The defending champion Highlanders have announced a settled 38-man squad to contest the 2016 Super Rugby competition.
The squad has 29 players returning from the 2015 team which won its first title. Mid-season injury replacements Daniel Lienert-Brown (prop) and James Lentjes (flanker) return on full contracts, while the loose forward stocks have been bolstered by Liam Squire (Tasman) and Luke Whitelock (Canterbury), after the departures of experienced campaigners Nasi Manu and John Hardie. Also joining the forwards is Siua Halanukonuka (Tasman), the Tongan-born prop has had a solid season for Tasman and hooker Greg Pleasants-Tate (Auckland) who will add some depth to the front-row. Craig Millar (Otago) returns to the squad after a one year hiatus due to injury as well as teammate, lock Jackson Hemopo, who debuted for the Highlanders in 2015 after coming into the squad as injury cover.
Young and exciting midfielders Rob Thompson (Canterbury) and Matt Faddes (Otago) come into the backs after standout seasons with their ITM Cup teams and collecting 16 tries between them. First five Hayden Parker, who had limited game time in 2015 due to a shoulder injury that required surgery, will spend the next couple of months in Japan with Panasonic before returning for the start of the 2016 season. Fan-favourite, Fumiaki Tanaka, fresh from his RWC heroics, will return early in the new year for his fourth season with the Highlanders.
Also included in the squad is 19-year old Patelesio Tomkinson, the 2014 winner of the Bronze Boot in the trans-Tasman schools international. Tomkinson is a versatile player with a big future who has made his debut for Otago in the ITM Cup this year.
Outside backs:
