New Zealand's five Super Rugby teams announced their squads for the 2015 season this morning. Here is a full recap of all the news.
Nonu and Lee-Lo bolster Hurricanes' midfield
Important old heads, mixed with a couple of significant returning players and the elevation of some exciting youth, is how Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd sums up his 2015 squad.
Boyd announced his full team this morning and said the return of Ma'a Nonu and Reynold Lee-Lo specifically, along with the new faces contracted in midfield positions, were key additions to the Hurricanes roster.
"We're really happy with the return of Ma'a and Rey. Along with Conrad, they make us extremely competitive in the midfield," said Boyd. "We've also got Willis (Halaholo) and Vince (Aso), both very capable individuals, who will push and learn from the players around them."
Along with Aso and Halaholo, there are four additional new faces in the Hurricanes' 2015 squad.
Christian Lloyd and Geoffrey Cridge have been outlined by selectors as a locking combo with huge potential, while Taranaki's Iopu Iopu-Aso and Jason Woodward will also look to get their first caps for the club.
Manawatu's Callum Gibbins, Nehe Milner-Skudder, and Chris Eves have all been promoted to full contracts from wider training group status last year, following strong ITM Cup campaigns with the Championship-winning Turbos.
The 2015 Hurricanes squad is:
Ben Franks, Mark Abbott , Geoffrey Cridge* (Hawke's Bay), Dane Coles, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Jeremy Thrush, Brad Shields, Ardie Savea, Victor Vito, TJ Perenara, Julian Savea, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Cory Jane, Jason Woodward*, Reggie Goodes, Motu Matu'u, John Schwalger, Christian Lloyd*, Matt Proctor (Wellington), Callum Gibbins, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Chris Eves, (Manawatu), James Broadhurst, Beauden Barrett, Iopu Iopu-Aso*, Blade Thomson, James Marshall, Chris Smylie (Taranaki), Vince Aso* (Auckland), Reynold Lee-Lo (Counties Manukau), Willis Halaholo* (Southland).
Fruean is back for the Crusaders
The Crusaders have four new players for the 2015 season, and one of them is a familiar face.
Robbie Fruean will return to the team after spending 2014 with the Chiefs. Fruean is a powerful midfielder who first debuted for the Crusaders in 2010 and has already earned 61 caps for the team.
Robbie Fruean returns to the Crusaders. Photo / Getty Images.
Also adding to the backline stocks is Northland winger Jone Macilai. Macilai was picked up by Northland last year after being spotted playing in a rugby sevens tournament in Fiji. Blackadder said he will bring an injection of speed to the backline next season.
The new faces in the forwards are hooker Ged Robinson and lock Scott Barrett. Blackadder says Robinson will bring some valuable experience to the team following the departure of the Crusaders' most capped player, fellow hooker Corey Flynn.
Crusaders squad: Scott Barrett, Dominic Bird, Dan Carter, Wyatt Crockett, Ryan Crotty, Israel Dagg, Mitchell Drummond, Andy Ellis, Kieron Fonotia, Robbie Fruean, Owen Franks, Ben Funnell, Willi Heinz, Nepo Laulala, Richie McCaw, Johnny McNicholl, Jone Macilai, Joe Moody, Nemani Nadolo, Tim Perry, Kieran Read, Ged Robinson, Luke Romano, Colin Slade, Jordan Taufua, Codie Taylor, Tom Taylor, Matt Todd, Nafi Tuitavake, Jimmy Tupou, Luke Whitelock, Sam Whitelock.
The Blues have downgraded their stars but upgraded their captaincy.
All Black looseforward Jerome Kaino will be the third captain in the three years of coach John Kirwan's tenure as the Blues look for a spark to change their ongoing lack of success.
"Jerome brings everything you want in a captain - leadership on the field, leadership off the field. He is also an X Factor player. As a team we want to be resilient and relentless and Jerome is that sort of player," Kirwan said.
Jerome Kaino will captain the Blues this year. Photo / Getty Images.
Kaino replaces Braid who is returning to work after shoulder surgery and will continue to be part of the leadership group.
The Blues have shed the much touted but eventually fitful inside back combination of Piri Weepu, Benji Marshall and Ma'a Nonu to offshore, rugby league and the Hurricanes.
The highest profile replacement is former All Black halfback Jimmy Cowan while steady Super 15 lock Josh Bekhuis has transferred north, Dan Bowden has returned to midfield and exciting wing Ben Lam has been introduced.
Cowan returns after three years in the English premiership while Bekhuis collected 81 caps with the Highlanders. Fellow Lock Culum Retallick and NZ under 20 loosie Joe Edwards return after their seasons were blighted by injury.
The Blues have named a 38-strong team with twenty-nine players are from within the Blues region.
A new face in the backs is IITM Cup midfielder Hamish Northcott from Manawatu while All Blacks Sevens talent, Lam, the big, fast-stepping winger who was in the winning World Sevens and the Commonwealth Games teams, has his chance at the 15-aside game after an injury-plagued 2014 season.
The cornerstone of the Blues will be the pack that includes six All Blacks - Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock, Jerome Kaino, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu and Steven Luatua who boast 325 Test caps between them.
"I am happy with the balance of the squad between the All Blacks, a group of players who now have experience to understand what Super Rugby demands and some young players that we need to nurture for the future of our team," Kirwan said.
Blues squad:
Forwards: Josh Bekhuis (Southland), Luke Braid (Auckland), Joe Edwards (Auckland), Charlie Faumuina (Auckland), Blake Gibson (Auckland), Jerome Kaino (Auckland, captain), Will Lloyd (Auckland), Steven Luatua (Auckland), Keven Mealamu (Auckland), Matt Moulds (Northland), Brendon O'Connor (Hawkes Bay), James Parsons (North Harbour), Greg Pleasants-Tate (North Harbour), Sam Prattley (Auckland), Culum Retallick (Bay of Plenty), Peter Saili (Auckland), Angus Ta'avao (Taranaki), Hayden Triggs (North Harbour), Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland), Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Auckland), Tony Woodcock (North Harbour).
Backs: Pita Ahki (North Harbour), Dan Bowden (Northland), Jimmy Cowan (Tasman), Jamison Gibson-Park (Taranaki), Frank Halai (Counties Manukau), Bryn Hall (North Harbour), Simon Hickey (Auckland), Ben Lam (Auckland), Tevita Li (North Harbour), George Moala (Auckland), Melani Nanai (Auckland), Hamish Northcott (Manawatu), Charles Piutau (Auckland), Francis Saili (Auckland), Matt Vaega (North Harbour), Lolagi Visinia (Auckland), Ihia West (Hawkes Bay).
