A 'King' in Hurricanes' midst
Eight new faces have been named in the Hurricanes squad for 2014, including four new additions to the team’s wider training group.
The Hurricanes have 26 players returning from the 2013 season, with the addition of newcomers Mark Abbott, Marty Banks, Cardiff Vaega and Hadleigh Parkes, the latter having represented the Southern Kings in their debut Super Rugby season this year.
Prop John Schwalger also makes a return to Super Rugby after a successful NPC campaign with the Wellington Lions, while former wider training group member Ash Dixon steps into the 32-man squad.
Manawatu’s Callum Gibbons will undergo his second year within the wider training group, and will be joined by teammates Chris Eves and Nehe Milner-Skudder. Tasman scrumhalf Billy Guyton has also been included in the wider squad, along with Wellington loose forward, Adam Hill.
Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett said he was happy with what his squad offered across the board, and was thrilled with the way many of them had performed during the NPC season.
“Many of the players we have this year have shown a great deal of maturity throughout the NPC.
“I also think the youth we had in our team three years ago have now gained a lot of experience as both international and Super Rugby players, and I’m confident that group of players will step up this season.”
Within their 2014 line-up, the Hurricanes have nine current All Blacks, four Maori All Blacks and three Manu Samoa players. Those with international commitments will join the squad in January.
The remainder of the squad will begin pre-season duties on November 28.
2014 Hurricanes squad:
Forwards: Mark Abbott (Hawke’s Bay), James Broadhurst (Taranaki), Dane Coles (Wellington), Ash Dixon (Hawke’s Bay), Ben Franks (Hawke’s Bay), Reggie Goodes (Wellington), Jack Lam (Waikato), Faifili Levave (Wellington), Motu Matu’u (Wellington), Mark Reddish (Wellington), Ardie Savea (Wellington), John Schwalger (Wellington), Brad Shields (Wellington), Eric Sione (Wellington), Blade Thomson (Taranaki), Jeremy Thrush (Wellington), Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Wellington), Victor Vito (Wellington).
Backs: Beauden Barrett (Taranaki), Marty Banks (Tasman), Tim Bateman (Wellington), Cory Jane (Wellington), Alapati Leiua (Wellington), James Marshall (Taranaki), Hadleigh Parkes (Auckland), TJ Perenara (Wellington), Matt Proctor (Wellington), Julian Savea (Wellington), Conrad Smith (Wellington), Chris Smylie (Taranaki), Andre Taylor (Taranaki), Cardiff Vaega (Southland).
