Fiji born, Pita Gus Sowakula will start of the bench for the Waikato Chiefs in their opening Super Rugby match against the Auckland Blues this Friday.

Chiefs Head Coach Warren Gatland has also named top players like Aaron Cruden, Anton Lienert-Brown and Brad Weber on the bench.

Damian McKenzie returns to the starting 15 at fullback for the Chiefs after missing out nearly an entire season in 2019 because of a knee injury.
Bay of Plenty playmaker, 21 year old Kaleb Trask will make his debut for the Chiefs in the number 10 jersey.

Chiefs Captain, Sam Cane will be at number eight.
The Chiefs will face the Blues at 6.05pm this Friday.

In other Super Rugby matches this weekend, the Reds will take on the Brumbies at 8.15pm Friday, the Sharks will play the Bulls at 5.10am Saturday, the Sunwolves will face the Rebels at 3.45pm Saturday, the Crusaders face the Waratahs at 6.05pm this Saturday, Stormers will play the Hurricanes at 1.05am Sunday while the Jaguares will take on the Lions at 11am Sunday.

Gallagher Chiefs:

1. Aidan Ross (25)

2. Samisoni Taukei’aho (22)

3. Nepo Laulala (32)

4. Tyler Ardron (26)

5. Mitchell Brown (33)

6. Lachlan Boshier (44)

7. Mitchell Karpik (20)

8. Sam Cane (111) ©

9. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (32)

10. Kaleb Trask**

11. Solomon Alaimalo (38)

12. Alex Nankivell (22)

13. Quinn Tupaea**

14. Sean Wainui (26)

15. Damian McKenzie (72)

Reserves:

16. Bradley Slater (2)    17. Atu Moli (38)

18. Angus Ta’avao (32) 19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi**

20. Pita Gus Sowakula (15) 21. Brad Weber (72)

22. Aaron Cruden (89) 23. Anton Lienert-Brown (69)