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Chiefs include All Blacks in squad for Japan preseason tour
By Ned Lester
The Chiefs will be with their full complement when they board the plane for the land of the rising sun, including their All Blacks in the travelling squad for their preseason tour.
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With fixtures against Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights and Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay just two weeks after the majority of All Blacks players rejoined the club from their extended break, it wasn’t a given that the likes of Damian McKenzie would make the trip to Japan.
Exactly what role the team’s All Blacks will play in the tour remains a mystery, but Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan addressed that issue briefly when announcing the travelling squad.
“We are really looking forward to these games in Japan in what will be a unique experience for most,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity to connect with our fans abroad, bond as a squad and test ourselves against some quality opposition.
“In terms of the travelling squad selection, it has been a case of prioritising those that are fully fit to train and play, and the integration of our All Blacks who have only recently returned after an extended break. A number of non-travelling players are tracking well from niggly injuries and are on schedule to return to action in our last pre-season game against the Blues.”
The Crusaders yesterday named a travelling squad for their European tour which didn’t feature any All Blacks from the Rugby World Cup. The Blues are yet to reveal who they will take to Japan while the Hurricanes and Highlanders have no preseason fixtures abroad.
Gallagher Chiefs squad to travel to Japan:
Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Kaylum Boshier, George Dyer, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson, Hamilton Burr, Simon Parker, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Bradley Slater, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tevita Ofa, Jimmy Tupou, Tupou Vaa’i, Malachi Wrampling, Sione Ahio, Liam Coombes-Fabling, Tom Florence, Josh Ioane, Kauvaka Kaivelata, Anton Lienert-Brown, Peniasi Malimali, Damian McKenzie, Rameka Poihipi, Cortez Ratima, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Xavier Roe, Daniel Rona, Wallace Sititi, Quinn Tupaea, Cody Nordstrom, Josh Jacomb, Millennium Sanerivi, Tana Tuhakaraina, Riley Hohepa, Aidan Ross, Jared Proffit, Reuben O’Neill, Ollie Norris.
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