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Head coach Colin Cooper and assistant Tana Umaga have named 26 players in their New Zealand Māori squad to depart on Sunday for a three-match tour that begins in Chicago against the US Eagles. Included are six new Māori caps with all but five of the squad boasting Super Rugby experience. Tasman prop Kane Hames, who made his test debut in the Rugby Championship, is one of two All Blacks in the side, the other being scrumhalf Brad Weber, and there are several age-grade representatives including 2016 New Zealand u20 captain Leni Apisai.
New Zealand Olympic 7s star Akira Ioane is present, as is Highlanders second row Tom Franklin, who was named in the first All Blacks squad of the year in May but has yet to make his test debut. His Super Rugby teammate Ash Dixon will captain the side in the absence of injured midfielder Charlie Ngatai. Former Crusaders and Hurricanes utility back Tim Bateman is the only player included who did not appear in the Mitre 10 Cup, recently returning from a two-year stint in Japan to play for Tasman’s reserve-grade side.
The Māori last faced the Eagles in November of 2013, a match that saw the visitors win 29-19 at PPL Park in Philadelphia. Following their meeting at Toyota Park on November 4, the Maori will depart for Ireland to face Munster at Thomond Park in Limerick at week later, with a mid-week match against Harlequins at The Stoop the following Wednesday.
FORWARDS
Chris Eves (Manawatu), Kane Hames (Tasman), Mike Kainga (Taranaki), Ben May (Hawke’s Bay), Marcel Renata (Auckland), Leni Apisai (Wellington), Ash Dixon (capt., Hawke’s Bay), Joe Royal (Bay of Plenty), Tom Franklin (Otago), Leighton Price (Taranaki), Jacob Skeen (Waikato), Shane Christie (Tasman), Whetu Douglas (Waikato), Akira Ioane (Auckland), Reed Prinsep (Canterbury), Kara Pryor (Northland)
BACKS
Billy Guyton (Tasman), Brad Weber (Hawke’s Bay), Otere Black (Manawatu), Ihaia West (Hawke’s Bay), Tim Bateman (Tasman), Jason Emery (Manawatu), Sean Wainui (Taranaki), James Lowe (Tasman), Matt Proctor (Wellington), Marty McKenzie (Taranaki)
FIXTURES
Nov 4 – vs USA Eagles – Toyota Park, Chicago
Nov 11 – vs Munster – Thomond Park, Limerick
Nov 16 – vs Harlequins – The Stoop, London
