As 2020 comes to a close and the 2021 Sky Super Aotearoa Rugby squads have been announced, this squad is a throwback to 10 years ago when the 2011 Chiefs squad was announced.
This squad was certainly not lacking international experience with 17 All Blacks - past and future of the time, two Tongan representatives, a future Australian player, two Manu Samoa players, a Cook Islands player, one future Irish player and a future Japan sevens player.
That year the Chiefs finished 10th overall and the Queensland Reds took out the competition.
Isaac Ross (Tasman), Sona Taumalolo (Hawke's Bay), Ben May (Taranaki/Hurricanes), Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty/Chiefs/All Blacks) and Liam Messam (Waikato) were the only players from this squad to still be playing in New Zealand rugby during 2020.
Richard Kahui is the only player to have a Super Rugby contract in 2021, having already played for Perth-based Western Force in 2020 alongside another former All Black, Jeremy Thrush.
The 2021 Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa action kicks off on February 26 with the Highlanders hosting defending champions the Crusaders.
This 23 is picked based on most appearances throughout the 2011 campaign.
* denotes international representative
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1. SONA TAUMALOLO*
BORN: 1981 CHIEFS CAPS: 52 (2009-2012)
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2. HIKAWERA ELLIOT*
BORN: 1986 CHIEFS CAPS: 117 (2009-2017)
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3. NATHAN WHITE*
BORN: 1981 CHIEFS CAPS: 41 (2006-2011)
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4. CRAIG CLARKE
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Advertise with NZME.BORN: 1983 CHIEFS CAPS: 71 (2009-2013)
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5. ROMANA GRAHAM
BORN: 1986 CHIEFS CAPS: 19 (2010-2013)
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6. LIAM MESSAM*
BORN: 1984 CHIEFS CAPS: 179 (2006-2018)
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7. TANERAU LATIMER*
BORN: 1986 CHIEFS CAPS: 108 (2007-2014)
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8. FRITZ LEE
BORN: 1988 CHIEFS CAPS: 21 (2011-2013)
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9. BRENDON LEONARD*
BORN: 1985 CHIEFS CAPS: 73 (2007-2013)
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10. STEPHEN DONALD*
BORN: 1983 CHIEFS CAPS: 106 (2005-2019)
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11. SITIVENI SIVIVATU*
BORN: 1982 CHIEFS CAPS: 89 (2003-2011)
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12. DWAYNE SWEENEY
BORN: 1984 CHIEFS CAPS: 69 (2007-2014)
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13. RICHARD KAHUI*
BORN: 1985 CHIEFS CAPS: 60 (2007-2013)
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14. LELIA MASAGA*
BORN: 1986 CHIEFS CAPS: 91 (2006-2013)
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15. MILS MULIAINA* - Captain
BORN: 1980 CHIEFS CAPS: 61 (2006-2014)
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Reserves:
16. ALED DE MALMANCHE*
BORN: 1984 CHIEFS CAPS: 62 (2007-2011)
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17. BEN MAY
BORN: 1982 CHIEFS CAPS: 33 (2008-2011)
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18. TOBY SMITH*
BORN: 1988 CHIEFS CAPS: 37 (2010-2013)
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19. ISAAC ROSS*
BORN: 1984 CHIEFS CAPS: 11 (2011)
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20. SCOTT WALDROM*
BORN: 1980 CHIEFS CAPS: 14 (2011-2012)
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21. TAWERA KERR-BARLOW*
BORN: 1990 CHIEFS CAPS: 83 (2011-2017)
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22. MIKE DELANY*
BORN: 1982 CHIEFS CAPS: 28 (2009-2011)
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23. TIM NANAI-WILLIAMS*
BORN: 1989 CHIEFS CAPS: 69 (2007-2014)
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Other members of the initial 2011 squad: Colin Bourke, Dan Perrin, Culum Retallick, Ben Afeaki*, Hayden Triggs, Taniela Moa*, Save Tokula, Jackson Willison, Tana Umaga*.
Later squad additions: Sam Cane*, Matt Vant Leven, Stephen Setephano*, Taiasina Tuifua*.
To take part in the annual 2021 Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa picksters competition in the Te Awamutu Courier, email NZME's Tania King on tania.king@nzme.co.nz
