Rugby: Maori All Blacks name squad to take on Lions

Ihaia West will be back for the Maori All Blacks. Photo / Getty

The Maori All Blacks have named a talented squad as they aim to repeat their 2005 victory over the British and Irish Lions.

Maori All Blacks Head Coach Colin Cooper has named several players with All Blacks experience in their squad, which takes on the Lions in Rotorua next Saturday.

The squad has three new caps, all in the backs, with halfbacks Bryn Hall and
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi and midfielder Rob Thompson all set to pull on the jersey for the first time.

"We've got a very exciting group coming together to experience this special and rare occasion. The majority of us have been working together over the past couple of years so we already have an understanding of each other and clarity around what we're looking to achieve," said Cooper.

"Knowing the ground will be full for the match, and getting a feel for the support that's coming from the Rotorua community in hosting us, along with the rest of New Zealand around the series and the match itself is exciting.

"We're very much looking forward to bringing our whānau together over the weekend to start focusing on how we're going to present ourselves to the Lions, and the world, as the Maori All Blacks.

The 2017 Maori All Blacks Squad for the DHL New Zealand Lions Series is:

Forwards

Props
Chris Eves - North Harbour - Waikato/Tainui (7 appearances)
Kane Hames - Tasman - Ngāi Tuhoe/Ngāti Porou (5)
Mike Kainga - Taranaki - Ngāti Kahungunu (2)
Ben May - Hawke's Bay - Ngāti Maniapoto (12)
Marcel Renata - Auckland - Ngāti Whānaunga / Te Aupouri (4)

Hookers
Ash Dixon (captain) - Hawke's Bay - Ngāti Tahinga (8)
Hikawera Elliot - Counties Manukau - Ngāti Awa (9)

Locks
Tom Franklin - Bay of Plenty - Ngāti Maniapoto (4)
Leighton Price - Taranaki - Waikato/Ngāti Maniapoto (3)
Joe Wheeler - Tasman - Ngāi Tahu (2)

Loose forwards
Elliot Dixon - Southland - Ngāpuhi (9)
Akira Ioane - Auckland - Ngāpuhi/Te Whānau ā Apanui (5)
Liam Messam - Waikato - Ngāti Maniapoto (12)
Reed Prinsep - Canterbury - Te Rārawa (2)
Kara Pryor - Northland - Ngāti Awa/Ngāti Pikiao/Ngāti Rangitihi (2)

Backs

Halfbacks
Bryn Hall - North Harbour - Ngāti Ranginui
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi - Taranaki - Ngāti Pikiao

First five-eighths
Otere Black - Manawatu - Ngāi Tuhoe/Te Whānau ā Apanui/Ngāti Tūwharetoa (4)
Ihaia West - Hawke's Bay - Ngāti Kahungunu/Ngāti Porou (7)

Midfielders
Tim Bateman - Canterbury - Ngāi Tahu (12)
Charlie Ngatai - Taranaki - Ngāti Porou/Te Whānau ā Apanui/Te Whakatōhea (9)
Matt Proctor - Wellington - Ngāi Te Rangi/Ngāpuhi (9)
Rob Thompson - Canterbury - Ngāti Kahungunu
James Lowe - Tasman - Ngāpuhi/Ngāi Te Rangi (5)

Outside backs
Damian McKenzie - Waikato - Ngāti Tūwharetoa/Ngāti Tahinga (3)
Nehe Milner-Skudder - Manawatu - Ngāti Porou/Tapuika (2)
Declan O'Donnell - Taranaki - Ngāti Tūwharetoa/Ngāti Porou (1)