Maori squad named to face Fiji

The New Zealand Maori squad to face Fiji in Suva as a prelude to the Pacific Nations Cup has been named, with Chiefs centre Charlie Ngatai once again captain. The group includes 14 players who toured Japan in November, and three members of the New Zealand u20 team that emerged victorious in the World Rugby u20 Championship just 10 days ago – Akira Ioane, Otere Black, and Sean Wainui.

Only six of the side did not make a Super Rugby appearance this season, one of them being 18-year-old Auckland outside back Rieko Ioane, younger brother of Blues no8 Akira who is also present after starring at the tournament in Italy.

Other notable inclusions include in-form Hurricanes utility forward Blade Thomson; Highlanders back row Elliot Dixon; and Chiefs halfback Brad Weber, who has also been named in the All Blacks training group to prepare for the test in Samoa on July 8.

The Maori have an abridged schedule this season, playing Fiji in Suva on July 11 before facing a New Zealand Barbarians invitational side at Eden Park in Auckland a week later.

FORWARDS
Brendon Edmonds (Hawke’s Bay / Highlanders), Chris Eves (Manawatu / Hurricanes), Josh Hohneck (Waikato / Highlanders), Ben May (Wellington / Hurricanes), Ash Dixon (Hawke’s Bay / Highlanders), Quentin MacDonald (Tasman / Chiefs), Joe Royal (Bay of Plenty), Jacob Skeen (Waikato), Blade Thomson (Taranaki / Hurricanes), Hayden Triggs (North Harbour / Blues), Heiden Bedwell-Curtis (Manawatu), Shane Christie (Tasman / Highlanders), Mitch Crosswell (Taranaki / Chiefs), Elliot Dixon (Southland / Highlanders), Akira Ioane (Auckland / Blues)

BACKS
Jamison Gibson-Park (Taranaki / Blues), Brad Weber (Waikato / Chiefs), Otere Black (Manawatu / Hurricanes), Marty McKenzie (Taranaki / Chiefs), Jason Emery (Manawatu / Highlanders), Charlie Ngatai (capt., Taranaki / Chiefs), Sean Wainui (Taranaki), Kurt Baker (Taranaki / Highlanders), Rieko Ioane (Auckland), Matt Proctor (Wellington / Hurricanes), Damian McKenzie (Waikato / Chiefs), Codey Rei (Taranaki)