Lions Named to take on Taranaki at Sky Stadium this Sunday

Heading into week four of the Bunnings Warehouse NPC – the Wellington Lions return to Sky Stadium, welcoming Taranaki to round out August. 

The front row remains unchanged – with Xavier Numia and former Wallaby Pekahou Cowan flanking Asafo Aumua in his 50th outing for the Wellington Lions. 

After debuting for the Lions in 2016, powerful hooker Asafo Aumua will run out for his 50th appearance in the Lions jersey.

“We’re thrilled to help Asafo celebrate his 50th this Sunday and we plan to do this milestone justice with our performance.”  

“Asafo in an outstanding rugby player. His team mates definitely want him on their side and not playing against them. He’s real abrasive player, and we’re going to need that from Asafo this weekend,” said Head Coach Leo Crowley. 

After a week away with illness – lock Caleb Delany partners James Blackwell with Blues loosie Taine Plumtree at six and Captain Du’Plessis Kirifi and 19-year-old Peter Lakai rounding out the loose trio. 

TJ Perenara and Aidan Morgan pair up in the halves, the latter returning from an injury which kept him out of action in week two and three.  

Peter Umaga-Jensen and Billy Proctor maintain their midfield spots. 

In his 51st outing for the Lions, Julian Savea starts on the right wing, with Nehe Milner-Skudder and Connor Garden-Bachop rounding out the starting team. 

On the bench – James O’Reilly, Solomona Sakalia and Tawa’s PJ Sheck cover the front row, Josh Toómaga and MSP’s Keelan Whitman round out the forward replacements. Richard Judd, Petone’s Riley Higgins and Wainui’s Ruben Love will cover the backs. 

The Lions take on the Northland in RD4 of the Bunnings Warehouse NPC competition on Saturday 28 August, 2:05pm at Sky Stadium. Live on Sky Sport. 

Wellington Lions to take on Taranaki:   
1 Xavier Numia, Oriental-Rongotai  
2 Asafo Aumua, Avalon * 
3 Pekahou Cowan, Petone  
4 James Blackwell, Petone  
5 Caleb Delany, Old Boys University  
6 Taine Plumtree, Old Boys University  
7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, Northern United (c) 
8 Peter Lakai, Petone  
9 TJ Perenara, Northern United   
10 Aidan Morgan, Marist St Pats  
11 Nehe Milner-Skudder, Eastbourne
12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, Wainuiomata    
13 Billy Proctor, Marist St Pats  
14 Julian Savea, Oriental-Rongotai  
15 Connor Garden-Bachop, Northern United  

IMPACT 
16 James O’Reilly, Hutt Old Boys Marist 
17 Solomona Sakalia, Northern United  
18 PJ Sheck, Tawa   
19 Josh Toómaga, Marist St Pats  
20 Keelan Whitman, Marist St Pats 
21 Richard Judd, Paremata-Plimmerton  
22 Ruben Love, Wainuiomata 
23 Riley Higgins, Petone 

*Denotes 50th game 

Unavailable for Selection: Vince Sakaria, Tietie Tuimauga, Connor Collins, Dominic Bird, Iona Apineru, Pepesana Patafilo.