Gear and SBW headline the Chiefs

 

Chiefs coach Dave Rennie said: “We believe we have assembled a squad high in character with impact, depth and versatility.

 

"We expect this group of hard working men to play a brand of Chiefs rugby that is entertaining for people to watch and will get results.”

 

“We are pleased that our squad contains a number of players coming through our Chiefs development programme who are making the step up to Super Rugby.”

 

The numbers breakdown of the squad shows there are 23 returning Chiefs players, with 21 of those from last year.  

 

The squad features 20 players from Chiefs Provincial Unions with five players from the Chiefs Development programme.

 

Those players are Johan Bardoul, Damian McKenzie, Toni Pulu, Seta Tamanivalu and Maama Vaipulu. 

 

There are a further 16 players from other Provincial Unions and two players returning from playing in Japan. 

 

Ten of the Chiefs squad played in the thrilling NPC Cup final that was won by Taranaki, one of the six Provincial Unions that make up the Chiefs.

 

Gear is returning to New Zealand to play Super Rugby after playing in France and Japan and he is joined by New Zealand born Japanese national captain Michael Leitch. 

 

The loose forward returns to the Chiefs having been a member of the squad in 2013.

 

The Chiefs take great pride in being a family but this season it takes on another dimension with brothers Damien and Marty McKenzie and cousins Tim Nanai-Williams and Sonny Bill Williams in the side.

 

Exciting returning Chiefs player Sonny Bill Williams is expected to attract great interest alongside his fellow All Blacks Brodie Retallick, Liam Messam, Aaron Cruden and Sam Cane. 

 

Williams is looking forward to the season ahead.

 

“I am excited to be back home playing with the Chiefs family,” he said.

 

Chiefs scrumhalf Tawera Kerr-Barlow who was injured during a recent All Blacks match will continue his long-term rehabilitation with the squad in the Chiefs environment.

 

Chiefs Squad: Ben Afeaki, Michael Allardice, Johan Bardoul, Sam Cane, Aaron Cruden, Mike Fitzgerald, Leon Fukofuka, Hosea Gear, Mitchell Graham, Nathan Harris, Bryce Heem, Andrew Horrell, Tevita Koloamatangi, Michael Leitch, Anton Lienert-Brown, James Lowe, Pauliasi Manu, Tom Marshall, Rhys Marshall, Damian McKenzie, Quentin MacDonald, Jamie MackIntosh, Marty McKenzie, Liam Messam, Charlie Ngatai, Sean Polwart, Brodie Retallick, Augustine Pulu, Toni Pulu, Liam Squire, Matt Symons, Seta Tamanivalu, Ben Tameifuna, Siate Tokolahi, Maama Vaipulu, Brad Weber, Sonny Bill Williams, Tim Nanai-Williams.