PROP:
Nepo Laulala (Counties Manukau)
Atu Moli (Waikato)
Siegfried Fisi'ihoi (Bay of Plenty)
Mitchell Graham (Taranaki)
Kane Hames (Tasman)
Sosefo Kautai (Waikato)
HOOKER:
Hika Elliot (Counties Manukau)
Nathan Harris (Bay of Plenty)
Liam Polwart (Bay of Plenty)
LOCK:
Brodie Retallick (Hawkes Bay)
Dominic Bird (Canterbury)
Michael Allardice (Hawkes Bay)
James Tucker (Waikato)
LOOSE FORWARD:
Taleni Seu (Auckland)
Liam Messam
Mitchell Brown (Taranaki)
Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty)
Mitchell Karpik (Bay of Plenty)
Lachlan Boshier (Taranaki)
Tom Sanders (Canterbury)
Michael Leitch
HALFBACK:
Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Waikato)
Brad Weber (Hawkes Bay)
Finlay Christie (Tasman)
FIRST FIVE EIGHTH:
Aaron Cruden (Manawatu)
Stephen Donald (Waikato)
FIRST FIVE EIGHTH / OUTSIDE BACK:
Damian McKenzie (Waikato)
MIDFIELD:
Charlie Ngatai (Taranaki)
Anton Lienert-Brown (Waikato)
Johnny Fa'auli (Taranaki)
MIDFIELD / OUTSIDE BACK:
Tim Nanai-Williams
Solomon Alaimalo (Northland)
OUTSIDE BACK:
Sam McNicol (Hawkes Bay)
James Lowe (Tasman)
Chase Tiatia (Bay of Plenty)
Toni Pulu (Counties Manukau)
Glen Fisiiahi (Counties Manukau)
Shaun Stevenson (Waikato)
The Chiefs have named an experienced squad for the upcoming 2017 Super Rugby Season.
Seasoned campaigners Liam Messam and Tim Nanai-Williams return home, bringing more than 200 Chiefs caps of experience with them. They are joined by hard-working loose forward Michael Leitch who also returns from Japan to don the Chiefs jersey in 2017. Stephen Donald has been named along with fellow veteran first five-eighth Aaron Cruden.
The squad boasts seven current All Blacks, including 21-year old backs Damian McKenzie and Anton Lienert-Brown. The promising youngsters had instrumental seasons with the Chiefs, with their outstanding form earning them selection into the All Blacks.
Chiefs head coach Dave Rennie said: "We are really happy with the make-up of our Squad. There is an excellent blend of youth and experience, 17 who have played International rugby along with 14 young men who return for their second season in Chiefs colours. That continuity is important, men who have been in our environment and understand the expectations of being a Chief."
In addition to the high number of returning players for the Chiefs, the 2017 squad has five exciting new Chiefs players vying to make their Super Rugby debuts. These debutants are Sosefo Kautai of Waikato, Liam Polwart of Bay of Plenty, Johnny Fa'auli of Taranaki, Solomon Alaimalo of Northland and Finlay Christie of Tasman.
Sosefo Kautai and Liam Polwart have both successfully progressed through the University of Waikato Chiefs Development programme, making for a total of 13 Chiefs Development graduates in the 2017 squad.
Johnny Fa'auli, who showcased his scintillating form for Taranaki in this year's Mitre 10 Cup, shared his excitement at joining the Chiefs for his first Investec Super Rugby season.
"Playing Super Rugby was a big goal of mine so to be included in the Chiefs squad for 2017 and be one step closer to achieving that goal is exciting. I've really enjoyed my rugby and have learned a lot playing for Taranaki this year, I'm looking forward to building on that and learning from some quality coaches and my teammates at the Chiefs this coming season" said Fa'auli.
