Wairarapa Bush hooker Joe Harwood will captain the New Zealand Heartland XV rugby squad to tour the United States.
The side will be coached by former Manawatu and Horowhenua-Kapiti coach Peter Kemp, assisted by Wanganui head coach Guy Lennox , and managed by Crusaders manager Tony Thorpe.
New Zealand Rugby Union and USA Rugby have signed a deal to collaborate in areas ranging from community rugby to commercial development.
New Zealand Heartland XV squad: Michael Broadhurst (Poverty Bay), Coll Campbell (Poverty Bay), Brenton Connell (Mid Canterbury), Cameron Crowley (Wanganui), Jon Dampney (Mid Canterbury), Daniel Dwyer (Mid Canterbury), Michael Fitzgerald (Wanganui), Andrew Gadsby (West Coast), Matthew Gilbert (Wanganui), Jason Gill (Mid Canterbury), Ross Hay (North Otago), Joseph Harwood (Wairarapa Bush, Captain), Scott Leighton (Poverty Bay), Hamish McKenzie (North Otago), Leon Mason (Wanganui), Kevin Moore (Buller), Hayden Rasmussen (Thames Valley), Jason Rickard (Mid Canterbury), Corey Simpson (West Coast), Eric Smith (South Canterbury), Andrew Stephens (Buller), Lasa Ulukuta (West Coast).
Two more players will be added to the squad once travel documentation requirements are completed.
