Randle still alive and playing rugby

One of the forgotten men of New Zealand rugby, Roger Randle, is back playing for a Waikato XV this Friday night in a friendly non-cap match against a North Harbour XV.

Randle, once famously predicted to be an All Black by Richey Cunninghame back in 1995 to howls of derision by know nothings, has been out of top level rugby for 14 months due to the rupture of his achilles tendon.

Also playing in the game will be Keith Robinson coming back from injury and Byron Kelleher. The squad does not include injured players Loki Crichton, Regan King, Keith Lowen, Derek Maisey, Steven Setephano, Michael Collins, Deacon Manu and Tom Willis, Pacific Islanders wing Sitiveni Sivivatu or another dozen training squad members involved in Saturday's Waikato Breweries Shield club championship final.

Waikato XV squad to play North Harbour:

Backs: Sosene Anesi, Brendon Leonard, Roger Randle, Filimoni Bolavucu, Solo Korovata, Mark Ranby, Pehi Te Whare, Richard Kahui, Dwayne Sweeney, David Hill, Isaac Boss, Byron Kelleher.

Forwards: Steven Bates, Daniel Alofa, Scott Couch, Ben McKillop, Josh Sole, Toby Lynn, Sean Hohneck, Ben Paurini, Keith Robinson, David van Eyk, Nathan White, Greg Smith, Ryan Tohaia, David Briggs, Henry Qiodravu.

Arguably once the fastest man in New Zealand rugby, Roger Randle starts the season with 117 tries in first class rugby and is the leading tryscorer in the history of the Chiefs. His tally includes 27 in Ranfurly Shield matches which places him fifth on the all-time list, 14 of which were scored in one record breaking season. A New Zealand Sevens representative who won a Commonwealth Games gold medal four years ago at Kuala Lumpur, Randle appeared twice for the All Blacks on last year's end of season tour of Ireland, Scotland and Argentina.
Super 12 Team	Chiefs
Position	Wing
Physical	1.90m 100kg
Date of Birth	15:5:74 at Hastings
NPC Team	Waikato
Super 12 Debut	1996 v Blues (Hurricanes)