcelle Parkes (University) and Stephanie Te Ohaere-Fox (Christchurch) all boast international experience and will be instrumental in this years’ side.
Jorja Miller will also join the side from the Black Ferns Sevens set-up, where she’ll be looking to continue the form and promise she showed last year in being awarded the Patterson Cup for Most Promising Women’s Player. Rugby League international Charntay Poko returns to Canterbury for the first time since 2017, eager to add to her 33 caps.
“To have a number of Black Ferns in our squad is an exciting prospect, their experiences will add considerable value to our entire squad and plenty of excitement for our fans too. It’s going to be an epic year,” said Coach Blair Baxter.
The side also represents the best and fairest from the recently completed Women’s Premier competition, with a number of the strongest performers rewarded with a call-up to this year’s side.
Amongst them are newcomers Moomooga (Ona) Palu and Greer Muir, who have recently completed moves to the region following appearing for Matatū and were key contributors in Christchurch’s Premiership success.
The squad also has a family feel to it this year, with the Bremner sisters joined by Martha Mataele (nee Lolohea) and Atlanta Lolohea, the latter set for a debut in 2022. Alongside fellow development graduates Avau Filimaua and Hannah King, Lolohea will be one of ten players looking to make their Canterbury debuts.
With a host of new names and familiar faces, Blair Baxter and the side will also be looking to continue their defence of the JJ Stewart Trophy, which Canterbury have held since 2017.
"To be able to add quality players from across the club and development programme is a great endorsement for Canterbury Rugby and we will be determined to hit the ground running come Week 1.” Baxter said.
Rebecca Todd, Trina Greenslade have retired from high performance rugby, while both Tayla Simpson and Holly Wratt-Groeneweg were both unavailable for selection due to injury. Cindy Nelles is also unavailable for selection following international selection for Canada.
Canterbury open their 2022 campaign in Wellington on the 16th of July, before their first home game against Auckland on the 23rd of July.
FPC Squad for 2022
Alana Bremner (C) - Lincoln University
Amy Du Plessis - Christchurch
Amy Milnes - HSOB
Amy Rule - Lincoln University
Atlanta Lolohea* - Christchurch
Avau Filimaua* - Lincoln University
Charntay Poko - Christchurch
Chelsea Bremner - Lincoln University
Daimzel Rongokea* - University
Dianne Hiini - University
Easter Savelio - HSOB
Emma Dermody - Lincoln University
Georgia Ponsonby - Lincoln University
Grace Brooker - Lincoln University
Grace Steinmetz - HSOB
Greer Muir* - Christchurch
Hannah King* - Lincoln University
Isabella Waterman - Christchurch
Jorja Miller - HSOB
Kalesi Taga - Christchurch
Karla Wright-Akeli* - Lincoln University
Kelsyn McCook* - University
Kendra Cocksedge - University
Lucy Anderson - Christchurch
Lucy Jenkins - Christchurch
Marcelle Parkes - University
Martha Mataele - Christchurch
Moomooga (Ona) Palu* - Christchurch
Naia Toaolamai-Holden* - HSOB
Patricia Hopcroft - Christchurch
Phillipa Love - Christchurch
Rosie Kelly - Christchurch
Stacey Niao - University
Stephanie Te Ohaere-Fox - Christchurch
Terauoriwa Gapper - University
* Will debut in 2022
