Rugby: Latimer back for Chiefs

Tanerau Latimer. Photo / Getty Images

Flanker Tanerau Latimer will make his return to Super 15 rugby for the Chiefs against the Blues in Auckland on Saturday night after an extended stretch on the sidelines.

Latimer, who has been out with concussion and then an ankle injury picked up in training, is one of four changes to the Chiefs starting 15 named today.

Also back are props Ben May and Nathan White, and veteran second five-eighth Tana Umaga, who has been out of action since the Chiefs travelled to South Africa in April.

In the reserves, young Waikato loose forward Matt Vant Leven is in line to make his debut for the Chiefs.

Both the Chiefs and the Blues are coming off a bye.

While the Blues are leading the New Zealand conference despite two successive defeats, the Chiefs have dropped out of semifinals contention.

"The Blues will be well motivated as they seek to nail a playoff place and the fact they lost their last home game," coach Ian Foster said.

"For us, knowing we are out of the playoffs is disappointing but having a traditional game like this now is ideal."

Chiefs: Mils Muliaina (captain), Lelia Masaga, Richard Kahui, Tana Umaga, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Stephen Donald, Brendon Leonard, Fritz Lee, Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam, Romana Graham, Craig Clarke, Nathan White, Hika Elliot, Ben May. Reserves: Aled de Malmanche, Toby Smith, Culum Retallick, Matt Vant Leven, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Mike Delany, Dwayne Sweeney.

- NZPA