New faces include winger Tevita Li, prop Siate Tokolahi, hooker Guy Millar, Otago lock Josh Dickson and halfback Kayne Hammington.
Leaving the squad from 2016 is Fumiaki Tanaka, Marty Banks, Jack Wilson, Mark Reddish, Josh Hohneck, Ross Geldenhuys, Ryan Tongia and Brendon Edmonds.
However aside from that the team remains the same, with a mix of experience and some returning youngsters.
“It’s always an exciting day when you name a squad and particularly for me given it’s my first year as head coach," new coach Tony Brown said.
"I think the balance of the squad is good, we have a number of experienced players returning but also some exciting young players who haven’t had a lot of Super Rugby game time that will get an opportunity to have a crack."
Highlanders
Liam Coltman, Ash Dixon, Greg Pleasants-Tate, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Siosuia Halanukonuka, Guy Millar*, Siate Tokolahi*, Aki Seiuli, Craig Millar, Tom Franklin, Joe Wheeler, Alex Ainley, Josh Dickson*, Jackson Hemopo, Luke Whitelock, Liam Squire, James Lentjes, Gareth Evans, Dan Pryor, Shane Christie, Elliot Dixon, Aaron Smith, Kayne Hammington*, Josh Renton, Lima Sopoaga, Hayden Parker, Fletcher Smith, Rob Thompson, Patelesio Tomkinson, Teihorangi Walden, Richard Buckman, Matt Faddes, Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Patrick Osborne, Tevita Li*, Jason Emery , Ben Smith.
Blues
Michael Collins (Otago), Matt Duffie (North Harbour), TJ Faiane (Auckland), Billy Guyton (Tasman), Rieko Ioane (Auckland), Matt Vaega (North Harbour), George Moala (Auckland), Melani Nanai (Auckland), Sam Nock (Northland), Declan O’Donnell (Taranaki), Stephen Perofeta (Taranaki), Augustine Pulu (Counties Manukau), Rene Ranger (North Harbour), Jordon Trainor (Waikato), Ihaia West (Hawkes Bay), Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau), Piers Francis (Counties Manukau), Gerard Cowley-Tuioti (North Harbour), Epalahame Faiva (Waikato), Charlie Faumuina (Auckland), Blake Gibson (Auckland), Josh Goodhue (Northland), Alex Hodgman (Canterbury), Akira Ioane (Auckland), Jerome Kaino (Auckland), Steven Luatua (Auckland), Sione Mafileo (North Harbour), Pauliasi Manu (Counties Manukau), Matt Moulds (Northland), Brandon Nansen (North Harbour), James Parsons (North Harbour), Sam Prattley (Auckland), Kara Pryor (Northland), Scott Scrafton (Auckland), Murphy Taramai (North Harbour), Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland), Jimmy Tupou (Counties Manukau), Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Auckland).
Chiefs
Nepo Laulala (Counties Manukau), Atu Moli (Waikato), Siegfried Fisi'ihoi (Bay of Plenty), Mitchell Graham (Taranaki), Kane Hames (Tasman), Sosefo Kautai (Waikato), Hika Elliot (Counties Manukau), Nathan Harris (Bay of Plenty), Liam Polwart (Bay of Plenty), Brodie Retallick (Hawkes Bay), Dominic Bird (Canterbury), Michael Allardice (Hawkes Bay), James Tucker (Waikato), Taleni Seu (Auckland), Liam Messam, Mitchell Brown (Taranaki), Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty), Mitchell Karpik (Bay of Plenty), Lachlan Boshier (Taranaki), Tom Sanders (Canterbury), Michael Leitch. Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Waikato), Brad Weber (Hawke's Bay), Finlay Christie (Tasman), Aaron Cruden (Manawatu), Stephen Donald (Waikato), Damian McKenzie (Waikato), Charlie Ngatai (Taranaki), Anton Lienert-Brown (Waikato), Johnny Fa'auli (Taranaki), Tim Nanai-Williams, Solomon Alaimalo (Northland), Sam McNicol (Hawkes Bay), James Lowe (Tasman), Chase Tiatia (Bay of Plenty), Toni Pulu (Counties Manukau), Glen Fisiiahi (Counties Manukau), Shaun Stevenson (Waikato).
Crusaders
Michael Alaalatoa, Wyatt Crockett, Oliver Jager, Joe Moody, Tim Perry, Owen Franks, Ben Funnell, Andrew Makalio, Codie Taylor, Scott Barrett, Luke Romano, Quinten Strange, Sam Whitelock, Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Jed Brown, Mitchell Dunshea, Kieran Read, Pete Samu, Jordan Taufua, Matt Todd, Mitchell Drummond, Leon Fukofuka, Bryn Hall, Tim Bateman,Marty McKenzie, Richie Mo'unga, Ryan Crotty, Jack Goodhue, David Havili, Seta Tamanivalu, Sean Wainui, George Bridge, Israel Dagg, Sione Fifita, Mitchell Hunt, Digby Ioane, Jone Macilai, Manasa Mataele.
Hurricanes
Chris Eves (Manawatu), Reggie Goodes (Wellington), Ben May (Hawke’s Bay), Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Wellington), Loni Uhila (Waikato), Mike Kainga (Taranaki), Dane Coles (Wellington) (c), Leni Apisai (Wellington), Ricky Riccitelli (Hawke’s Bay), Mark Abbott (Hawke’s Bay), James Broadhurst (Taranaki), Geoffrey Cridge (Hawke’s Bay), Michael Fatialofa, (Auckland), Sam Lousi (Wellington), Callum Gibbins (Manawatu), Vaea Fifita (Wellington), Reed Prinsep (Canterbury), Hugh Renton (Hawke’s Bay), Ardie Savea (Wellington), Brad Shields (Wellington), Blade Thomson (Taranaki), Toa Halafihi (Taranaki), TJ Perenara (Wellington), Te Toiroa Tahuiorangi (Taranaki), Kylem O’Donnell (Taranaki), Beauden Barrett (Taranaki), Otere Black (Manawatu), Vince Aso (Auckland), Ngani Laumape (Manawatu), Matt Proctor (Wellington), Pita Ahki (North Harbour), Wes Goosen (Wellington), Cory Jane (Wellington), Julian Savea (Wellington), Ben Lam (Wellington), Nehe Milner-Skudder (Manawatu), Peter Umaga-Jensen (Wellington), Jordie Barrett (Canterbury).