The return of a favourite son and the absence of another are the features of the Chiefs squad for the 2016 Super Rugby season.
Stephen Donald, despite a hamstrung time during the ITM Cup with Waikato, is back after a four-year hiatus to add depth and experience to a Chiefs squad which includes 26 from the franchise's region.
Offsetting that is the absence of Liam Messam, who will be in sevens mode for 2016 after a short, post-RWC stint in Japan. Midfielder Sonny Bill Williams is named on the roster but will not play as he pins his hopes on making the All Blacks Sevens for Rio.
That allows the Chiefs to select 40, including seven wider training group members.
"We were talking to Beaver prior to him coming back and it coincided with him playing for Waikato," said Chiefs coach Dave Rennie.
He knew of the plans of Williams and Messam well in advance, so was planning accordingly.
Although Rennie had the luxury of three All Black halfbacks in the group, Augustine Pulu will miss roughly half the second section of the campaign depending on how his sevens drive goes.
Some tremendous young talent has been promoted, reflecting the diligent work of recruitment chief Dave Dillon. So the likes of fullback Shaun Stevenson, lock James Tucker and prop Atu Moli are in the mix, while the signings of lock Dominic Bird from the Crusaders and flanker Mitch Karpik are "good gets".
Rennie feels there is good depth to again challenge for the playoffs. The good news is that Aaron Cruden will be fit for pre-season training in four weeks.
The Blues have chosen 16 players from struggling unions North Harbour and Northland, but there is enough quality among the individual players for new coach Tana Umaga to mould into a playoffs side.
The return of centre Rene Ranger from France and a neck injury will be eagerly awaited. Ihaia West should be able to take up the No 10 duties in more authoritative fashion after a fine season with Hawke's Bay.
The glue will come from All Blacks in the pack such as Jerome Kaino, Charlie Faumuina and returnees from injury Steven Luatua and Patrick Tuipulotu.
There is a ton of talent and youth in the backline, including Waikato fullback/wing Jordan Trainor and league convert Matt Duffie.
Quentin MacDonald took the third hooker's berth ahead of the in-form Aucklander Greg Pleasants-Tate, who instead won a Highlanders contract.
"We have probably picked more young guys than the other Super sides and those selections have been challenging because there are so many young players who have played well in the ITM Cup, but we just can't pick them all," said Umaga.
The Auckland union, which celebrated its annual awards last night, was able to toast no less than 24 of its team winning contracts across all five franchises.
The Highlanders look settled, while there is change at the Hurricanes and Crusaders, with the accent also on youth.
In all, 33 players will make their Super debuts, and 11 from the world champion New Zealand Under 20s are ready for the next level as fulltime pros.
The 2016 season kicks off on February 26 when the defending champion Highlanders travel to Eden Park to face the new-look Blues.
- By Campbell Burnes of the New Zealand Herald
Super Rugby squads
Blues
Outside backs: Melani Nanai (Auckland), Lolagi Visinia (Auckland), Matt Duffie (North Harbour), Jordan Trainor (Waikato), Tevita Li (North Harbour), Ben Lam (Auckland)
Midfielders: George Moala (Auckland), TJ Faiane (Auckland), Michael Little (North Harbour), Rene Ranger (North Harbour), Rieko Ioane (Auckland)
First fives: Ihaia West (Hawkes Bay), Matt McGahan (North Harbour), Dan Bowden (Northland), Piers Francis (Counties Manukau)
Halfbacks: Bryn Hall (North Harbour), Sam Nock (Northland), Billy Guyton (Tasman)
Loose forwards: Jerome Kaino (Auckland), Blake Gibson (Auckland), Kara Pryor (Northland), Jack Ram (Northland), Steven Luatua (Auckland), Akira Ioane (Auckland), Joe Edwards (Auckland)
Locks: Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland), Gerard Tuioti-Mariner (North Harbour), Hoani Matenga (Wellington), Josh Bekhuis (Southland), Scott Scrafton (Auckland)
Props: Nic Mayhew (North Harbour), Sam Prattley (Auckland), Charlie Faumuina (Auckland), Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Auckland), Sione Mafileo (North Harbour), Namatahi Waa (Northland)
Hookers: James Parsons (North Harbour), Matt Moulds (Northland), Quentin MacDonald (Tasman)
Chiefs
Outside backs: Shaun Stevenson (Waikato), Damian McKenzie (Waikato), Glen Fisiiahi (Counties Manukau)
Chase Tiatia (Bay of Plenty), Sam McNicol (Wellington), Toni Pulu (Counties Manukau), James Lowe (Tasman), Latu Vaeno (Taranaki)
Midfielders: Sam Vaka (Counties Manukau), Seta Tamanivalu (Taranaki), Anton Lienert-Brown (Waikato), Charlie Ngatai (Taranaki), Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau), Andrew Horrell (Hawkes Bay)
First fives: Aaron Cruden (Manawatu), Stephen Donald (Waikato)
Halfbacks: Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Waikato), Augustine Pulu (Counties Manukau), Brad Weber (Hawkes Bay)
Loose forwards: Maama Vaipulu (Counties Manukau), Johan Bardoul (Bay of Plenty), Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty), Mitch Karpik (Bay of Plenty), Tevita Koloamatangi (Tasman), Michael Leitch (Japan), Tom Sanders (Canterbury), Taleni Seu (Auckland)
Locks: Michael Allardice (Hawkes Bay), Brodie Retallick (Hawkes Bay), Dominic Bird (Canterbury), James Tucker (Waikato)
Props: Siate Tokolahi (Canterbury), Atu Moli (Waikato), Pauliasi Manu (Counties Manukau), Nepo Laulala (Canterbury), Mitch Graham (Taranaki), Ziggy Fisiihoi (Bay of Plenty)
Hookers: Hika Elliot (Taranaki), Rhys Marshall (Taranaki), Nathan Harris (Bay of Plenty)
Hurricanes
Outside backs: Cory Jane (Wellington), Nehe Milner-Skudder (Manawatu), Matt Proctor (Wellington), Julian Savea (Wellington), Jason Woodward (Wellington)
Midfielders: Willis Halaholo (Southland), Pita Ahki (North Harbour), Vince Aso (Auckland), Ngani Laumape (Manawatu)
First fives: Otere Black (Manawatu), Beauden Barrett (Taranaki), TJ Va'a (Wellington), James Marshall (Taranaki)
Halfbacks: TJ Perenara (Wellington), Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Taranaki), Jamison Gibson-Park (Taranaki)
Loose forwards: Callum Gibbins (Manawatu), Ardie Savea (Wellington), Iopu Iopu-Aso (Taranaki), Vaea Fifita (Wellington), Tony Lamborn (Hawke's Bay), Hugh Renton (Hawkes Bay), Victor Vito (Wellington), Brad Shields (Wellington)
Locks: Mark Abbott (Hawkes Bay), James Broadhurst (Taranaki), Geoffrey Cridge (Hawkes Bay), Michael Fatialofa (Auckland), Christian Lloyd (Wellington), Blade Thomson (Taranaki)
Props: Chris Eves (Manawatu), Reggie Goodes (Wellington), Ben May (Wellington), Hisa Sasagi (Otago), Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Wellington), Loni Uhila (Waikato)
Hookers: Leni Apisai (Wellington), Dane Coles (Wellington), Motu Matu'u (Wellington)
Crusaders
Outside backs: Nemani Nadolo (Fiji), Jone Macilai (Northland), Sione Fifita (Counties Manukau), Johnny McNicholl (Canterbury), Sean Wainui (Taranaki), Mitchell Hunt (Tasman), Israel Dagg (Hawkes Bay)
Midfielders: David Havili (Tasman), Kieron Fonotia (Tasman), Ryan Crotty (Canterbury), Robbie Fruean (Hawkes Bay), Jack Goodhue (Canterbury)
First fives: Ben Volavola (Fiji), Richie Mo'unga (Canterbury), Marty McKenzie (Taranaki)
Halfbacks: Andy Ellis (Japan), Mitchell Drummond (Canterbury), Leon Fukofuka (Auckland)
Loose forwards: Pete Samu (Tasman), Jordan Taufua (Counties Manukau), Tim Boys (Southland), Matt Todd (Canterbury), Jed Brown (Canterbury), Kieran Read (Canterbury)
Locks: Luke Romano (Canterbury), Sam Whitelock (Canterbury), Jimmy Tupou (Counties Manukau), Scott Barrett (Canterbury), Mitchell Dunshea (Canterbury)
Props: Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury), Joe Moody (Canterbury), Alex Hodgman (Canterbury), Michael Alaalatoa (Manawatu), Owen Franks (Canterbury), Tim Perry (Tasman)
Hookers: Ben Funnell (Canterbury), Codie Taylor (Canterbury), Ged Robinson (Canterbury)
Highlanders
Outside backs: Ben Smith (Otago), Ryan Tongia (Hawkes Bay), Waisake Naholo (Taranaki), Patrick Osborne (Canterbury), Sio Tomkinson (Otago)
Midfielders: Rob Thompson (Canterbury), Teihorangi Walden (Otago), Richard Buckman (Hawkes Bay), Malakai Fekitoa (Auckland), Jason Emery (Manawatu), Matt Faddes (Otago)
First fives: Lima Sopoaga (Southland), Marty Banks (Tasman), Hayden Parker (Otago)
Halfbacks: Aaron Smith (Manawatu), Josh Renton (Otago), Fumiaki Tanaka (Japan)
Loose forwards: Liam Squire (Tasman), Luke Whitelock (Canterbury), Gareth Evans (Hawkes Bay), Elliot Dixon (Southland), Shane Christie (Tasman), Dan Pryor (Northland), James Lentjes (Otago)
Locks: Alex Ainley (Tasman), Tom Franklin (Otago), Joe Wheeler (Tasman), Mark Reddish (Wellington), Jackson Hemopo (Otago)
Props: Brendon Edmonds (Hawkes Bay), Ross Geldenhuys (Tasman), Siua Halanukonuka (Tasman), Josh Hohneck (Waikato), Daniel Lienert-Brown (Canterbury), Craig Millar (Otago)
Hookers: Liam Coltman (Otago), Greg Pleasants-Tate (Auckland), Ash Dixon (Hawkes Bay)
