Name: Shaan Davis
Position: First five
Date of birth: September 26, 1987
School: Francis Douglas Memorial
Occupation: Student
First played premier rugby: 2008
Rep teams: Taranaki age group
Other sports played: _
Most admired player: Joel Murphy

Name: Josh Hamilton
Position: First five
Date of birth: October 6, 1986
School: Paraparaumu College
Occupation: Student
First played premier rugby: 2005
Rep teams: Otago Maori, Otago Development
Other sports played: Cricket
Most admired player: _

Name: Sam Anderson-Heather
Position: Hooker
Date of birth: February 2, 1988
School: Hastings Boys
Occupation: Student
First played premier rugby: 2007
Rep teams: Otago Colts
Other sports played: _
Most admired player: Fraser Lau

Name: Louis Tili
Position: Fullback, midfield
Date of birth: December 22, 1990
School: Otago Boys
Occupation: _
First played premier rugby: 2009
Rep teams: New Zealand U17, Otago U18
Other sports played: _
Most admired player: Simon Davey

Name: Tumua Ioane
Position: Wing, centre
Date of birth: March 15, 1990
School: Kavanagh
Occupation: Student
First played premier rugby: 2008
Rep teams: Otago U18, U16
Other sports played: Cricket
Most admired player: Tana Umaga

Name: Fraser Lau
Position: Inside back
Date of birth: April 16, 1986
School: Wellington College
Occupation: Teacher aide
First played premier rugby: 2007
Rep teams: Otago B, Colts, U19
Other sports played: Golf, badminton
Most admired player: Brendon Leonard

Name: Richard Thompson
Position: Lock
Date of birth: July 22, 1987
School: Kavanagh
Occupation: Student
First played premier rugby: 2009
Rep teams: _
Other sports played: _
Most admired player: Henry McLernon

Name: Thomas Crowley
Position: Lock
Date of birth: September 11, 1988
School: Francis Douglas Memorial
Occupation: Student
First played premier rugby: 2007
Rep teams: New Zealand U19, Taranaki U18
Other sports played: Basketball, cricket
Most admired player: _

Name: Shane Kilgour
Position: Loose forward
Date of birth: December 30, 1988
School: Wakatipu
Occupation: Student
First played premier rugby: 2006
Rep teams: _
Other sports played: _
Most admired player: All Sharks

Name: Willie Reynolds
Position: Midfield
Date of birth: June 6, 1988
School: Lindisfarne
Occupation: Student
First played premier rugby: 2009
Rep teams: Hawkes Bay U18, U16
Other sports played: _
Most admired player: Brian O’Driscoll

Name: David Smart
Position: Prop
Date of birth: September 5, 1989
School: Tauranga Boys
Occupation: Student
First played premier rugby: 2009
Rep teams: Otago Colts
Other sports played: _
Most admired player: Colin Meads

Name: Tim Fraser
Position: Openside flanker
Date of birth: September 30, 1988
School: St Kentigern
Occupation: Student
First played premier rugby: 2009
Rep teams: _
Other sports played: _
Most admired player: Scott McKee

 Name: Scott McKee
Position: No 8
Date of birth: October 16, 1985
School: Otago Boys
Occupation: Builder
First played premier rugby: 2005
Rep teams: Otago Development, Colts, U19
Other sports played: Hunting, fishing
Most admired player: Mike Kerr

Name: Joel Murphy
Position: Centre, fullback
Date of birth: June 25, 1986
School: Waimea College
Occupation: Student
First played premier rugby: 2007
Rep teams: Nelson Bays U18
Other sports played: Cricket
Most admired player: Brian O’Driscoll

Name: Kelsey Miller
Position: Prop
Date of birth: March 18, 1988
School: Lindisfarne
Occupation: Student
First played premier rugby: 2008
Rep teams: Otago Colts, Hawkes Bay U19, U18
Other sports played: _
Most admired player: Zac Guildford

Name: Andrew Mackintosh
Position: Lock, blindside flanker
Date of birth: October 25, 1986
School: Southland Boys
Occupation: Student
First played premier rugby: 2007
Rep teams: Otago U19, Southland age group
Other sports played: Rowing
Most admired player: Brad Thorn

Name: Jonathan Crossan
Position: Flanker
Date of birth: April 4, 1986
School: New Plymouth Boys
Occupation: Builder
First played premier rugby: 2005
Rep teams: _
Other sports played: _
Most admired player: Scott McKee

Name: Michael Gurran
Position: Lock
Date of birth: July 14, 1986
School: Hastings Boys
Occupation: Student
First played premier rugby: 2007
Rep teams: Otago Development
Other sports played: Cricket
Most admired player: Albie Herron

Name: Robbie Smith
Position: Halfback
Date of birth: May 24, 1989
School: St Kevins
Occupation: Builder
First played premier rugby: 2008
Rep teams: Otago Colts, South Island Schools
Other sports played: Cricket
Most admired player: Jeff Wilson

Name: Joe Bradley
Position: Wing, halfback
Date of birth: September 8, 1986
School: Buller
Occupation: Student
First played premier rugby: 2007
Rep teams: _
Other sports played: _
Most admired player: Catfish Parata

DRFC Premier Team 2008

Squad Members 2008

Scott McKee (c), Sam Anderson-Heather, Owen Booth, Joe Bradley, John Crossan, Tom Crowley, Chris Damsteegt, Adam Duhig, John Fahey, Michael Gurran, Tom Halse, Josh Hamilton, Will Henry, Fraser Hunter, Tumua Ioane, Fraser Lau, Andrew Mackintosh, Shaun McCarroll, Kelsey Miller, Scott Milne, Joel Murphy, Richard Naylor, Luke O’Brien, Bronson Ross, Sam Scown, Ben Sinnamon, Nick Stanton, Michael Walding.

Ed Baker (Coach), Mark Scully (A. Coach), Trevor Thomson (A. Coach), Murray Cook (Manager), Ross Pinkham (A. Manager), Melanie Reynolds (Medic), Ollie Low (Physio), John Cunningham (Fitness Adviser).

 Trophies Won – Ron Reggett Memorial, Larry Salmon Memorial, Les Griffin Memorial and Murphy Memorial. Steven Bell (Dinger) Trophy.

6th in the Galloway Trophy and finished 2^nd overall at the end of season.

Representative Honours and Results

Highlanders/Otago Air New Zealand Cup               

                                                        Jason McDonald, Craig Newby, Daniel Bowden Keith Cameron.

Otago B:                                          Fraser Lau

Otago Development:

Scott McKee, Richard Naylor, John Crossan, Adam Duhig, Michael Gurran, Josh Hamilton, Sam Scown, Michael Walding.

Otago Colts:                                   Sam Anderson-Heather, Kelsey Miller.

Otago Under18:                            Tumua Ioane

Bronson Ross not available due to commitments in Scotland.

Played 17

Won 9

Lost 7

Points for 354

Points against 252

Leading Points Scorer – Tumua Ioane 72 points

Leading Try Scorer     – Richard Naylor   9

Once again the Premier team performed creditably throughout the season. They began the season by defeating last year’s champions, Southern, and finished the season by losing the final on Carisbrook. The draw did not favour the team at times but when it came to important matches this team had the resolve, the skills and the motivation to succeed. The win/loss record of this team has been well documented but that alone does not show the true spirit which this team generated. It is a credit to the coaching staff, in particular Ed Baker, that this team was able to be moulded into a well-drilled unit. As the selection of the Representative Teams shows, this team had an abundance of talented young rugby players with bright rugby futures. In summary 2008 was a highly successful year for the premier team.    

Ed Baker