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Maidstone's Piers Francis makes his NPC ITM Cup debut for Auckland
Former Maidstone U18 and 1st XV fly half Piers Francis has been selected for Auckland in the Provincial ITM Cup competition. Piers has been in New Zealand since midway through the 09/10 season playing U21 rugby in Auckland with the well-known Marist club. Whilst back in the UK at the end of 2010 Piers had hinted that Auckland were interested in contracting him to play provincial rugby and was looking forward to the challenge.
For the season opening fixture against NZ Provincial heavyweights and defending champions Canterbury on Sunday 17th July at Eden Park; Piers is selected in the matchday 22, where Auckland head coach Mark Anscombe named a team mixed with youth and experience captained by ‘All Black’ Daniel Braid. Although starting on the replacements bench he is alongside some exalted company in the form of Joe Rokocoko and four players who recently won the U20 RWC in Italy. Piers is also set to line up against the likes of 'All Blacks' Reuben Thorne & Robbie Fruean, South African Mark Swanepoel and a number of Kiwi ‘Super 15’ players.