The 32-strong 2011 Super 15 squads have been announced at Eden Park, with 40 new players picking up contracts. 10 November 2010
The 2011 Super 15 squads have been announced at the newly opened South Stand at the redeveloped Eden Park.
The five Super 15 coaches - Pat Lam, Ian Foster, Mark Hammett, Todd Blackadder and Jamie Joseph - along with NZRU professional rugby manager Neil Sorenson were on hand to make the announcements.
The NZRU has dished out 160 fulltime contacts with squads expanded to 32-strong to accommodate the longer season in 2011. There are 40 new players picking up contracts for the first time, while 12 existing players have moved franchises. There are seven members of this year's New Zealand Under 20 world champion team that have been selected in the squads.
The Blues have looked in house to fill their squad. They have recruited speedster Sherwin Stowers from Counties Manukau, though the winger came through the grades in Auckland rugby before moving south. Experienced campaigners Daniel Braid and Brad Mika return after playing overseas, while Northland skipper Jared Payne comes back to the franchise after a couple of seasons with the Crusaders.
Stephen Brett and Alby Mathewson reunite at halfback and first-five, while promising young Auckland flyhalf Gareth Anscombe is a notable absentee from all squads.
The Chiefs have recruited experienced forwards Hayden Triggs, Scott Waldrom, former All Black lock Isaac Ross and the experienced former All Blacks skipper Tana Umaga.
Counties Manukau backrower Fritz Lee is rewarded after a stellar ITM Cup campaign, while Bay of Plenty hooker Daniel Perrin will provide cover for All Blacks Hika Elliott and Aled de Malmanche.
James McGoughan's long term back injury has ruled him out of contention though Nathan White, Ben Afeaki, Ben May, Toby Smith and Sona Taumalolo should cover the loss of the Bay of Plenty prop.
Taniela Moa is one of three halfbacks alongside Waikato pair Brendon Leonard and Tawera Kerr-Barlow.
The Hurricanes will look to Tyson Keats and Chris Eaton to fill the void left by injured All Blacks halfback Piri Weepu early in the season.
Julian Savea, Charlie Ngatai, Mark Reddish, Michael Bent and Laurence Corlett all make their Super rugby debuts this season but surprisingly there is no space for promising first five Lima Sopoaga, who has moved to the Highlanders.
Veteran former All Blacks number eight Rodney So'oialo keeps his contract, while Waikato openside Jack Lam will make his Super rugby debut in Hurricanes colours.
The Crusaders have predictably stuck largely within their franchise encatchment area with rookies Tom Marshall, Luke Romano, Tyler Bleyendaal, Willi Heinz, Andrew Olorenshaw, Matt Todd and Joe Wheeler all picking up contracts from Canterbury or Tasman.
Young Southland prop Nick Barrett, veteran hooker David Hall, first five Matt Berquist and injured All Blacks wing/fullback Israel Dagg move up from the Highlanders.
The most movement comes with the Highlanders, who have former All Blacks blindside flanker Jamie Joseph coaching them this season.
The southern franchise has recruited well, picking up Canterbury first five Colin Slade, Manawatu halfback Aaron Smith and flanker Nick Crosswell, promising Wellington first five Lima Sopoaga, Lions midfield back Shaun Treeby, tough Taranaki blindside Jarrad Hoeata, impressive Canterbury number eight Nasi Manu, electric Canterbury winger Telusa Veainu, Counties Manukau midfield back Siale Piutau and sevens star Kurt Baker from Taranaki.
Southland openside John Hardie and promising hooker Brayden Mitchell get their first Super rugby contracts as well.
The most obvious players to miss contracts were Anscombe and promising Taranaki back Beauden Barrett
Blues: John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Daniel Braid, Luke Braid, Stephen Brett, Ash Dixon, Charlie Faumuina, Kurtis Haiu, Jerome Kaino, Chris Lowrey, Matthew Luamanu, Tevita Mailau, Alby Mathewson, Luke McAlister, Tom McCartney, Keven Mealamu, Brad Mika, Liaki Moli, Toby Morland, Lachie Munro, Filo Paulo, Jared Payne, Rene Ranger, Joesevata Rokocoko, Peter Saili, Chris Smylie, Benson Stanley, Winston Stanley, Sherwin Stowers, Isaia Toeava, Ali Williams, Tony Woodcock. Coach: Pat Lam.
Chiefs: Ben Afeaki, Colin Bourke, Craig Clarke, Mike Delany, Aled de Malmanche, Stephen Donald, Hikawera Elliott, Romana Graham, Richard Kahui, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Tanerau Latimer, Fritz Lee, Brendon Leonard, Lelia Masaga, Ben May, Liam Messam, Taniela Moa, Malili Muliaina, Tim Nanai-Williams, Dan Perrin, Culum Retallick, Isaac Ross, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Toby Smith, Dwayne Sweeney, Sona Taumalolo, Save Tokula, Hayden Triggs, Tana Umaga, Scott Waldrom, Nathan White, Jackson Willison. Coach: Ian Foster.
Hurricanes: Michael Bent, James Broadhurst, Dane Coles, Laurence Corlett, Aaron Cruden, Chris Eaton, Jason Eaton, Jacob Ellison, Bryn Evans, Hosea Gear, Andrew Hore, Cory Jane, Tyson Keats, Daniel Kirkpatrick, Jack Lam, Alipati Leiua, Faifili Levave, Serge Lilo, Karl Lowe, Charlie Ngatai, Ma'a Nonu, Anthony Perenise, Mark Reddish, Julian Savea, John Schwalger, Conrad Smith, Rodney So'oialo, Andre Taylor, Jeremy Thrush, Neemia Tialata, Victor Vito, Piri Weepu. Coach: Mark Hammett.
Crusaders: Nicholas Barrett, Matt Berquist, Tyler Bleyendaal, Daniel Carter, Wyatt Crockett, Ryan Crotty, Israel Dagg, Andy Ellis, Corey Flynn, Kahn Fotuali'i, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Robbie Fruean, Zac Guildford, David Hall, Willi Heinz, Chris Jack, Quentin MacDonald, Sean Maitland, Tom Marshall, Richie McCaw, Andrew Olorenshaw, Jonathan Poff, Kieran Read, Luke Romano, Brad Thorn, Matt Todd, Joe Wheeler, Adam Whitelock, George Whitelock, Sam Whitelock, Sonny Bill Williams. Coach: Todd Blackadder.
Highlanders: Halani Aulika, Kurt Baker, Josh Bekhuis, Jimmy Cowan, Nick Crosswell, Elliott Dixon, Tom Donnelly, John Hardie, Jarrad Hoeata, Chris King, Kendrick Lynn, Jamie Mackintosh, Nasi Manu, Brayden Mitchell, Bronson Murray, James Paterson, Siale Piutau, Robbie Robinson, Sean Romans, Jason Rutledge, Matt Saunders, Mahonri Schwalger, Colin Slade, Aaron Smith, Ben Smith, Alando Soakai, Lima Sopoaga, David Te Moana, Adam Thomson, Shaun Treeby, Joe Tuineau, Telusa Veainu. Coach: Jamie Joseph.Acknowledgements: NZ City
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Image by Getty Images via @daylife
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