Three Highlanders have been named in the Māori All Blacks squad for a short international campaign.
Loose forwards TK Howden (Tūhoe) and Nikora Broughton (Ngārauru, Ngāti Ruanui) and winger Jonah Lowe (Ngāti Pikiao) have all previously worn the Māori jersey.
Howden and Broughton are part of a strong loose forward crew that includes Crusaders No 8 Cullen Grace, Hurricanes utility man Caleb Delany and Chiefs wrecking ball Jahrome Brown.
Lowe, who can also play centre, is part of a small group officially listed as outside backs and containing Blues players Zarn Sullivan and Cole Forbes, though others like Corey Evans and Bailyn Sullivan can play further
out.
Rivez Reihana will be favoured to wear the No 10 jersey after guiding the Crusaders to the Super Rugby Pacific title, while solid Blues hooker Kurt Eklund is awarded the captaincy.
There are 11 uncapped players in the 29-strong squad for games against the Japan XV (Tokyo, Saturday) and Scotland (Whangārei, July 5).
Māori All Blacks head coach Ross Filipo said he had selected a highly experienced squad led by 32-year-old Aucklander Eklund.
"This team demands a strong leader with mana, and Kurt has shown that quality and more over a long period of time, for the Māori All Blacks, Auckland, Bay of Plenty and the Blues," Filipo said.
"He has a lot of experience throughout the squad and that will be a strength for what will be two tough matches."
New caps range from 20-year-old Blues midfielder Xavi Taele, the youngest member of the squad, to 31-year-old Taranaki prop Jared Proffit.
"It’s a proud moment for all the new caps and their whānau," Filipo said.
"This is a special team, and these players know they are here to are represent something bigger than themselves — their whakapapa, their language, the jersey and Aotearoa."
The Māori All Blacks have assembled in Auckland and will head to Japan today.
Meanwhile, Highlanders fullback Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens has flown to Cape Town to play for the Barbarians against the Springboks this weekend.
Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, an outside contender for the All Blacks, will join former Highlanders flanker Shannon Frizell, Blues players Mark Tele’a and Hoskins Sotutu, former All Blacks captain Sam Cane and Irish veterans Conor Murray, Peter O'Mahony and Cian Healy, among others.
It is the first time the Barbarians, coached by former Crusaders and Wallabies coach Robbie Deans and All Blacks great Sam Whitelock, have played in South Africa.
"It’s definitely a different challenge to that which we’ve faced in the past because they have toppled some top teams, so it will be an ideal test for us at the start of the season," Springboks assistant and former Highlanders coach Tony Brown said.
"For us, this is like a test match, and this means we need to perform to the best of our ability, and our coaching structures have to be right, so that we can live up to the standards we would like to see from our team."
Māori All Blacks
The squad
Props: Benet Kumeroa (Bay of Plenty/Chiefs), Jared Proffit (Taranaki/Chiefs), Pouri Rakete-Stones (Hawke’s Bay/Hurricanes), Kershawl Sykes-Martin (Tasman/Crusaders), Mason Tupaea (Waikato/Blues).
Hookers: Jacob Devery (Hawke’s Bay/Hurricanes), Kurt Eklund (Bay of Plenty/Blues).
Locks: Zach Gallagher (Canterbury/Hurricanes), Laghlan McWhannell (Waikato/Blues), Antonio Shalfoon (Tasman/Crusaders), Isaia Walker-Leawere (Hawke’s Bay/Hurricanes).
Loose forwards: Nikora Broughton (Bay of Plenty/Highlanders), Jahrome Brown (Waikato/Chiefs), Caleb Delany (Wellington/Hurricanes), Cullen Grace (Canterbury/Crusaders), TK Howden (Manawatū/Highlanders).
Halfbacks: Kemara Hauiti-Parapara (Auckland), Sam Nock (Northland/Blues).
First fives: Rivez Reihana (Northland/Crusaders), Kaleb Trask (Bay of Plenty/Chiefs).
Midfielders: Corey Evans (Northland/Blues), Bailyn Sullivan (Waikato/Hurricanes), Daniel Rona (Taranaki/Chiefs), Xavi Taele (Auckland/Blues), Gideon Wrampling (Waikato/Chiefs).
Outside backs: Cole Forbes (Bay of Plenty/Blues), Jonah Lowe (Hawke’s Bay/Highlanders), Zarn Sullivan (Hawke’s Bay/Blues).
