Former All Blacks flanker Marty Holah to appear for Waikato’s in ITM Cup pre-season matches
New Zealand’s North Island Rugby Union team, Waikato, has announced the 25-man pre-season training squad for the upcoming ITM Cup tournament. The team was announced in a statement released on the club’s website on Tuesday, June
7.
Officials have named the former Waikato and All Blacks star international flanker, Martin Rowan Holah, commonly known as Marty Holah, in the squad to mark his return to his provincial side. However, the squad does exclude some
big local names who are currently playing for Super Rugby franchise, Chiefs, in the 2011 Super Rugby championship.
Waikato will play three matches as part of their ITM Cup preparations. They will play their first against the Counties-Manukau on June 22 at Bayer Growers Stadium. Waikato then will take on Auckland on July 2 at Pakuranga Park followed by their last pre-season
preparation match against the Taranaki on July 6 at Te Awamutu Sports Club.
Holah will likely feature in all three games for the squad. Earlier in April 2011, Holah confirmed that he will leave the Ospreys at the end of the season.
Hamilton born Holah started his professional senior rugby career with Waikato in 1999. He remained with the Waikato until the end of the 2007 season and scored 40 points in his 73 appearances for the provincial side.
The 34-year-old Holah made his Super Rugby debut for the Chiefs in 2001. He remained with them for six seasons making 69 appearances. In 2007, he signed with the Magners League outfit Ospreys.
Holah made 90 appearances in four seasons for the Welsh Rugby Union side. Commenting on his stay and decision to leave Ospreys he said, “I have enjoyed my experience with the Ospreys on and off the field, but feel it's time to move back home to be closer
to my family and friends and to enjoy playing for my home province again.”
Waikato head coach Chris Gibbes has expressed his pleasure on the signing of Holah for the season. He has expressed his hopes that the youngsters named in the squad will make most of the opportunity to learn from the senior players like Holah.
Gibbes further added that in the absences of some key players, youngsters have a chance to show their performance and earn a place in the final squad.
The Waikato ITM Cup pre-season training squad includes:
Latu Talakai, Sam Christie, Navi Sikivou, Josh Tyrell, Marty Holah, Jono Malo, Trent Renata, Frank Halai, Andre Ellison, Josh Olsen, Malcolm Barnes, Vance Elliot, Rena Shuster, Declan O'Donnell, Paul Sweeney, Alex Bradley, Zac Hohneck, Rory Grice, Ted Tauroa,
Chris Middleton, Mark Murray, Jono Armstrong, Toby Lynn, Tim Mikkelson, Marcel Cumming-Toone.
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