Super Rugby squads unveiled

Twenty-one rookies, five overseas returnees, and five club transfers are among the features of the five Super Rugby Pacific squads named for the 2023 competition.

NZR has contracted a total of 190 players across the Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders and Highlanders, with each club naming 38-strong squads for the competition which kicks off on February 24.

Moana Pasifika, the Fijian Drua and five Australian-based clubs will announce their squads in coming weeks.

The Blues rookies include loose forward Rob Rush, son of former All Black and Chiefs wing Eric, and wing Caleb Tangitau, who has emerged through the All Blacks Sevens programme.

At the Highlanders, Netherlands-born lock Fabian Holland, 2.04m tall, has impressed in the New Zealand U20s and in two call-up appearances in Super Rugby Pacific in 2022, while the Crusaders have called up 19-year-old halfback Noah Hotham, making him the youngest player across the five New Zealand squads.

Counties Manukau try-scoring machine, wing Peniasi (Benji) Malimali joins the Chiefs, while at the Hurricanes, loose forward Peter Lakai is rewarded after helping Wellington win the NPC title.

A cast of experienced international players have returned to New Zealand across the five squads including former England international halfback Willi Heinz.

At 35-years old, Heinz returns to the Crusaders after seven years overseas as the oldest contracted player and is joined by former Blues star Melani Nanai, also back from a stint in England.

Nanai last played Super Rugby in 2019.

Lock Patrick Tuipulotu and mercurial back Damian McKenzie re-join the Blues and Chiefs respectively after a season in Japan.

Former All Black first-five Brett Cameron's form for Manawatu in the NPC sees him picked up by the Hurricanes.

A quiet off-season transfer market saw only five players swap their club colours within the New Zealand with winger Kini Naholo moving from the Crusaders to Hurricanes, mid-fielder Ngatungane Punivai goes from the Highlanders to Chiefs as does lock Manaaki Selby-Rickit.

Outside back Pepesana Patafilo shifts from the Hurricanes to Crusaders and while Jonah Lowe moves from the Chiefs to Highlanders.

There will be seven sets of brothers across the five New Zealand clubs with the Akira and Rieko Ioane at the Blues, Julian and Ardie Savea at the Hurricanes, Beauden, Scott and Jordie Barrett (Blues, Crusaders & Hurricanes), Anton and Daniel Lienert-Brown (Chiefs & Highlanders), Bailyn and Zarn Sullivan (Hurricanes & Blues), James and Will Tucker (Blues & Highlanders), and the Umaga-Jensen twins, Peter (Hurricanes) and Thomas (Highlanders).

The five squads are:

Blues

Hookers: Kurt Eklund, Soane Vikena, Ricky Riccitelli.

Props: Alex Hodgman, James Lay, Ofa Tuungafasi, Marcel Renata, Nepo Laulala, Josh Fusitu'a*.

Locks: James Tucker, Sam Darry, Patrick Tuipulotu.

Loose forwards: Cameron Suafoa, Taine Plumtree, Tom Robinson, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii, Anton Segner, Hoskins Sotutu, Adrian Choat, Rob Rush*.

Halfbacks: Finlay Christie, Sam Nock, Taufa Funaki.

First-five-eighths: Beauden Barrett, Harry Plummer.

Midfield: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Tanielu Tele'a, Rieko Ioane, Corey Evans, Bryce Heem.

Outside backs: Mark Telea, Caleb Clarke, AJ Lam, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Caleb Tangitau*, Stephen Perofeta, Zarn Sullivan.

Key Gains: Patrick Tuipulotu (Japan), James Lay (injury).

On the move: Karl Tu'inukuafe (France), Josh Goodhue (Japan), Tamati Tua (Brumbies), Luke Romano (Retired).

Chiefs

Hookers: Samisoni Taukei'aho, Bradley Slater, Tyrone Thompson

Props: Aidan Ross, Atunaisa Moli, Angus Ta'avao, Ollie Norris, George Dyer*, Jared Proffit*.

Locks: Tupou Vaa'i, Brodie Retallick, Laghlan McWhannell, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Josh Lord, Manaaki Selby-Rickit

Loose forwards: Sam Cane, Luke Jacobson, Simon Parker, Pita Gus Sowakula, Kaylum Boshier, Samipeni Finau.

Halfbacks: Brad Weber, Xavier Roe, Cortez Ratima

First five-eighths: Bryn Gatland, Damian McKenzie, Josh Ioane.

Midfielders: Alex Nankivell, Quinn Tupaea, Anton Lienert-Brown, Rameka Poihipi, Gideon Wrampling, Ngatungane Punivai.

Outside backs: Emoni Narawa, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Shaun Stevenson, Rivez Reihana, Peniasi Malimali*.

Key Gains: Damian McKenzie (Japan); Manaaki Selby-Rickit (Highlanders), Ngatungane Punivai (Highlanders).

On the move: Kaleb Trask (Japan), Jonah Lowe (Highlanders), Chase Tiatia (Western Force).

Hurricanes

Hookers: Asafo Aumua, Dane Coles, Jacob Devery*.

Props: Tevita Mafileo, Owen Franks, Xavier Numia, Tyrel Lomax, Pasilio Tosi, Pouri Rakete-Stones.

Locks: James Blackwell, Dom Bird, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Justin Sangster.

Loose forwards: Brayden Iose, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Reed Prinsep, Ardie Savea, Tyler Laubscher, Devan Flanders, Caleb Delany, TK Howden, Peter Lakai*.

Halfbacks: Jamie Booth, TJ Perenara, Cam Roigard

First-five-eighths: Aidan Morgan, Ruben Love, Brett Cameron.

Midfield: Riley Higgins*, Billy Proctor, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Bailyn Sullivan.

Outside backs: Julian Savea, Jordie Barrett, Salesi Rayasi, Josh Moorby, Kini Naholo, Daniel Sinkinson*.

Key Gains: Kini Naholo (Crusaders), Brett Cameron (Japan).

On the move: Scott Scrafton (Italy), Jackson Garden-Bachop (Japan), Pepesana Patafilo (Crusaders), Wes Goosen (Scotland).

Crusaders

Hookers: Codie Taylor, Brodie McAlister, George Bell*.

Props: Joe Moody, Oli Jager, Fletcher Newell, George Bower, Tamaiti Williams, Finlay Brewis

Locks: Scott Barrett, Quentin Strange, Mitchell Dunshea, Sam Whitelock, Zach Gallagher

Loose forwards: Tom Christie, Ethan Blackadder, Sione Havili Talitui, Cullen Grace, Dominic Gardiner, Corey Kellow, Christian Lio-Willie*.

Halfbacks: Mitch Drummond, Willie Hienz, Noah Hotham*.

First-five-eighths: Richie Mo'unga, Fergus Burke, Taha Kemara*.

Midfield: Jack Goodhue, David Havili, Braydon Ennor, Dallas McLeod

Outside backs: Chay Fihaki, Sevu Reece, Will Jordan, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Macca Springer*, Melani Nanai, Pepesana Patafilo.

Key Gains: Pepesano Patafilo (Hurricanes), Melani Nanai (Worcester), Willi Heinz (Worcester).

On the move: Pablo Matera (Japan), Bryn Hall (Japan), Simon Hickey (Japan), George Bridge (France), Kini Naholo (Hurricanes).

Highlanders

Hookers: Rhys Marshall, Andrew Makalio, Leni Apisai.

Props: Ayden Johnstone, Jeff Thwaites, Ethan de Groot, Jermaine Ainsley, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Saula Ma'u, Luca Inch*.

Locks: Pari-Pari Parkinson, Josh Dickson, Max Hicks, Will Tucker*, Fabian Holland*,

Loose forwards: James Lentjes, Billy Harmon, Hugh Renton, Shannon Frizell, Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, Sean Withy, Nikora Broughton*.

Halfbacks: Aaron Smith, Folau Fakatava, James Arscott*.

First-five-eighths: Marty Banks, Mitchell Hunt, Cameron Millar.

Midfield: Fetuli Paea, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Scott Gregory, Josh Timu

Outside backs: Connor Garden-Bachop, Mosese Dawai, Vilimoni Koroi, Jona Nareki, Jonah Lowe, Sam Gilbert.

Key Gains: Jonah Lowe (Chiefs).

On the move: Liam Coltman (France), Maanaki Selby-Rickit (Chiefs), Kayne Hammington (Japan), Patelesio Tomkinson (Wales), Ngatungane Punivai (Chiefs).

*Denotes players on a full Super Rugby Pacific contract for the first time.

-RNZ