Eight new Chiefs were named today in the 2011 Chiefs Investec Super Rugby squad with 21 Chiefs from the 2010 squad returning for next year’s campaign.
The new Chiefs are tight forwards Daniel Perrin and Isaac Ross, lock/six Hayden Triggs, loose forwards Fritz Lee and Scott Waldrom, halfbacks Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Taniela Moa and second five-eighth Tana Umaga.
Chiefs coach Ian Foster said, “The bigger squad size for 2011 has opened up many new opportunities for players. It has enabled us to focus more on specialist areas as can be seen in the selection of 3 hookers and 3 halfbacks. It has also opened up the opportunity for the selection of another “specialist” such as Tana Umaga. While we fully intend to manage him closely through the campaign in terms of workload, his presence and roles will be invaluable.”
“It is an exciting year with a new super competition and we have much to prove. The increased number of local games and the ability to qualify by winning your conference will guarantee much intensity in each game.”
“With this in mind we have clearly boosted our resources in our tight five as we see maintaining performance in this area right through the longer campaign as being essential.”
Mils Muliaina will be the Chiefs captain for the third season.
There has been a change in the coaching staff from 2009. Keith Robinson’s departure means that Craig Stevenson (Forwards) and Scott McLeod (Skills) remain as Assistant Coaches with an additional Resource Coach to be added shortly.
The 2011 Chiefs Investec Super Rugby squad by positions is:
Props:
Ben Afeaki Prop North Harbour 11 Chiefs games
Ben May Prop Waikato 15 Chiefs games
Toby Smith Prop Waikato 6 Chiefs games
Sona Taumalolo Prop Hawke’s Bay 23 Chiefs games
Nathan White Prop Waikato 30 Chiefs games
Hookers:
Aled de Malmanche Hooker Waikato 46 Chiefs games
Hikawera Elliot Hooker Hawke’s Bay 27 Chiefs games
Daniel Perrin Hooker Bay of Plenty New Chief
Tight Forwards:
Craig Clarke Lock Taranaki 26 Chiefs games Romana Graham Lock Waikato 4 Chiefs games
Culum Retallick Lock Bay of Plenty 13 Chiefs games
Isaac Ross Lock Canterbury New Chief
Hayden Triggs Lock/blindside flanker Otago New Chief
Loose Forwards:
Colin Bourke No. 8 Bay of Plenty 16 Chiefs games
Tanerau Latimer Openside flanker Bay of Plenty 47 Chiefs games
Fritz Lee No. 8 Counties-Manukau New Chief
Liam Messam Blindside/No. 8 Waikato 63 Chiefs games
Scott Waldrom Openside flanker Taranaki New Chief
Halfbacks:
Tawera Kerr-Barlow Halfback Waikato New Chief
Brendon Leonard Halfback Waikato 31 Chiefs games
Taniela Moa Halfback Bay of Plenty New Chief
First five-eighths:
Stephen Donald First five-eighth Waikato 72 Chiefs games
Mike Delany First five-eighth Bay of Plenty 22 Chiefs games
Midfield Backs:
Richard Kahui Midfield Back Waikato 34 Chiefs games
Save Tokula Centre Waikato 2 Chiefs games
Jackson Willison Midfield Back Waikato 16 Chiefs games
Tana Umaga Second Five-eighth Counties-Manukau New Chief
Wingers/Fullbacks:
Lelia Masaga Wing Bay of Plenty 47 Chiefs games
Mils Muliaina Fullback Waikato 43 Chiefs games
Tim Nanai-Williams Wing/Fullback Counties Manukau 11 Chiefs games
Sitiveni Sivivatu Wing Waikato 75 Chiefs games
Dwayne Sweeney Midfield Back Waikato 46 Chiefs games
Prop James McGougan was not considered for selection due to the long recovery expected from his back injury.
Chiefs’ players on All Black end of year tour are Hikawera Elliot, Liam Messam, Mils Muliaina and Stephen Donald.