Sopoaga freed up for Stags game
Southland will welcome back All Black first five-eighth Lima Sopoaga for Saturday’s national provincial championship showdown with Northland in Whangarei.
The New Zealand Rugby Union confirmed yesterday that Sopoaga was one of 12 All Blacks who have been released to play provincial rugby this weekend, 17 all up over the next two rounds.
Sopoaga has fond memories playing for Southland against Northland after he kicked a conversion from out wide last year to grab a win in Invercargill.
The Southland pivot has had an outstanding 2015 season to date, which included helping the Highlanders to a Super Rugby title and also impressing in his test debut against South Africa in South Africa.
The 24-year-old will be a big boost to Southland’s chances against Northland as they look to build from an encouraging 23-23 draw against Auckland in round one.
While the All Black management have given Sopoaga the green light to play against Northland he will not be available for Southland’s game four days later against Bay of Plenty.
However, Bay of Plenty will have All Black flanker Sam Cane available for that fixture which will provide the Southland loose forward trio with a challenge.
Meanwhile Former Stags and New Zealand under-20 halfback Tayler Adams will line up for the Greater Sydney Rams in the Australian National Rugby Championship which starts on Saturday.
Adams had been part of the Rugby Southland setup since 2012 after he transferred from Auckland straight out of school.
From Southland he made the New Zealand under-20 team in 2013.
Adams played 25 games for Southland and was this year part of the Star team which won the Galbraith Shield.
However he missed Stags selec- tion this year which prompted the 21-year-old to assess his options.
He has joined the Greater Sydney team with the hope to push his case for further honours in Australia.
The Australian domestic competition is a nine-team competition. The Rams will play NSW Country Eagles in their first game on Saturday.
Meanwhile, another former New Zealand under-20 representative out of Southland, Tuki Raimona, has headed to Manawatu aiming to win a place in the Turbos.
Raimona was part of the Marist team which this year progressed to the Galbraith Shield final before being beaten by Star.