Player-depth tested by Waikato

1.00pm

Twelve players who have never played NPC rugby for Waikato will start the season as members of an expanded squad for the province.

Waikato coach John Mitchell today named his 27-man squad for the NPC season, added another four players to cover for the province's four All Blacks, who will miss the start of the competition, and omitted several injured players.

Included are All Blacks trialist and Pacific Islanders wing Sitiveni Sivivatu and New Zealand Colts first five-eighth Stephen Donald, who have both played in the NPC for Counties-Manukau, and All Blacks halfback Byron Kelleher, who has made 38 NPC appearances for Otago.

New Zealand Sevens captain Liam Messam, who has yet to play in the NPC, and fellow youngsters Richard Kahui, Willie Ripia, Nathan White and David Van Eyk were also named in the squad.

Joining veteran halfback Rhys Duggan as cover for All Blacks Kelleher, Marty Holah, Jono Gibbes and the injured Keith Robinson are three NPC newcomers -- Joel McKenty, Josh Sole and Toby Lynn.

Lock Robinson, who is expected to be out for at least another three weeks with his calf injury but is also an outside chance to miss the rest of the season, is the only player with a long-term injury named in the squad.

The backline is hardest hit by injuries with Loki Crichton (knee reconstruction) and Derek Maisey (broken leg) already ruled out for the season and Roger Randle (calf), Regan King (pelvic surgery) and Mark Ranby (dislocated shoulder) all with uncertain recovery times.

Forwards, apart from Robinson, in the latter category are Deacon Manu (knee) and Tom Willis (back surgery).

No 8 Steven Bates will captain Waikato until Gibbes returns, while centre Keith Lowen will be vice-captain for the season.

Mitchell said there was nothing the team could do about the injury toll, much of which was probably the result of the same core of players carrying a big Super12/NPC load for the last couple of years.

"But it's a great opportunity for others and what it has also done is test the depth of the union and enabled some good young talent to surface that will be good for the future," Mitchell said.

"As with any team it's important to have a good mix of experienced players and young players. We've still got that but we wouldn't want to have too many more injuries and obviously the challenge becomes a little bit greater in the absence of our All Blacks."

Waikato NPC squad:

Backs: Todd Miller, Sosene Anesi, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Solomone Korovata, Filimoni Bolavucu, Keith Lowen (vice-captain), Richard Kahui, Dwayne Sweeney, David Hill, Stephen Donald, William Ripia, Isaac Boss, Byron Kelleher.

Rhys Duggan is to cover for Kelleher until the latter returns from All Blacks duties.

Forwards: Steven Bates (captain), Liam Messam, Marty Holah, Scott Couch, Jono Gibbes, Keith Robinson, David Duley, Sean Hohneck, Nathan White, David Van Eyk, David Briggs, Michael Collins, Scott Linklater, Greg Smith.

- NZPA

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