The five New Zealand Super Rugby franchises have announced their squads for the 2013 Super Rugby season with 43 debutants being named in the 159 listed players.
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Each of the franchises – the Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders and Highlanders – have released their squads after the coaches completed the draft process and finalised their squads yesterday.
New Zealand Rugby Union General Manager Professional Rugby, Neil Sorensen, said squads selections this year show a great mix of experienced and new and young talent.
“It’s always great to see the guys who play ITM Cup or represent one of our other national teams step up to this competition which we consider to be the best international regional rugby competition in the world.
“Among the 43 players who have not previously been named in a Super Rugby squad, we see nine New Zealand Under 20 players from 2012 selected, and four members from the 2012 Sevens All Blacks squad.”
The squads also include 20 of this year’s Maori All Blacks side to travel to England next week for a three-match tour.
A further 25 players will be named in franchise wider training squads later this month.
“There is no doubt we have some outstanding talent in our squads for next year with a great mix of new and experienced players.
Outstanding form in this year’s ITM Cup has seen many players earn a Super Rugby strip for next year.
ITM Cup Championship winners Counties Manukau have 10 of their players named in Super squads including seven debutants and Premiership winners Canterbury has an impressive 29 of their provincial players offered Super Rugby contracts including seven debutants.
Current champions the Chiefs have included seven newcomers in their squad but their first-round opponent, the Highlanders, have emerged as the biggest winners in the off-season recruitment drive. The Chiefs have managed to retain most of the players who helped them win their first Super rugby title, holding on to stars such as flyhalf Aaron Cruden, center Richard Kahui and new All Blacks scrumhalf Tawera Kerr-Barlow. Where necessary, they have recruited judiciously, picking up former All Blacks lock Ross Filipo on his return from Japan and former Blues flyhalf Gareth Anscombe.
The Highlanders have emerged as potentially the strongest of New Zealand’s five clubs by pulling off a series of recruitment coups. Under coach Jamie Joseph, who has turned the franchise from cellar-dwellers to contenders over the last two seasons, the Highlanders have picked up veteran ex-All Blacks lock Brad Thorn and current All Blacks Tony Woodcock at prop, and Ma’a Nonu at center. All Blacks hooker Andrew Hore will captain the team which contains only 31 instead of the regulation 32 players because Otago has spent up to the salary cap.
The seven-time champion Canterbury Crusaders have named nine new players in a 32-man squad, though none of the nine are current All Blacks. Samoa World Cup scrumhalf Jeremy Su’a and prop Nepo Laulala, a brother of former All Blacks center Casey Laulala, are the most notable newcomers. Crusaders and All Blacks captain Richie McCaw will miss most of the Super 15 season while on “sabbatical” – a lengthy break from rugby designed to extend his career at international level.
All Blacks prop Ben Franks has joined the Wellington Hurricanes after quitting the Crusaders and considering a move to the Highlanders. Franks hopes by moving from Canterbury to avoid the competition for propping places he faced at the Crusaders from his All Blacks teammates Owen Franks (his older brother) and Wyatt Crockett.
The most changed of the New Zealand franchises is the Blues, under new head coach John Kirwan, which has 16 new faces. Kirwan, who previously coached Italy and Japan, called the squad “young and exciting.” The only current All Blacks in the Blues’ squad are Ali Williams, Keven Mealamu, Charlie Faumuina and Piri Weepu and 24 of the 32 players are under the age of 25.
Former All Blacks and Reds flanker Daniel Braid has missed selection.
Super Rugby 2013 kicks off on 15 February next year.
Chiefs 2013 Super Rugby Squad
Ben Afeaki, Bundee Aki, Gareth Anscombe, Sam Cane, Craig Clarke, Nick Crosswell, Aaron Cruden, Hikawera Elliot, Ross Filipo, Mike Fitzgerald, Romana Graham, Josh Hohneck, Andrew Horrell, Richard Kahui, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Tanerau Latimer, Fritz Lee, Brendon Leonard, Rhys Marshall, Lelia Masaga, Liam Messam, Tim Nanai-Williams, Charlie Ngatai, Patrick Osborne, Augustine Pulu, Brodie Retallick, Robbie Robinson, Mahonri Schwalger, Toby Smith, Solomona Sakalia, Ben Tameifuna, Asaeli Tikoirotuma.
Blues 2013 Super Rugby Squad
Kane Barrett, Anthony Boric, Luke Braid, Charlie Faumuina, Malakai Fekitoa, Jamison Gibson-Park, Frank Halai, Bryn Hall, Baden Kerr, Steven Luatua, Quentin MacDonald, Tom McCartney, Marty McKenzie, Keven Mealamu, George Moala, Liaki Moli, Waisake Naholo, Chris Noakes, Brendon O’Connor, James Parsons, Tim Perry, Charles Piutau, Ronald Raaymakers, Rene Ranger, Culum Retallick, Francis Saili, Peter Saili, Angus Ta’avao, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Piri Weepu, Ali Williams, Jackson Willison.
Crusaders 2013 Crusaders squad
Dominic Bird, Tyler Bleyendaal, Dan Carter, Shane Christie, Wyatt Crockett, Ryan Crotty, Israel Dagg, Tom Donnelly, Andy Ellis, Corey Flynn, Owen Franks, Robbie Fruean, Ben Funnell, Zac Guildford, Willi Heinz, Nepo Laulala, Tom Marshall, Richie McCaw, Johnny McNicholl, Joe Moody, Kieran Read, Luke Romano, Jeremy Su’a, Jordan Taufua, Codie Taylor, Tom Taylor, Matt Todd, Jimmy Tupou, Adam Whitelock, George Whitelock, Luke Whitelock, Sam Whitelock.
Highlanders 2013 Super Rugby Squad
Forwards: Josh Bekhuis, Tim Boys, Liam Coltman, Elliot Dixon, Ma’afu Fia, John Hardie, Jarrad Hoeata, Andrew Hore, Chris King, Jamie Mackintosh, Nasi Manu, Brayden Mitchell, Jake Paringatai, Brad Thorn, Joe Wheeler, Tony Woodcock. Backs: Phil Burleigh, Tamati Ellison, Jason Emery, Hosea Gear, Ma’a Nonu, Declan O’Donnell, Kade Poki, Hayden Parker, Buxton Popoalii, Colin Slade, Aaron Smith, Ben Smith, Lima Sopoaga, Fumiaki Tanaka, Shaun Treeby.
Hurricanes 2013 Super Rugby squad
James Broadhurst, Beauden Barrett, Dane Coles, Tim Bateman, Jason Eaton, Samisoni Fisilau, Ben Franks, Cory Jane, Reggie Goodes, Rey Lee-Lo, Jack Lam, Alapati Leuia, Faifili Levave, James Marshall, Karl Lowe, TJ Perenara, Motu Matu’u, Tusi Pisi, Ben May, Matt Proctor, Mark Reddish, Julian Savea, Ardie Savea, Conrad Smith, Brad Shields, Chris Smylie, Eric Sione, Andre Taylor, Blade Thomson, Jeremy Thrush, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Victor Vito.
And in SA, we dilly dally. Let the players know they are in the squad and then give them a month’s break. Bring them back for some conditioning till about 20 Dec then let them come back early Jan for some serious training. I know SR starts early, but players play too much rugby and need some time off. As a matter of fact there is just too much rugby being played, hence the failure to attract large crowds to the semis in the CC, and a Kings Park that was not full in the final.
1 @ Lion4ever:
There is far too much rugby being played. Not only us not having full stadiums just look at when we played Wallabies and All Blacks they never had full stadiums for their internationals either. Soccer City that holds 95 000 only had 80 000 for that game.
I personally wish these eoyt would be scrapped. I am sure none of the rugby players really want to still be playing rugby that time of year and especially in horrible nh conditions. Most would want a break right now, which they all deserve. Players will face burn out before they 27 eventually.
1 @ Lion4ever:
Agree our franchises should announce their SR squads now.
@ Puma:
I personally like the EOYT. Maybe it is the traditionalist in me. It also allows coaches to blood new talent. We do have a conundrum in that how do we lighten the load on players while earning maximum dollars from broadcast revenue etc.
How many players in a Super Rugby squad? Is it a prescribed amount??
4 @ Lion4ever: I personally don’t like them because it comes right at the end of our season. Players are so tired by that time and injuries are easy to pick up.
Just really hope no injuries to any of our players in this tour.
5 @ Stormersboy:
Not totally sure, but think it is 32
Just read on sw that Meyer is looking to European based player for player 32 it seems Meyer is looking at getting Marco Wentzel. Wonder why? he is already 33 years old, why not give a young lock here a chance? This is supposed to be the tour you give youngsters a chance.
He also only sees Hougie as a wing now it seems. So why take Rhule and Mvovo along? They should be used ahead of Hougie as they are wings. Hougie plays sh for Bulls. Jeez the mind boggles with Meyer as our Bok Coach.
Reinach and Groom should have been taken on this tour. We know what we have in Vermaak, let us build for the future, try out the youngsters on this eoyt dammit.
I know Reinach never had a good cc final, but really he was the outstanding scrummie through out the whole of the CC tourney. Surely he should be looked at what he can do?
@ Stormersboy:
5
i read this in the article above
All Blacks hooker Andrew Hore will captain the team which contains only 31 instead of the regulation 32 players because Otago has spent up to the salary cap.
@ Puma:
9
how cheap do you want to make the Springbok jersey?
I remember in the keo days how i fought the easy Bok caps, this is a full blown International tour and to add it is VERY important for HM to succeed on this tour, his winning % is low and he needs this tour to up it.
Meyer said he expected three extremely difficult Tests: “Although the Springboks won on their last visit to Dublin (in 2010), they lost three in a row before that,” he said.
“In 2010, we lost to Scotland in Edinburgh. They beat the Wallabies in Australia earlier in the year, so it won’t be easy there.
“And in June we’ve experienced first-hand how difficult and opponent England are. They will be fired up at Twickenham and it will be a challenging Test to end the tour with.
“Our aim is to end the season on a positive note. We set ourselves high standards and we want to improve with every Test, but we have a team that is still gaining valuable experience as we strive to constantly be amongst the top sides in the world. We know we’re not there yet, but we’ve laid a foundation in the first nine Tests this year and we will build on that.
“The Rugby World Cup in 2015 also takes place in England, so we will use this tour to see how our players adapt to the conditions as we look ahead to that very important tournament.”
11 @ superBul:
Come on Super, then why did he cap Jaco when he had JdJ to play outside centre? Why cap Goosen then when he had Lambie in the squad. If you saying just handing out caps to youngsters is not the way to go why did he do it then? Because he has too that is why, we can’t let these young players just not get selected. We have to see what we have in them. They are our future. Anyhow Jaco was terrible at outside centre so hoping that JdJ gets to start there on this tour.
Also I had totally forgot who Marco WEntzel was and had to look on the internet. Why him? I read he is playing well at 5 lock, but why not one of the young players playing HERE???????? Why are we selecting so many overseas players? This is the WRONG message Meyer is sending. He should be looking at the ones in South Africa who are playing their rugby here first always. Otherwise go with a player we all know will do well. Why not Bakkies who is playing well over there? I know he is a 4 lock but Eben has played 5 lock. Think he played there for the u21 world cup. Could they not shift over, Eben to 5 and Bakkies to 4 lock if we need to bring in a lock. Why Marco? I have just about forgotten him.
Also why play Hougie at wing? He does not play there for Bulls he plays sh. Meyer should be playing Mvovo or Rhule this tour. Hougie was not that great in the RC. I would try out Rhule and see what we have in him.
I know he needs to win games but if he does keep playing his game plan then he may not even win any on this tour. Well we should be Scotland and Ireland but we lost to Scotland the time before. Ireland have injuries now too, if we lose to them this tour is a failure already, then he must try out the youngsters against Scotland. Well Rhule that is.
@ Puma:
Agree on that, but the NH sides play in the SH at the end of their seasons.
14 @ Lion4ever:
I know, it is just tough for both when the tours come. There really should be a global season, that would solve a lot of problems. Also now that we have this extended Super Rugby, the country that is touring here it kinda spoils it. As you right into Super Rugby one week and the very next into test rugby. Then straight after the tour the very next week back into Super Rugby. Jeez madness really. Super Rugby should finish end of May like it used too. Then play RC and only after let the in coming tours start. One year we go there the next they come here. That would cut down on the rugby played. Somehow there has to be a shorter year for rugby. Players bodies will never stand up to the rugby that is expected of them now. As it is we seeing far more injuries now than we used too. It will get even worse I think, unless we allowed even bigger squads or cut down on Super Rugby back to 12 teams. Tour once to nh one year and the next they tour here. Something like that.
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