Randle back for Waikato

Winger Roger Randle will be a late inclusion in the Waikato squad for this year's Air New Zealand Cup rugby competition.

The former All Black was not included in the original 35-player squad announced this week but turned out for his first training session with the side yesterday since coming back from France.

Randle, 32, played for Bourgoin-Jallieu in France until last month and is expected to get a run when Waikato meet Wellington in a pre-season match in Hamilton on Saturday.

Waikato coach Warren Gatland named a large Cup squad, bringing on some young players with an eye to the future.

"While it's about the short term and having a good Air New Zealand Cup season, it's also about the long term and getting a few players in the system fulltime who might not play a lot of rugby for us this year but are being fast-tracked with a view to next season," Gatland said.

Newcomers Malcolm Barnes (halfback), Zion Nordstrom (centre) and Jared Payne (fullback) will be in the company of the experienced Tom Willis, Jono Gibbes, Marty Holah and Steven Bates on Saturday.

Randle played 54 games for Waikato, 59 for the Chiefs, five for the Hurricanes and two for the All Blacks (in 2001) before moving to France.

He has returned after the death of his 15-month-old son Luka, who drowned in a swimming pool accident this year.

His inclusion boosts Waikato depth out wide where they also have Sitiveni Sivivatu and Wellington signing Roy Kinikinilau.

Waikato squad:

Forwards: Sam Biddles, Andre Ellison, Aled de Malmanche, Ted Tauroa, Craig West, Nathan White, Scott Linklater, Tom Willis, Mark Burman, Kent Fife, Jono Gibbes, Sean Hohneck, Toby Lynn, Ben Paurini, Keith Robinson, Steven Bates (captain), Marty Holah, Sione Lauaki, Liam Messam, Steven Setephano.

Backs: Byron Kelleher, Brendon Leonard, Malcolm Barnes, Stephen Donald, David Hill, William Ripia, Richard Kahui, Zion Nordstrom, Dwayne Sweeney, Roy Kinikinilau, Jared Payne, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Sosene Anesi, Loki Crichton, Mils Muliaina.

Waikato elite academy players to train with squad: David Bason (halfback), Matt Blain (loose forward), Sam Christie (first five-eighths/midfield back), Vern Kamo (hooker), Armyn Sanders (fullback) and Watene Waenga (midfield back).

- NZPA