2007 SUPER 14 SQUADS NAMED:

New Zealand's 2007 Rebel Sport Super 14 squads have been confirmed today, following a selection meeting at the New Zealand Rugby Union offices in Wellington yesterday, attended by the coaching staff of the five New Zealand Franchises.

NZRU Deputy Chief Executive Steve Tew said the NZRU and the Franchises recognised that, because of the Rugby World Cup, next year was a unique year for the New Zealand Rebel Sport Super 14 sides and would allow a number of players who had been identified during the Air New Zealand Cup an opportunity to further their careers at the next level.

“The selected squads are evidence of the real depth across the country and the injection of exciting, new players will add real spice to the competition,” Mr Tew said.

Mr Tew said there would be interest in the make-up and shape of the New Zealand sides, with established Rebel Sport Super 14 stars playing alongside new players and draft players from outside the region.

“I think New Zealand rugby fans will find the mix quite exciting and will look forward to the kick off of the competition in February,” he added.

The Blues and Crusaders kick off next year’s Rebel Sport Super 14 competition when they play the opening match in Auckland on 2 February. The final is on 19 May.

In explaining the selection process, Mr Tew said the five New Zealand squad sizes differed as coaches were able to pick players to replace those players on the All Blacks’ conditioning programme. The squad sizes are Blues (32), Chiefs (31), Hurricanes (34), Crusaders (35) and Highlanders (30).

The squads include 42 new Rebel Sport Super 14 players who were able to showcase their abilities during the inaugural Air New Zealand Cup. They are as follows:

Blues: Auckland prop Chris Heard, flanker Onosa’i Tololima-Auva’a and wing James Somerset; and Waikato prop Sam Biddles.

Chiefs: Waikato prop Craig West and fellow front-rower Aled de Malmanche, lock Toby Lynn, halfback Brendon Leonard, midfielder Richard Kahui and utility back Dwayne Sweeney; and Bay of Plenty first five-eighth Murray Williams.

Hurricanes: Wellington flanker Serge Lilo, halfback Alby Mathewson and wing Cory Jane; Manawatu lock Hayden Triggs, Auckland wing David Smith, Canterbury flanker Hayden Hopgood and Southland first five-eighth Blair Stewart.

Crusaders: Canterbury loose forwards Kieran Read and Peter Nixon, hooker Ti’i Paulo, locks Michael Paterson and Isaac Ross, midfielder Tim Bateman and first five-eighth Stephen Brett; Tasman prop Ben May and his flanker teammate Jonathon Poff; Northland loose forward Jake Paringatai and North Harbour first five-eighth Tusi Pisi.

Highlanders: Tasman winger Lucky Mulipola, Otago prop Keith Cameron, loose forwards Alando Soakai and Ezra Taylor, halfback Toby Morland, fullback Craig Clare, first five-eighth Charlie Hore, midfielder Aaron Bancroft and winger Greg Zampach; Southland hooker David Hall, prop Jamie Mackintosh, lock Kane Thompson and midfielder Jason Kawau.

The full squads also include 16 draft players (indicated below) and seven players returning to Rebel Sport Super 14 rugby – Otago fullback Glen Horton, Auckland loose forward Jerome Kaino (brought in as a replacement player in 2005) and hooker Derren Witcombe, Waikato lock Keith Robinson, Wellington hooker Mahonri Schwalger, Taranaki prop Tony Penn and North Harbour wing Rudi Wulf.


The 2007 Rebel Sport Super 14 squads are as follows:

¹ indicates new Rebel Sport Super 14 player.
² indicates returning Super 14 player.
³ indicates draft player.

Blues: John Afoa (Auckland), Ben Atiga (Auckland), Sam Biddles ¹ ³ (Waikato), Anthony Boric (North Harbour), Daniel Braid (Auckland), Justin Collins (Auckland), Steve Devine (Auckland), Troy Flavell (Auckland), David Gibson (Auckland), Chris Heard ¹ (Auckland), David Holwell (Northland) Doug Howlett (Auckland), Jerome Kaino ² (Auckland), Luke McAlister (North Harbour), Angus Macdonald (Auckland), Keven Mealamu (Auckland), Isa Nacewa (Auckland), George Pisi (North Harbour), Greg Rawlinson (North Harbour), Josevata Rokocoko (Auckland), James Somerset ¹ (Auckland), Saimone Taumoepeau (Auckland), Isaia Toeava (Auckland), Onosa’i Tololima-Auva’a ¹ (Auckland), Anthony Tuitavake (North Harbour), Sam Tuitupou (Auckland), Nick White (Auckland), Ali Williams (Auckland), Nick Williams (North Harbour), Derren Witcombe ² (Auckland), Tony Woodcock (North Harbour), Rudi Wulf ² (North Harbour).

Chiefs: Sosene Anesi (Waikato), Steven Bates (Waikato), Ben Castle (Bay of Plenty), Simms Davison (Bay of Plenty), Aled de Malmanche ¹ (Waikato), Stephen Donald (Waikato), Jono Gibbes (Waikato), Marty Holah (Waikato), Richard Kahui ¹ (Waikato), Byron Kelleher (Waikato), Roy Kinikinilau (Waikato), Tanerau Latimer (Bay of Plenty), Sione Lauaki (Waikato), Tasesa Lavea ³ (Auckland), Brendon Leonard ¹ (Waikato), Toby Lynn ¹ (Waikato), Lelia Masaga (Counties Manukau),
Liam Messam (Waikato), Malili Muliaina (Waikato), Jamie Nutbrown (Bay of Plenty), Kristian Ormsby (Counties Manukau), Keith Robinson ² (Waikato), Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato), Dwayne Sweeney ¹ (Waikato), Niva Ta’auso (Counties Manukau), Anthony Tahana (Bay of Plenty), Tane Tu’ipulotu ³ (Wellington), Craig West ¹ (Waikato), Nathan White (Waikato), Murray Williams ¹ (Bay of Plenty), Tom Willis (Waikato).

Hurricanes: Luke Andrews (Wellington), Jerry Collins (Wellington), Jason Eaton (Taranaki), Tamati Ellison (Wellington), Lome Fa’atau (Wellington), Tim Fairbrother (Wellington), Hosea Gear (Wellington), Jimmy Gopperth (Wellington), Hayden Hopgood ¹ ³ (Canterbury), Andrew Hore (Taranaki), Cory Jane ¹ (Wellington), Tone Kopelani ³ (Canterbury), Nili Latu ³ (Bay of Plenty), Serge Lilo ¹ (Wellington), Chris Masoe (Wellington), Alby Mathewson ¹ (Wellington), Bradley Mika ³ (Auckland),
Ma’a Nonu (Wellington), Shannon Paku (Wellington), Tony Penn ² (Taranaki),
John Schwalger (Wellington), Mahonri Schwalger ² (Wellington), Conrad Smith (Wellington), David Smith ¹ ³ (Auckland), Chris Smylie ³ (Otago), Rodney So’oialo (Wellington), Blair Stewart ¹ ³ (Southland), Neemia Tialata (Wellington), Paul Tito (Taranaki), Hayden Triggs ¹ (Manawatu), Tana Umaga (Wellington), Bernie Upton (Wellington), Thomas Waldrom (Wellington), Piri Weepu (Wellington).

Crusaders: Tim Bateman ¹ (Canterbury), Stephen Brett ¹ (Canterbury), Daniel Carter (Canterbury), Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury), Andy Ellis (Canterbury), Ross Filipo ³ (Wellington), Corey Flynn (Canterbury), Ben Franks (Canterbury), Rico Gear (Tasman), Scott Hamilton (Canterbury), Chris Jack (Tasman), Campbell Johnstone (Canterbury), Casey Laulala (Canterbury), Johnny Leo’o (Canterbury), Richie McCaw (Canterbury), Leon MacDonald (Canterbury), Aaron Mauger (Canterbury), Ben May ¹ (Tasman), Peter Nixon ¹ (Canterbury), Kevin O’Neill (Canterbury), Jake Paringatai ¹ ³ (Northland), Michael Paterson ¹ (Canterbury), Ti’i Paulo ¹ (Canterbury), Tusi Pisi ¹ ³ (North Harbour), Jonathon Poff ¹ (Tasman), Caleb Ralph (Canterbury), Kieran Read ¹ (Canterbury), Isaac Ross ¹ (Canterbury), Kevin Senio (Canterbury), Greg Somerville (Canterbury), Reuben Thorne (Canterbury), Rua Tipoki (Canterbury), Mose Tuiali’i (Canterbury), Brent Ward ³ (Auckland), Paul Williams (Canterbury).

Highlanders: Aaron Bancroft ¹ (Otago), Josh Blackie (Otago), Callum Bruce (Otago), Keith Cameron ¹ (Otago), Craig Clare ¹ (Otago), Jimmy Cowan (Southland), Clarke Dermody (Southland), Nick Evans (Otago), David Hall ¹ (Southland), Carl Hayman (Otago), Charlie Hore ¹ (Otago), Glen Horton ² (Otago), Jason Kawau ¹ (Southland), Chris King (Otago), Filipo Levi (Otago), Jason Macdonald (Otago), Hoani MacDonald (Southland), Jamie Mackintosh ¹ (Southland), Toby Morland ¹ (Otago), Lucky Mulipola ¹ ³ (Tasman), Craig Newby (Otago), Anton Oliver (Otago), James Ryan (Otago), Matt Saunders (Otago), Alando Soakai ¹ (Otago), Ezra Taylor ¹ (Otago), Kane Thompson ¹ (Southland), Hale T-Pole (Southland), Viliame Waqaseduadua ³ (North Harbour), Greg Zampach ¹ (Otago).

The number of players from each province is as follows: Northland (2), North Harbour (10), Auckland (26), Counties Manukau (3), Waikato (21), Bay of Plenty (7), Taranaki (4), Manawatu (1), Wellington (24), Tasman (5), Canterbury (29), Otago (21) and Southland (9).

NEW ZEALAND NAME SQUAD FOR EUROPE:

Canterbury scrum-half Andrew Ellis is the only new cap named in the 32-man New Zealand squad for November's European tour.
Ellis replaces Jimmy Cowan, who was previously third-choice number nine behind Byron Kelleher and Piri Weepu.

Lock Keith Robinson, who played six tests between 2002 and 2004, returns from injury after a two-year absence.

And centre Conrad Smith, lock James Ryan, fly-half Nick Evans and utility back Ma'a Nonu are also recalled.

Robinson has won his selection after helping Waikato to a 37-31 win over Wellington in Saturday's National Provincial Championship final.

Smith, who returned to top-flight rugby only this season after suffering a badly broken leg, effectively replaces young Auckland centre Isaia Toeava.

"It's great to see Keith back in an All Blacks squad," said New Zealand coach Graham Henry.

"He is an accomplished lock with a great attitude on and off the field."

Winger Doug Howlett and prop Greg Somerville were among the players not considered for selection because of injury.

New Zealand will play England at Twickenham on 5 November, France on 12 and 19 November and Wales in Cardiff on 26 November.


NEW ZEALAND SQUAD:

John Afoa, Dan Carter, Jerry Collins, Clarke Dermody, Jason Eaton, Andy Ellis, Nick Evans, Rico Gear, Carl Hayman, Andrew Hore, Chris Jack, Byron Kelleher, Luke McAlister, Richie McCaw (captain), Leon MacDonald, Chris Masoe, Aaron Mauger, Keven Mealamu, Malili Muliaina, Maa Nonu, Anton Oliver, Keith Robinson, Joe Rokocoko, James Ryan, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Conrad Smith, Rodney Sooialo, Reuben Thorne, Neemia Tialata, Piri Weepu, Ali Williams, Tony Woodcock.