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The New Zealand Rugby Union has unveiled the rosters of all five franchises for the 2019 Super Rugby season. Each team includes 38 players comprised of Mitre 10 Cup regulars, capped All Blacks, and a sprinkling of exiles returning from stints in Japanese club rugby.
One Canadian – in fact the only Americas representative – has found a place among the 190 names. As expected Tyler Ardron will enter the second of a two-year deal he signed with the Chiefs in May 2017. The 28-cap international captained Bay of Plenty in the back end of the Mitre 10 Cup, playing largely on the blindside flank.
Ardron is named as hybrid lock-loose forward in the Chiefs squad but it’s the second row where he looks set to challenge for a starting spot alongside All Black star Brodie Retallick. His main competition will come from a pair of recent national u20 graduates and fifth-year Chiefs veteran Michael Allardice.
Five other Americas players took part in the Mitre 10 Cup this season. US Eagles flanker Tony Lamborn captained Southland with Argentine scrumhalf Nico Costa a regular for the Stags. Lucas Albornoz was a late addition to the North Harbour squad, while fellow Canadian lock Evan Olmstead and USA hooker Mike Sosene-Feagai were part of Auckland’s Cup-winning team.
It’s Olmstead’s omission that comes as a disappointment to many. The 27-year-old has been in sparkling form since departing Newcastle Falcons, starting eight games for Auckland and earning rave reviews following his man-of-the-match performance in the Cup Final against Canterbury.
Similar to Ardron it’s a trio of New Zealand u20 graduates who block Olmstead’s route, with Scott Scrafton, Josh Goodhue, and Jacob Pierce all named along with All Black Patrick Tu’ipulotu and North Harbour starter Gerard Cowley-Tuioti. The swing position – lock or blindside flanker – that Ardron fills for the Chiefs is given to youngster Tom Robinson.
There remains a chance that Olmstead will yet see Super Rugby action this season. It’s expected that he will be named in the Blues Extended Squad, typically released in December, with a call-up opportunity available in the case of injury.
In the meantime both Ardron and Olmstead have joined up with Canada’s camp in the UK to prepare for the World Cup Qualifying series in Marseille that begins next weekend.
