A total of 22 players have been given their first full Super Rugby contracts with one of the five New Zealand Investec Super Rugby squads for 2014.

Among the 185 players captured by franchises, are 25 players who have been named in the Wider Training Groups for the Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders and Highlanders today.

New Zealand Rugby General Manager Professional Rugby Neil Sorensen congratulated all those named in Super Rugby squads today.

“We know that Investec Super Rugby is the world’s premier inter-provincial rugby competition which boasts the best rugby players in the world and the standard of rugby is really is outstanding.

“It is always an exciting time when players are named in Super Rugby squads.  This competition is obviously the shop floor for showcasing potential All Blacks talent so it’s a great achievement for those named for the first time today in a squad.  We are incredibly proud that New Zealand continues to produce such great talent," Sorensen said.

The wider squads include six from this year’s New Zealand Under 20 squad, and nine from the 2012 NZ Under 20 side.  They also feature five players who have played in Gordon Tietjens All Blacks Sevens’ squads over the last two years.

Tasman has produced much of the new talent for next year’s Super Rugby squads.  After winning their ITM Cup Championship Final and promotion into next year’s Premiership, the Tasman Makos today boast six new players who have trampolined into Super Rugby next year.

Among the Tasman selections are first five-eighth Marty Banks and halfback Billy Guyton (WTG) who have both been named with the Hurricanes.  Their Super Rugby picks follow a remarkable two years for the former Heartland Championship players.  Banks ran out for Buller and Guyton for North Otago in the 2012 Heartland Championship.

Their Makos teammates loose forward Liam Squire and winger James Lowe have both been picked into the Chiefs secured 32, while another Tasman loose forward Tevita Kolomatangi has been named in their Wider Training Group.

Tasman midfielder Kieron Fonotia returns to the Crusaders’ Wider Training Group.

Other new names to feature include Sam Prattley, Joe Edwards, Patrick Tuipulotu, Benji Marshall, Pita Ahki, Lolagi Visinia, Matt Symons, Ash Dixon, Mark Abbott, Hadleight Parkes, Cardiff Vaega, Mitchell Drummond, Kane Hames, Tom Franklin, TJ Ioane, Gareth Evans and Frae Wilson.

Among the talent borrowed from overseas are Argentinian prop Matias Diaz, and Fijian monster winger Nemani Nadolo.

For full squad player details click on the links below:

The Blues 2014 squad and WTG
The Chiefs 2014 squad and WTG
The Hurricanes 2014 squad and WTG
The Crusaders 2014 squad and WTG
The Highlanders 2014 squad and WTG

Unique jerseys designed for 2014 strips

As the 2014 squads were revealed, the Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders and Highlanders together with apparel sponsor adidas, unveiled their new strips for 2014.

Developed in consultation with franchises, adidas today revealed new strips that reflect the unique culture and character of each team.

Quentin Bleakely, Country Manager for adidas New Zealand said:

“adidas is delighted to be behind every New Zealand team for 2013 and we’re looking forward to a New Zealand team retaining a strong grip on the Investec Super Rugby title in 2014.  We understand the depth of pride that players have in their jerseys and we’ve worked hard with the teams, their management and the wider community, to deliver five powerful statements for the coming season.”

Jersey design descriptions:

Blues
The Blues region boasts the largest Polynesian population, stunning landmarks and features that are immediately recognisable, such as volcanoes and sparkling waters.  The Blues wanted to acknowledge the connection between their people and their surroundings in the 2014 Super Rugby jersey, and worked with adidas and regional leaders to incorporate emblems that reflect the Pacific and the Blues region, including the sea, sky, frangipani, spears, nets and Rangitoto.

View the Blues' home and away jerseys

Chiefs
The back to back Investec Super Rugby champions took the development of their 2014 jersey very seriously.  The team met with renowned Māori designer and artist Dave Burke, and colleagues Luke Crawford and Wally Rifle, to create a jersey that truly embraced their pride, passion and empathy with the central North Island.  They worked closely with a group of Māori advisers, including the New Zealand Māori Rugby Board, to ensure the designs used are appropriate and meaningful. 
The jersey design is centred on three main themes:
• Kotiate (central shape in black) are hand-held clubs used by chiefs in warfare;
• Awa (flowing yellow kowhaiwhai) are waterways which when combined into a single centralised flow become unstoppable;
• Ara Poutama (Red background) is the stairway to success urging players toward continued development and growth.

View the Chiefs' home and away jerseys

Hurricanes
The power and strength of the hurricane is captured in a vibrant yellow jersey – accented with black and blue, harking back to the original Super Rugby strip for the Hurricanes. Each of the provinces that feed into the team are represented on the inside of the jersey collar – ensuring that the players are reminded of their roots and the role that rugby plays in maintaining pride in the region.  There’s absolutely no doubt that the Hurricanes will be a force of nature to be reckoned with in 2014.

View the Hurricanes' home and away jerseys

Crusaders
The Crusaders are a champion team with a proud tradition of taking on all-comers and winning. For 2014, adidas and the Crusaders worked closely together to further develop their distinctive medieval theme by incorporating chain mail armour into the design of their jersey. Their unrelenting competitive drive to remain one of the strongest performers in the Investec Super Rugby competition is represented by wearing armour as they head into battle against their foes. 

View the Crusaders' home and away jerseys 

Highlanders
2014 sees the Highlanders embrace their Celtic roots, drawing on the determination and courage of the early settlers.  Working closely with the adidas design team, the players and management sought to express their passion and commitment to playing winning rugby in the South. The eight Celtic hoops represent the districts that make up the team that’s all heart.  The Highlanders are unquestionably the ‘Pride of the South’ and this motto is captured in the collar, calling out the zeal and valour indicative of the team and its people. 

View the Highlanders' home and away jerseys