Manawatu (National Provincial Championship)

Manawatu (often known as the Manawatu Turbos) are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Palmerston North, New Zealand. The union was originally established in 1886, with the National Provincial Championship established in 1976. They now play in the reformed National Provincial Championship competition. They play their home games at Central Energy Trust Arena in Palmerston North in the Manawatū-Whanganui region. The team is affiliated with the Hurricanes Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are green and white.

Manawatu
Official MRU emblem
UnionManawatū Rugby Union
Nickname(s)Turbos
Founded1886; 138 years ago (1886)
LocationTakaro, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Ground(s)Central Energy Trust Arena (Capacity: 18,000)
CEODoug Tietjens[1]
Coach(es)Mike Rogers
Captain(s)Brayden Iose
Most appearancesGary Knight (145)
Top scorerJason Holland (641)
Most triesKenneth Granger (57)
League(s)Bunnings NPC
202414th
Team kit
Official website
www.manawaturugby.co.nz

Current squad

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The Manawatū Turbos squad for the 2024 Bunnings NPC is:[2]

Manawatu Turbos squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Loose forwards

Halfbacks (scrum-halves)

First five-eighths (fly-halves)

Midfielders (centres)

Outside backs

  • (c) denotes team captain.
  • Bold denotes internationally capped.
  • INJ denotes a player ruled out for the season with injury.
  • REP denotes a replacement squad player.
  1. ^ a b Maeda and O'Connor weren't named in the original Manawatū squad, but were announced in the side for Round 3.[3]
  2. ^ a b Baker and Gray weren't named in the original Manawatū squad, but were announced as late signings on 5 September 2024.[4]
  3. ^ Parkes wasn't named in the original Manawatū squad, but was announced as a late signing on 29 August 2024.[5]

Honours

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Manawatu have been overall Champions on one occasion, winning the title in 1980. Their full list of honours include:[6][7]

National Provincial Championship First Division
  • Winners: 1980
ITM Cup Championship Division
  • Winners: 2014

Current Super Rugby players

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Players named in the 2023 Manawatu Turbos squad, who also earned contracts or were named in a squad for any side participating in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season.[8][9]

Player Team
Brett Cameron Hurricanes
Tima Fainga'anuku Moana Pasifika
TK Howden Hurricanes
Brayden Iose Hurricanes
Tyler Laubscher Hurricanes

References

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  1. ^ "Homecoming for Doug Tietjens". Manawatu Rugby (Press release). 13 February 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  2. ^ "Manawatū Turbos squad named for 2024". Manawatu Turbos (Press release). 23 July 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Manawatū Turbos show mettle in loss to Wellington". The Post. 26 August 2024. Archived from the original on 29 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  4. ^ "Timely boost with Turbos skipper back from injury". Stuff. 5 September 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Hadleigh Parkes back in New Zealand, named on weekend NPC bench". RugbyPass. 29 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  6. ^ "National Provincial Championship winners, 1976–2014". Te Ara. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Mitre 10 Cup". Rugby Heartland. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Hurricanes 2023 squad announced" (Press release). Hurricanes. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  9. ^ "Moana Pasifika name 2023 DHL Super Rugby Pacific Squad". Moana Pasifika (Press release). 22 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
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