Super Rugby squads announced for 2016

The five New Zealand Super Rugby squads have been named for next year.

Defending champions the Highlanders will bring a settled squad to the table for next season’s expanded competition, with 29 returnees.

Flanker Liam Squire, midfielder Robbie Thompson, loose forward Luke Whitelock, centre Matt Faddes, prop Siosiua Halanukonuka and hooker Greg Pleasants-Tate all join the southern side.

Up the road, multiple champions the Crusaders will filel eleven players join the squad for the first time in 2016, and a further four players have been promoted from the 2015 Wider Training Group.

Prop Michael Alaalatoa and loose forwards Pete Samu and Tim Boys will bolster the forwards in 2016.  They each join the squad off the back of impressive ITM Cup campaigns, Alaalatoa for Manawatu, Samu for Tasman and Boys for Southland.

“These are three players who will add some significant strength to our squad.  They have more than proven themselves at provincial level and we believe that they are ready to make the step up to Super Rugby,” Head Coach Todd Blackadder said.

Also stepping up in the forwards are prop Alex Hodgman, who has been promoted from the 2015 Wider Training Group and lock Mitchell Dunshea, who has been named in the 2016 Wider Training Group after having an outstanding debut season for Canterbury. 
 
The Crusaders will have a new look backline in 2016, with seven new backs added to the group.  The first five spot will be contested by Richie Mo’unga, who has been promoted from the 2015 Wider Training Group, Fijian international Ben Volavola who has moved from the Waratahs, and Marty McKenzie who shifts from the Chiefs. 
 
Hurricanes Head Coach Chris Boyd is pleased with the scale of expertise scattered throughout the team, with 30 returning players and nine new faces rounding out their 39-man squad.

Waikato prop Loni Uhila, otherwise known as the Tongan Bear, was the latest addition to the Hurricanes’ line-up, and will be joined by fellow newcomers Pita Ahki, Ngani Laumape, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Hisa Sasagi, Michael Fatialofa, Tony Lamborn, Jamison Gibson-Park and TJ Va’a.

“We’re very happy with the guys we have returning from last year, while we strongly believe the new players coming in will add some great value to our overall squad,” said Boyd.

“Many of them will take their well-earned breaks now, following the ITM Cup, and we’ll look forward to getting back together later next month.”

The return of 85-game veteran Stephen Donald and the elevation of 12 players from the Chiefs Development programme are features of their squad.

Fourteen new players are in line to wear Chiefs colours in 2016.

The Blues have named a largely home-grown squad with returning stars and a heavy accent on youth for the 2016 Super Rugby campaign.

The Blues have named a 39-man squad built strongly around the six senior players with All Blacks experience comprising captain Jerome Kaino, Charlie Faumuina, Steven Luatua, Patrick Tuipulotu, James Parsons and George Moala.

In particular the Blues welcome back Tuipulotu and Luatua after surgery which cut short their 2015 campaigns, while All Black and Blues favourite Rene Ranger makes a return after two seasons in France and recent neck surgery.

There is a strong accent on youth with several players 21 years old or younger. They include the NZ Sevens teenager Rieko Ioane, his brother Akira Ioane and fellow NZ Under-20s standout Blake Gibson, the in-form Melani Nanai and 2014 New Zealand Schools halfback Sam Nock.

“We have probably picked more young guys than the other Super sides and those selections have been challenging because there are so many young players who have played well in the ITM Cup but we just can’t pick them all,” said Blues head coach Tana Umaga.

“We are blessed to have such riches of young talent in this region. However they are all looking for the most immediate pathway and in some cases that has led them to look elsewhere when there are established players in their positions at the Blues.”

New Zealand Super Rugby squads for 2016

Blues:

Forwards: Hookers: James Parsons (North Harbour), Matt Moulds (Northland), Quentin MacDonald (Tasman) Props: Nic Mayhew (North Harbour), Sam Prattley (Auckland), Charlie Faumuina (Auckland), Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Auckland), Sione Mafileo (North Harbour), Namatahi Waa (Northland). Locks: Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland), Gerrard Tuioti-Mariner (North Harbour), Hoani Matenga (Wellington), Josh Bekhuis (Southland), Scott Scrafton (Auckland). Loose forwards: Jerome Kaino (Auckland), Blake Gibson (Auckland), Kara Pryor (Northland), Jack Ram (Northland), Steven Luatua (Auckland), Akira Ioane (Auckland), Joe Edwards (Auckland). Halfbacks: Bryn Hall (North Harbour), Sam Nock (Northland), Billy Guyton (Tasman). Inside backs: Ihaia West (Hawkes Bay) Matt McGahan (North Harbour), Dan Bowden (Northland), Piers Francis (Counties Manukau). Midfield: George Moala (Auckland), Rene Ranger (North Harbour), Rieko Ioane (Auckland), TJ Faiane (Auckland), Michael Little (North Harbour). Outside backs: Tevita Li (North Harbour), Ben Lam (Auckland), Melani Nanai (Auckland), Lolagi Visinia (Auckland), Matt Duffie (North Harbour), Jordan Trainor (Waikato).

Chiefs:

Michael Allardice, Johan Bardoul, Dominic Bird, Sam Cane, Aaron Cruden, Stephen Donald, Hika Elliot, Glen Fisiiahi, Siegfried Fisiihoi, Mitchell Graham, Nathan Harris, Andrew Horrell, Mitchell Karpik, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Tevita Koloamatangi, Nepo Laulala, Michael Leitch, Anton Lienert-Brown, James Lowe, Pauliasi Manu, Rhys Marshall, Damian McKenzie, Sam McNicol, Atu Moli, Charlie Ngatai, Augustine Pulu, Toni Pulu, Brodie Retallick, Tom Sanders, Teleni Seu, Shaun Stevenson, Seta Tamanivalu, Chase Tiatia, Siate Tokolahi, James Tucker, Latu Vaeno, Sam Vaka, Maama Vaipulu, Brad Weber and Sonny Bill Williams.

Crusaders:  

Wyatt Crockett, Joe Moody, Alex Hodgman, Michael Alaalatoa, Owen Franks, Ben Funnell, Codie Taylor, Ged Robinson, Luke Romano, Sam Whitelock, Jimmy Tupou, Scott Barrett, Pete Samu, Jordan Taufua, Tim Boys, Matt Todd, Kieran Read, Andy Ellis, Mitchell Drummond, Ben Volavola
Richie Mo’unga, Marty Mckenzie, David Havili, Kieron Fonotia, Ryan Crotty, Robbie Fruean, Nemani Nadolo, Jone Macilai, Sione Fifita, Johnny McNicholl, Sean Wainui, Mitchell Hunt
Tim Perry (Medical Exemption), Jed Brown  (Medical Exemption), Jack Goodhue  (Medical Exemption), Israel Dagg  (Medical Exemption), Leon Fukofuka (WTG), Mitchell Dunshea (WTG)

Highlanders:

(Forwards) Alex Ainley, Shane Christie, Liam Coltman, Ash Dixon, Elliot Dixon, Brendon Edmonds, Gareth Evans, Tom Franklin, Ross Geldenhuys, Siosiua Halanukonuka, Jackson Hemopo, Josh Hohneck, Daniel Lienert-Brown, James Lentjes, Craig Millar, Greg Pleasants-Tate, Dan Pryor, Mark Reddish, Liam Squire, Luke Whitelock and Joe Wheeler. (Backs) Marty Banks, Richard Buckman, Jason Emery, Matt Faddes, Malakai Fekitoa, Waisake Naholo, Patrick Osborne, Hayden Parker, Josh Renton, Ben Smith, Aaron Smith, Lima Sopoaga, Fumiaki Tanaka, Rob Thompson, Patelesio Tomkinson, Ryan Tongia and Teihorangi Walden.

Hurricanes:

Mark Abbott (Hawke’s Bay), Pita Ahki (North Harbour)*, Leni Apisai (Wellington), Vince Aso (Auckland), Beauden Barrett (Taranaki), Otere Black (Manawatu), James Broadhurst (Taranaki), Dane Coles (Wellington), Geoffrey Cridge (Hawke’s Bay), Chris Eves (Manawatu), Michael Fatialofa (Auckland)*, Vaea Fifita (Wellington), Callum Gibbins (Manawatu), Jamison Gibson-Park (Taranaki)*, Reggie Goodes (Wellington), Willis Halaholo (Southland), Iopu Iopu-Aso (Taranaki), Cory Jane (Wellington), Tony Lamborn (Hawke’s Bay)*, Ngani Laumape (Manawatu)*, Christian Lloyd (Wellington), James Marshall (Taranaki), Motu Matu’u (Wellington), Ben May (Wellington), Nehe Milner-Skudder (Manawatu), TJ Perenara (Wellington), Matt Proctor (Wellington), Hugh Renton (Hawke’s Bay), Hisa Sasagi (Otago)*, Ardie Savea (Wellington), Julian Savea (Wellington), Brad Shields (Wellington), Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Taranaki)*, Blade Thomson (Taranaki), Jeffery To’omaga-Allen (Wellington), Loni Uhila (Waikato)*, TJ Va’a (Wellington)*, Victor Vito (Wellington), Jason Woodward (Wellington).