from Magpies site this afo.......
Magpies Squad named
The return of Grant Webb and the arrival of former Manu Samoa prop Kasino Lealamanu'a were features of the Hawke's Bay Magpies ITM Cup rugby squad named at a breakfast ceremony in Napier this morning.
Webb, 30, last played for the Magpies in 2007 and his return will help compensate for the absence of Thomas Waldrom and George Naoupu in the battle for the No.8 jersey. Waldrom and Naoupu are now based in England and Ireland respectively.
A former New Zealand Sevens representative and Highlanders and Otago player, Webb has been playing for the Newport Gwent Dragons in Wales since his last stint with the Magpies.
Lealamanu'a, 33, is a specialist loosehead prop. He played all four games for Samoa at the 2007 World Cup and the last of more than 20 games for Wellington back in 2003.
The St Pats Town College product who arrived in the Bay yesterday first played for Samoa in 2000. Lealamanu'a started in all four of Samoa's pool games at the 2003 World Cup and in recent times has played for the Saracens in England alongside Justin Marshall and Glen Jackson and for Biarritz in France.
"I'm here to help out in any way I can. I can provide cover, but getting a start for the Magpies would be even better,'' Lealamanu'a said.
His late arrival is a sign Magpies co-coaches Peter Russell and Tom Coventry weren't happy with the progress made by Taradale's Jody Allen and MAC's Whetu Barber in the tussle for the fourth prop spot.
They were also unable to secure the services of Hawke's Bay raised former All Black prop Greg Somerville, who was required to play in Australia in the build-up to Melbourne's debut in the Super 15.
Russell said he expects to see little of Bay All Blacks Israel Dagg and Zac Guildford this season and as a result has left a berth vacant for another outside back. However, he expects both Dagg and Guildford to have game time in Friday's final pre-season outing against Manawatu in Palmerston North.
"Our main priority in this match will be finalising combinations for the following week's Cup opener against Canterbury in Christchurch,'' said Russell.
Experienced midfielder Jason Shoemark will captain the Magpies for the second season(& his last) and former captain Michael Johnson will again be his vice captain.
Eleven of the Magpies squad have yet to play first class rugby for the Bay. Among them are 2009 under-20 world champions, lock Leighton Price and loosie Trent Boswell-Wakefield from the Napier Technical club, Hastings Rugby and Sports 2010 under-20 world champion, centre Star Timu, and Havelock North excitement machine Gillies Kaka, who was unlucky not to travel to Argentina with Timu for the under-20 World Cup which ended last month.
Sixteen players in the squad have been through the Hawke's Bay union's academy, including four from last year. Twelve of the squad have Super 14 experience.
Russell told this morning's breakfast launch for the team how disappointed last year's squad was after last year's semifinal loss to Canterbury and how determined this season's team is to improve on that finish.
``There is a big gap between a semifinal and final. We've got a good team now ... the plan is to be a great team by the end of the year.''
THE SQUAD
The full Magpies ITM Cup squad with one player to be added is:
Backs:
Israel Dagg, Mark Jackman, Luke Rooney, Zac Guildford, Gillies Kaka, Richard Buckman, Jason Shoemark (captain), Ryan McLeod, Star Timu, Andrew Horrell, Daniel Kirkpatrick, Chris Eaton, Kahn Fotuali'i.
Forwards:
Grant Webb, Mike Coman, Trent Boswell-Wakefield, Karl Lowe, Michael Johnson (vice captain), Ross Kennedy, Bryn Evans, Leighton Price, Clint Newland, Josh Keys, Anthony Perenise, Kasino Lealamanu'a, Hika Elliot, Eugene Smith.
Pre-season.....
1) Magpies 38 Taranaki 34
2) BOP 44 Magpies 34
to come....
3) Magpies v. Turbos in Palmy (July 23) before taking on Canterbury at AMI Staadium in their first ITM Cup game on July 30
Good to see Grant Webb back & Luke Rooney (from NRL)
Cheers,
Baz 
