This article was originally posted on stuff.co.nz and written by Glenn McLean (https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350185745/taranaki-rugby-confirm-23-players-contracted-so-far)

Defending National Provincial Championship rugby coach Neil Barnes has left the door firmly open for CMK Premier Club Rugby players to grab a contract for the 2024 season.

Yarrows Taranaki Bulls released its first list of contracted players on Tuesday, with Barnes confirming the 23 who were already locked in.

However, out of those listed, six are All Blacks, including Josh Lord, Tupou Vaa’i, Scott Barrett, Beauden Barrett, Jordie Barrett and Stephen Perofeta, with the majority expected to feature in national coach Scott Robertson’s international plans providing their form warranted it.

Josh Lord had a huge impact at the business end of the season (Photo: LDV Photography)

That would leave plenty of scope for a number of club players to break into the squad with just a handful from last year’s champion side confirmed as unavailable.

Heading that list was former All Black Pita Gus Sowakula, now playing in France, while Liam Blyde and Matty McKenzie have moved to Australia to take up club opportunities and Kyle Stewart was unavailable as he concentrated on joining the police.

Of the other players who featured in last year’s final against Hawke’s Bay, only prop Michael Bent had a firm question mark beside his name given it was unclear if the soon-to-be 38-year-old would retire.

Barnes said experienced lock Tom Franklin had given him a verbal agreement that he would return, which would seriously bolster the second row ranks given three of the four contracted would likely be on international duty.

“All the boys who aren’t in Super (Rugby) are competing for their spots again, so I’ve left places open to be consistent.

Michael Loft was a standout in CMK Club Rugby in 2023 and for the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls (Photo: LDV Photography)

“If they train hard, and display the same talents they have the year before and get better, then they’ll be back in, but it opens the door for other people if they work hard and show what they’ve got to find their way into the team.”

Barnes was already working with a group of 50 players who would be involved in the CMK Club Rugby competition and he had been impressed with their work ethic three weeks into their training programmes.

“I’ve been really impressed,” he said.

“Three weeks in and they’re working hard these boys, and we’re even having coaches coming along to watch the training, so if that continues I’d expect there would be a lift of what was happening in clubs as well.”

Contracted Taranaki players for 2024

Props: Reuben O’Neill, Mitch O’Neill, Jared Proffit.

Hookers: Bradley Slater, Ricky Riccitelli.

Locks: Fiti Sa, Josh Lord, Tupou Vaa’i, Scott Barrett.

Loose forwards: Kaylum Boshier, Tom Florence.

Halfbacks: Adam Lennox, Logan Crowley.

First five-eighth: Josh Jacomb, Jayson Potroz, Beauden Barrett.

Midfield: Daniel Rona, Meihana Grindlay, Jordie Barrett.

Outside backs: Kini Naholo, Stephen Perofeta, Vereniki Tikoisolomone, Jacob Ratumaituvuki-Kneepkens.

Article added: Wednesday 21 February 2024