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Ngāti Porou East Coast is still celebrating lifting the Meads Trophy from Whanganui in the final of the Heartland rugby competition.
A home town advantage and a late burst of 26 unanswered points in the last 15 minutes delivered the win at Whakarua Park, Ruatoria,
Ngāti Porou rugby stalwart Ken Eruera says the whole iwi is behind the team, and a stirring half time haka was what was needed to give the locals a burst of energy.
In other rugby news, star Chiefs halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow has been picked to understudy Piri Weepu and Aaron Smith in the All Black team to tour Europe announced today.
And Willie Ripia has been included in the Maori All Blacks squad to travel to Europe.
The specialist first five has been playing development rugby in the Bay of Plenty since he was axed by the Western Force ten months ago with a gambling problem.
The team will be captained by Bay of Plenty player Tanerau Latimer.
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