34-Man New Zealand Roster Prepare for Rugby Championship

New Zealand Head Coach Steve Hansen has unveiled a 34-man roster to prepare for the Rugby Championship. Included are four uncapped players: Richard Buckman and Tom Franklin of the Highlanders, Akira Ioane of the Blues, and Chiefs prop Atu Moli.

Opportunities have opened up in the squad for a number of players. Recalled are props Nepo Laulala and Jeffery To’omaga-Allen, who missed the test series against the British and Irish Lions. Also back is Charlie Ngatai, a player to have suffered from concussion problems.

Missing are Crusaders players due to this coming Saturday’s Super Rugby Final in Johannesburg, South Africa. The final squad for the Rugby Championship will be named on Monday August 7, two days after the Super Rugby Final.

In this year’s edition of the Rugby Championship New Zealand will play against Argentina in New Plymouth and Buenos Aires.

FORWARDS
Kane Hames (Chiefs), Nepo Laulala (Chiefs), Atu Moli (Chiefs), Jeffery To’omaga-Allen (Hurricanes), Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Blues), Dane Coles (Hurricanes), Nathan Harris (Chiefs), Dominic Bird (Chiefs), Tom Franklin (Highlanders), Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), Patrick Tu’ipulotu (Blues), Sam Cane (Chiefs), Vaea Fifita (Hurricanes), Akira Ioane (Blues), Jerome Kaino (Blues), Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), Liam Squire (Highlanders)

BACKS
Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Chiefs), TJ Perenara (Hurricanes), Aaron Smith (Highlanders), Beauden Barrett (Highlanders), Damian McKenzie (Chiefs), Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders), Richard Buckman (Highlanders), Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes), Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs), Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs), Sonny Bill Williams (Blues), Rieko Ioane (Blues), Nehe Milner-Skudder (Hurricanes), Waisake Naholo (Highlanders), Julian Savea (Hurricanes), Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes), Ben Smith (Highlanders)