Dixon retains captaincy of remodelled Ma¯ori All Blacks squad
There are also four new faces in Canterbury/Crusaders, Nga¯i Tahu, Reed the forwards where 20-year-old Prinsep, Canterbury/Hurricanes, Te
Ra¯rawa, Liam Messam, Waikato, Nga¯i Canterbury prop Taimati Williams is
Tuhoe, Whetukamokamo Douglas, Hawke’s Bay Magpies hooker Ash joined by Crusaders and North
Canterbury/Crusaders, Nga¯ti Porou/Nga¯ti Dixon has been named to captain the Harbour loose forward Ethan Roots, Whakaue, *Ethan Roots, North Harbour/ Maori All Blacks in their one-off game Bay of Plenty and Blues prop Kurt Crusaders, Nga¯ti Kahungunu against Moana Pasifika in Hamilton Eklund and Southland and Halfbacks: Bryn Hall, North Harbour/ next month. Highlanders lock Manaaki SelbyCrusaders, Nga¯ti Ranginui, Te Toiroa
Tahuriorangi, Bay of Plenty/Chiefs, Nga¯ti The 24-strong squad includes eight Rickit.
(with Pikiao new caps while former All Black loosie One player will be added to the
province, Super Rugby club, and iwi) * First five-eighths: Otere Black, Bay of Liam Messam returns to the side for squad in coming days. denotes new caps Plenty/Blues, Nga¯i Tuhoe/Te Wha¯nau a¯ the first time since the 2017 British and “It’s an exciting group and the eight Props: Josh Hohneck, Otago, Nga¯ti Apanui/Nga¯ti Tu¯wharetoa, Fletcher Smith, Irish Lions tour. new caps bring some genuine Manuhiri/Nga¯ti Wha¯tua, Pouri RaketeWaikato/Hurricanes, Nga¯ti Kahungunu. New Highlanders coach Tony excitement and energy to the squad,” Stones, Hawke’s Bay/Hurricanes, Nga¯puhi, Midfield: *Billy Proctor, Wellington/
Marcel Renata, Auckland/Blues, Nga¯ti Hurricanes, Ngai Te Rangi/Nga¯puhi,
Brown has been named to assist Bay of Plenty’s McMillan said. “There
Wha¯naunga/Nga¯i Takoto, *Tamaiti *Rameka Poihipi, Canterbury, Nga¯ti Clayton McMillan on the coaching is a new generation of Ma¯ori players
Williams, Canterbury, Nga¯puhi. Whakaue, *Quinn Tupaea, Waikato/Chiefs, staff. coming through, but also there are Hookers: Ash Dixon (c), Hawke’s Bay/ Waikato/Tainui.
Among the new caps in the squad some great leaders around them with Highlanders, Nga¯ti Tahinga, *Kurt Eklund, Outside backs: Sean Wainui, Taranaki/ are the young midfielders, Billy ¯TeABayofPlenty/Blues,Nga¯puhi.Chiefs,Nga¯iTuhoe/ a vast amount of experience.” itanga a Ma¯haki/ Proctor of Wellington, Quinn Tupaea Dixon said the match against Locks: *Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Southland/ Nga¯ Arikikaiputahi/Nga¯ti Porou, Shaun
Highlanders, Nga¯ti Raukawa, Isaia WalkerStevenson, North Harbour/Chiefs, Nga¯puhi, of Waikato and Rameka Poihipi of Moana Pasifika would be a special
Leawere, Hawke’s Bay/Hurricanes, Nga¯ti Jonah Lowe, Hawke’s Bay/Hurricanes, Canterbury and Bay of Plenty fullback occasion. Porou. Nga¯ti Pikiao, *Kaleb Trask, Bay of Plenty/ Kaleb Trask. “This year has been challenging for Loose forwards: Billy Harmon, Chiefs, Nga¯puhi. a lot of people across our communities in New Zealand and to have the chance to represent the Ma¯ori All Blacks in the heart of Waikato-Tainui and the Kingitanga for the only time in 2020 will be a huge honour for us as players, our wha¯nau and our iwi.”
The Ma¯ori All Blacks squad is