Rugby: Chiefs pick Steamers stars

Chase Tiatia is a dangerous runner and an excellent finisher.

Chase Tiatia and Siegfried Fisiihoi were wearing the biggest grins when the Gallagher Chiefs squad was named yesterday for the revamped 2016 Investec Super Rugby season.

Two of the standout players for the Bay of Plenty Steamers in this year's ITM Cup were among 14 new faces named by head coach Dave Rennie in a strong squad, packed with talent to provide the necessary depth to cover the inevitable injuries and suspensions.

Bay of Plenty's Johan Bardoul, Sam Cane and Brodie Retallick were also named.

Tiatia, 20, proved to be an elusive runner and showed an eye for the try line during his debut season for the Steamers, following his former Wellington under-19 coach, Clayton McMillan, to the Bay. Last year he played ITM Cup and was in the Wellington side that won the inaugural Jock Hobbs Memorial National U19 Tournament.

Fisiihoi, 28, is one of the great characters of the game, who is selected as a prop but is also an accomplished loose forward. The former East Coast rep has blistering pace and quality ball skills. Expect 'Ziggy' to become a crowd favourite once he gets some game time.

Bay of Plenty Rugby chief executive, Mike Rogers, said promoting players to the next level was what they hope to achieve with all of the Steamers players.

"Ziggy has always had that physical prowess and the ability but this year he has really worked hard with our strength and conditioning trainers,' Rogers said. "That is demonstrated by what he has achieved in the ITM Cup so for him to go on and get a Super Rugby contract, through good performances at the ITM Cup level, is a perfect outcome for us.

"Chase made a really strong contribution and again it demonstrates opportunity. He has taken full advantage of it, coming up from Wellington, and again highlights why a guy like Mitch Karpik and others have signed for the Bay. Chase has set that platform to show that this is a good environment for people to be successful in.

"It is another really positive outcome for us to show this is a good place to be and we can help individuals get to the next level."

Chiefs head coach Dave Rennie believes they have assembled a squad with a good blend of enthusiastic debutants and experience, with 12 current and former All Blacks in the team.

"The 14 new faces, our highest turnover since 2012 when we had 16, gives us an exciting blend of youth and experience and excellent depth throughout.

"The new competition structure will be challenging with more travel, but being the first team to play in Buenos Aires will be an amazing occasion," said Rennie.

There are 26 players returning to the Chiefs including former All Black and Rugby World Cup hero Stephen Donald.

Donald has played 85 matches for the Chiefs, last appearing for the side in 2011.

Gallagher Chiefs Investec Super Rugby squad

Michael Allardice (Hawke's Bay)
Johan Bardoul (Bay of Plenty)
Dominic Bird (Canterbury)**
Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty)
Stephen Donald (Waikato)
Aaron Cruden (Manawatu)
Hika Elliot (Taranaki)
Glen Fisiiahi (Counties Manukau)*
Siegfried Fisiihoi (Bay of Plenty)*
Mitchell Graham (Taranaki)
Nathan Harris (Bay of Plenty)
Andrew Horrell (Hawke's Bay)
Mitchell Karpik (Auckland-Bay of Plenty)*
Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Waikato)
Tevita Koloamatangi (Tasman)
Nepo Laulala (Canterbury)**
Michael Leitch (Japan)
Anton Lienert-Brown (Waikato)
James Lowe (Tasman)
Pauliasi Manu (Counties Manukau)
Rhys Marshall (Taranaki)
Damian McKenzie (Waikato)
Sam McNicol (Wellington)**
Atu Moli (Waikato)*
Charlie Ngatai (Taranaki)
Augustine Pulu (Counties Manukau)
Toni Pulu (Counties Manukau)
Brodie Retallick (Bay of Plenty-Hawke's Bay)
Tom Sanders (Canterbury)*
Teleni Seu (Auckland)*
Shaun Stevenson (Waikato)*
Seta Tamanivalu (Taranaki)
Chase Tiatia (Bay of Plenty)*
Siate Tokolahi (Canterbury)
James Tucker (Waikato)*
Maama Vaipulu (Counties Manukau)
Latu Vaeno (Taranaki)*
Sam Vaka (Counties Manukau)*
Brad Weber (Waikato-Hawke's Bay)
Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau)

*Super Rugby debut
** Gallagher Chiefs debut