NZ Super Rugby Squads for 2019 unveiled

Hurricanes

There are just six new faces in new head coach John Plumtree’s 38-man squad, with dynamic Auckland wing Salesi Rayasi, exciting Wellington midfielder Billy Proctor, former Highlanders first five-eighth Fletcher Smith, two-time Super Rugby champion Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, promising Wellington openside flanker Du’Plessis Kirifi and athletic Manawatu utility forward Liam Mitchelljoining the club.

As well as the players new to the squad, former Hurricanes utility back James Marshall returns to New Zealand rugby after playing in the United Kingdom and Japan while Bay of Plenty halfback Richard Judd is named in the squad after he made his debut in 2018 when he was called in as injury cover.

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/barretts-heir-crusaders-flank-and-auckland-flying-finisher-named-in-hurricanes-2019-super-rugby-squad

Crusaders name strong squad

Amongst the regular All Blacks, a number of young Crusader prospects have been named to make their potential Super Rugby debuts in 2019.

Tasman Makos fullback Will Jordan returns to the squad for the second straight season, and will be pushing for a debut after two promising Mitre 10 Cup campaigns.

Nelson product Leicester Faingaanuku is a surprise inclusion, named in the squad ahead of brother Tima Faingaanuku. The younger Faingaanuku was due to miss New Zealand’s under-20 Junior World Cup campaign, indicating he was due for Super Rugby selection.

Canterbury midfielder Ngane Punivai has also made the squad, with the highly-touted local Christs College star making his way through the ranks, as well as teammate Brett Cameron, who recently was picked in the 51-man All Blacks squad.

more...

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/crusaders-name-strong-2019-super-rugby-squad-for-three-peat-quest

Mighty Chiefs

Rising star, 19-year-old fullback Etene Nanai-Seturo, completes the jump to Super Rugby after one year in the New Zealand Sevens programme and his first season with Counties Manukau.

Nanai-Seturo is one of four newcomers who could make a Super Rugby debut next year along who standout Taranaki prop Reuben O’Neill, New Zealand under-20 lock Laghlan McWhannell and Japanese international wing Ataata Moeakiola.

Another notable inclusion is ex-Rebels first five-eighth Jack Debreczini has earned a place in the Chiefs squad after standout performances with the Northland Mitre 10 Cup side

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/colin-cooper-announces-chiefs-2019-super-rugby-squad

No contract for prolific try scoring Fijian winger Sevu Reece which is a shame....Chiefs commited to Ataata Moeakiola instead not knowing Reece would have his contract with Connacht canceled..

Still no sign of Niko Jones in any of the squads yet either...Rumour was that the Crusaders had nabbed him ...

Highlanders

...The Highlanders have brought back first-five Marty Banks alongside young No 10s Josh Ioane and Bryn Gatland as the men from the deep south move into the post Lima Sopoaga era.

Banks was one the heroes from the Highlanders' 2015 Super Rugby championship victory and showed his class again last year by coming off the bench and steering the Highlanders to a famous win against the British and Irish Lions.

Tasman hooker Ray Niuia, Auckland lock Jack Whetton and Hawke's Bay halfback Folau Fakatava are the other newcomers.

more..

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/108239097/.html

Blues

All Blacks Ma'a Nonu and Karl Tu'inukuafe are the most significant arrivals in the Blues squad for the next season's Super Rugby campaign.

Both high-profile signings were confirmed, when the New Zealand franchises announced their line-ups on Wednesday, bolstering a squad riding high after Auckland's Mitre 10 Cup success last weekend.

International centurion Nonu will return for his third stint with the Auckland-based outfit, after three years with Toulon in France, joining current All Black Sonny Bill Williams in the midfield.  

more..

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2018/10/super-rugby-ma-a-nonu-karl-tu-inukuafe-confirmed-in-2019-blues-squad.html

Salesi Rayasi surprise pick for the Canes. One of the stars of Aucklands Priemiership win. Looking at the squad...

15. J Barrett 14. W Goosen 13. M Proctor 12. N Luamape 11. B Lam 10. B Barrett 9. TJ Peranara 8. G Evans 7. A Savea 6. V Fifita 5. S Lousi 4. James Blackwell 3. Alex Fidow 2. Dane Coles 1. J Toomaga Allen 

16. Ricky Ricitelli 17. C Eves 18. B May 19. R Prinseep/H Bedwell-Curtis 20. Finlay Christie 21. Jackson Gardon Bachop 22. N Milner Skudder 23. S Rayasi/J Marshall

Not a bad side tbh. Prob lacking a bit of dept in the front row. But A Fidow is a good promising young prop. Very dynamic. Him, Asafo and Coles tons of X Factor. Blackwell has been in the Wellington system since a teenager. Promising Young lock who had a great Mitre 10 Cup. And of course tons of depth in the backs. 

Brycy, Chiefs have signed Ataata Moeakiola who is supposed to be fantastic There's a lot of hype but with good kiwi coaching i'm sure they will get the best out of him.

...JW, yea mate he looks like the goods... the other new players Tumua Manu has'nt been playing too badly for Mitre 10 champs Auckland as well ....and Nanai Setero could be very handy with his Sevens background...some good backlines right through all the franchises to be fair...quite a few players missed out on contracts that would walk straight into starting lineups any where else in the world ....

Awesome boys awesome!

Now can we talk about something of interest. Like how frot the kbbs are!

True Brycy, the challenge is to keep the talent in NZ for depth.

I see former Rebels 10 Jack Debrezceni has signed on for the chiefs.

2019 Crusaders squad: 

Props: Michael Alaalatoa, Harry Allan, Owen Franks, Oliver Jager, Joe Moody, Tim Perry

Hooker: Ben Funnell, Andrew Makalio, Codie Taylor

Locks: Scott Barrett, Quinten Strange, Luke Romano, Sam Whitelock

Loosies: Ethan Blackadder, Whetukamokamo Douglas, Mitchell Dunshea, Billy Harmon, Kieran Read, Tom Sanders, Jordan Taufua, Matt Todd

Halfbacks: Mitchell Drummond, Ereatara Enari, Bryn Hall

First-Fives: Brett Cameron, Mitchell Hunt, Richie Mo'unga

Midfield: Tim Bateman, Ryan Crotty, Jack Goodhue, Ngane Punivai

Outsides: George Bridge, Israel Dagg, David Havili, Braydon Ennor, Leicester Faingaanuku, Will Jordan, Manasa Mataele

New players: Harry Allan, Whetukamokamo Douglas, Brett Cameron, Ngane Punivai, Leicester Faingaanuku.

Departed players: Wyatt Crockett, Mike Delany, Jone Macilai, Jack Stratton (replaced injured Enari last year), Seta Tamanivalu, Pete Samu,

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I cannot understand why the saders went for Tom Sanders when he was playing with the chiefs (though being a cantab player),.... and offer him a long contract!... they should have left him there,... and now they say they cannot find a place for Bedwell-Curtis, a far better player,.... canes are taking an excellent player,... very similar to Gareth Evans, he gives everything on the field and always respond fulfilling his task

apart from that, some interesting reinforcements,... Ere Enari, a very promising young to complete the scrumhalves stock,... Whetu Douglas, who was excellent at nº8 2 years ago,... Brett Cameron, the new AB,... though I cannot what they have seen in him,... he was average this last NPC,... but let see how he develops,...

and the big Leicester Fainga'anuku,... 109 kg at only 18 yo,...has not played too much this NPC but Robertson is singing his praises,... very young and interesting prospect,... as they are Will Jordan and Punivai

all of them add to a very impressive team,... probably one of the strongests I can remember,... is going to be very difficult to beat this team,... the three-peat and the 10th are on their way