Ioane headlines Māori squad for Americas tour

Akira Ioane has been named in the New Zealand Māori squad for their historic tour of the Americas next month. The Auckland powerhouse was a surprise omission from the All Blacks squad for the November tests and has been snapped up by Māori coach Clayton McMillan for the matches against the USA in Chicago, Brazil in São Paulo, and Chile in Santiago.

The experienced squad includes nine who appeared against the British & Irish Lions last year. Ash Dixon leads the side and five players from the All Blacks squad – prop Tyrel Lomax, lock Jackson Hemopo, scrumhalf Bryn Hall, midfielder Matt Proctor, and outside back Nehe Milner-Skudder – will boost the squad following the Japan test.

Ten of the group have yet to represent the Māori, among them former Samoa u20 flyhalf Josh Ioane. Towering Tasman lock Pari Pari Parkinson is named as is Bay of Plenty and Chiefs flanker Mitchell Karpik. Canterbury winger Caleb Makene will depart the squad following the USA match.

A detailed squad list can be seen here.

FORWARDS
Chris Eves (North Harbour), Tyrel Lomax (Tasman), Ben May (Hawke’s Bay), Marcel Renata (Auckland), Ross Wright (Northland), Robbie Abel (Auckland), Ash Dixon (capt., Hawke’s Bay), Jackson Hemopo (Manawatu), Pari Pari Parkinson (Tasman), Isaia Walker-Leawere (Wellington), Billy Harmon (Canterbury), Akira Ioane (Auckland), Mitchell Karpik (Bay of Plenty), Hoani Matenga (Bay of Plenty), Reed Prinsep (Canterbury)

BACKS
Bryn Hall (North Harbour), Jonathan Ruru (Auckland), Brad Weber (Hawke’s Bay), Otere Black (Manawatu), Josh Ioane (Otago), Matt Lansdown (Waikato), Matt Proctor (Wellington), Rob Thompson (Manawatu), Teihorangi Walden (Taranaki), Jonah Lowe (Hawke’s Bay), Caleb Makene (Canterbury), Nehe Milner-Skudder (Manawatu), Shaun Stevenson (North Harbour)