Sam Cane returns from injury for Bay of Plenty

All Blacks captain Sam Cane will make his return from a month-long concussion-enforced sideline spell with Bay of Plenty in their opening Mitre 10 Cup clash against Taranaki on Sunday.

Cane will make his first appearances in five weeks after being named in Ian Foster’s first All Blacks squad of the year last weekend.

Set to make his first appearance for the Bay since 2016, Cane completes the Bay of Plenty pack at no.8.

STAY UP TO DATE  WITH ALL THE MITRE 10 CUP ACTION, NEWS AND TEAMSHEETS HERE

He is joined by Aaron Carroll and Chiefs' teammate Mitchell Karpik. BOP have a strong tight five made up of skipper Aidan Ross, Nathan Vella, Jeff Thwaites, Kane Le’aupepe and Keepa Mewett with the entire pack having Super Rugby experience at least.

Three-test All Blacks halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi will make his Bay of Plenty debut against his former province after joining the Steamers from Taranaki this season with All Blacks sevens speedster Joe Webber on the wing.

Tongan international Zane Kapeli features in a strong bench along with Blues first five Otere Black and Blues hooker Kurt Eklund with All Blacks Sevens star Regan Ware. 

Bay of Plenty Steamers v Taranaki
1. Aidan Ross (C)
2. Nathan Vella
3. Jeff Thwaites
4. Kane Le'aupepe
5. Keepa Mewett
6. Aaron Carroll
7. Mitch Karpik
8. Sam Cane
9. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi*
10. Dan Hollinshead
11. Fa'asiu Fuatai
12. Chase Tiatia
13. Mathew Skipwith-Garland
14. Joe Webber
15. Emoni Narawa

16. Kurt Eklund
17. Haereiti Hetet*
18. Tevita Mafileo
19. Zane Kapeli
20. Joe Tupe
21. Luke Campbell
22. Otere Black*
23. Regan Ware