Rugby: Dixon hooks Maori All Blacks captain's role again

Ash Dixon (left with fellow Magpie Pasqualle Dunn) has retained the Maori All Blacks captaincy. Photo/Paul Taylor

While there was little doubt Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby captain Ash Dixon would retain the Maori All Blacks captaincy a successful fishing expedition on Sunday was an early signal.

"We got a couple of gurnard and a couple of kahawai which are just about to come out of the smoker now," hooker Dixon said yesterday, as he reflected on Sunday's fishing on Hawke Bay from his boat with mates including fellow Magpies front rower Mark Braidwood.

Dixon, 29, has been a Maori All Black since 2013, has captained the side since last year and was captain when they lost to the British and Irish Lions in Rotorua this year. Fellow Magpies, first five-eighth Ihaia West and halfback Brad Weber, have also retained their berths in the side to take on Canada in Vancouver on November 3 and the French Barbarians in Bordeaux on November 10.

Fellow Magpie, prop Ben May, who has also been a regular in the side in recent seasons, was ruled out with a knee injury.

"I was pretty chuffed to be named captain again and have the opportunity to represent Maori and Hawke's Bay again. It's pretty special playing for the Maori team," Dixon said.

"There're a few old heads and we have some pretty exciting youth in the squad. Being realistic and from the season we had with the Magpies we should be pleased to have three selected. There are still two spots up for grabs and we could get more as Tiaan [Falcon] and Pouri [Rakete-Stones] are among several players coming into camp with us and the two players will be selected from them," Dixon explained.

West will compete with fellow new Hurricane Jackson Garden-Bachop for the starting pivot role. Chief Weber will compete with Hurricane Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi and former Magpies halfback Jonathan Ruru for the starting No 9 job.

Ruru, 24, is one of nine players new to the Maori All Blacks selected. A Mitre 10 Cup player for Otago for the past two seasons, Ruru, has made rapid progress since surprisingly being ranked only the third No 9 in Hawke's Bay in 2015. He played for the All Black Sevens last year and earlier this month signed a Super Rugby contract with the Blues.

The former Taradale and Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports club player is a younger brother of Force Super Rugby halfback Michael Ruru, who is regularly labelled as a Wallaby in waiting on the other side of the Tasman.

Garden-Bachop and Ruru, join Northland prop Ross Wright, Tasman prop Tyrel Lomax, Bay of Plenty hooker Liam Polwart, Manawatu lock Jackson Hemopo, Counties-Manukau loosie Sam Henwood, Waikato loosie Jordan Manihera and Otago midfield back Teihorangi Walden as the newcomers.

Along with May, Otere Black, Namatahi Waa, Matt Proctor, Jacob Skeen, Kara Pryor, Leighton Price, Elliot Dixon and Bryn Hall weren't considered because of injuries.

Kane Hames, Damian McKenzie, Rieko Ioane and Nehe Milner-Skudder weren't selected because of their All Blacks commitments although Milner-Skudder won't be going on the All Blacks end-of-year tour because of a shoulder injury.