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Returning All Blacks loose forward Liam Squire headlines 2021 Highlanders squad
Former All Blacks loose forward Liam Squire will return to Super Rugby next year after signing with the Highlanders for 2021. Squire, who made 33 appearances for the Highlanders between 2016 and 2019, departed New Zealand last year following a title-winning spell in the Mitre 10 Cup with the Tasman Mako.
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Linking up with the NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes, the 29-year-old managed just four outings with his Japanese club before a knee injury and the advent of COVID-19 cut his Top League experience short.
He has since returned to New Zealand, where he has also undergone hip surgery, and has inked a deal that will see him back in action at Forsyth Barr Stadium during next year’s Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby Trans-Tasman.
“After getting that hip surgery and how I was feeling, and also probably a couple other little things, I sort of felt like I had a bit left here in New Zealand,” Squire, who still holds aspirations of a test rugby return, said of his decision to rejoin the Highlanders.
“I guess staying home and playing Super Rugby again was quite exciting. I sort of feel refreshed again, so I sort of got my second wind, which is good.”
The 23-test All Black is one of two returning Highlanders and among eight new players who didn’t feature in this year’s campaign.
Joining Squire in his franchise comeback is 34-year-old prop Josh Hohneck, who was part of the Highlanders side that clinched a maiden Super Rugby crown back in 2015.
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Departing for England the following year, Hohneck spent four seasons in the Gallagher Premiership with Gloucester where he played over 100 matches before returning to New Zealand to play for Otago in the Mitre 10 Cup.
His strong form for the province has earned him selection in the Maori All Blacks side to face Moana Pasifika in Hamilton this weekend.
The Maori All Blacks have named a strong side featuring two capped All Blacks and seven debutants to face off against Moana Pasifika on Saturday. #MaoriAllBlacks https://t.co/ngk1GHco3z
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 2, 2020
Hohneck isn’t the only player making their way back from England to play for the Highlanders next year, with two-test All Blacks lock Bryn Evans named in the squad to fill the void left by Waratahs-bound second-rower Jack Whetton.
Evans, the older brother of one-test All Blacks, Hurricanes and ex-Highlanders flanker Gareth, has spent the last nine years in Europe after his surprise test call-up in 2009, plying his trade for the likes of London Irish, Biarritz and Sale Sharks.
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So good was the 36-year-old Hawke’s Bay veteran in Europe that he was named in former England midfielder Will Greenwood’s Premiership Team of the Decade, meaning he will add good depth to the squad’s lock stocks.
That trio are the only three players whose arrivals hadn’t already been officially announced by the Highlanders for next season.
They will be joined by three-test Wallabies prop Jermaine Ainsley, Japan loose forward Kazuki Himeno, ex-Chiefs speedster Solomon Alaimalo and former Crusaders duo Fetuli Paea and Billy Harmon as the newbies of the squad.
The loose forwards subsequently look an area of strength, with Squire, Himeno and Harmon adding a lot of experience and talent to a contingent that already features the likes of Shannon Frizell, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u and ex-captain James Lentjes.
Lentjes was named as skipper of the side at the beginning of this year’s campaign, but had his season cut short in February after breaking his leg badly against the Melbourne Rebels.
He hasn’t featured since, and has lost his captaincy to veteran pair Aaron Smith and Ash Dixon, both of whom co-captained the side through Super Rugby Aotearoa.
It’s a similar story for youngsters Sam Gilbert, Connor Garden-Bachop and Thomas Umaga-Jensen, all of whom have played limited roles at the Highlanders over the past two seasons due to long-term injuries.
However, those three have been retained, and will be eager to compete for starting roles, which may come easier with the likes of flanker Dillon Hunt, Taranaki midfielder Teihorangi Walden and wings Kirisi Kuridrani and Tevita Nabura all moving on.
#ICYMI: The Highlanders have announced the signing of a former co-captain as a new member of the franchise's coaching staff ahead of the 2021 season.https://t.co/r9rXf8mODo
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 2, 2020
One-test All Blacks flanker Hunt has signed with his hometown team the Blues, while Walden and Counties Manukau duo Kuridrani and Nabura have all been released.
The trio are just three of many players who won’t feature for the Highlanders after being involved this year, with Rob Thompson and Jesse Parete defecting to Japan, while Bryn Gatland has signed with the Chiefs.
Others, including Waikato prop Josh Iosefa-Scott, Bay of Plenty and Tonga flanker Zane Kapeli, and Canterbury fullback Josh McKay, have all been let go.
Furthermore, the inclusion of outside back Vilimoni Koroi has been clouded by his All Blacks Sevens commitments, with the 22-year-old set to assemble with the national sevens side in preparation for the Tokyo Olympics in July and August.
Nevertheless, new head coach Tony Brown – who returns to the position after three years away in other roles, including serving as an assistant to former head coach Aaron Mauger in 2020 – remains excited about his side’s prospects for the new-look season.
“I think we had a lot of young guys last year and I think we’re going to have a lot of experience at Super Rugby level around what it takes to win games, especially in the dying moments of the game, the last 20 minutes,” he said.
“With a lot more experience, I think we’ve got a better team and a team that can really compete at the highest level.
“So, hoping to play some pretty good footy, but, in the key moments in games, with a bit more experience, I think we’re going to hopefully execute a bit better instead of losing by a couple of points. We’re going to be winning those games.”
2020-21 Highlanders transfers
IN: Jermaine Ainsley (Melbourne Rebels), Bryn Evans (Sale Sharks), Billy Harmon (Crusaders), Kazuki Himeno (Toyota Verblitz), Josh Hohneck (Gloucester), Liam Squire (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes), Fetuli Paea (Crusaders)
OUT: Tima Fainga’anuku (released), Bryn Gatland (Chiefs), Dillon Hunt (Blues), Josh Iosefa-Scott (released), Zane Kapeli (released), Kirisi Kuridrani (released), Josh McKay (released), Tevita Nabura (released), Jesse Parete (Canon Eagles), Rob Thompson (Toyota Verblitz), Nathan Vella (released), Teihorangi Walden (released), Jack Whetton (Waratahs)
Highlanders Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby Trans-Tasman 2021 squad
Hookers: Liam Coltman, Ash Dixon (cc), Ricky Jackson
Props: Jermaine Ainsley*, Ethan De Groot, Josh Hohneck**, Ayden Johnstone, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Siate Tokolahi, Jeff Thwaites
Locks: Josh Dickson, Bryn Evans*, Pari Pari Parkinson, Manaaki Selby-Rickit
Loose Forwards: Teariki Ben-Nicholas, Shannon Frizell, Billy Harmon*, Kazuki Himeno*, James Lentjes, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Sione Misiloi, Liam Squire**
Halfbacks: Folau Fakatava, Kayne Hammington, Aaron Smith (cc)
First-Fives: Mitch Hunt, Josh Ioane
Midfielders: Michael Collins, Scott Gregory, Fetuli Paea*, Sio Tomkinson, Thomas Umaga-Jensen
Outside Backs: Solomon Alaimalo*, Connor Garden-Bachop, Sam Gilbert, Vilimoni Koroi***, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Jona Nareki, Ngatungane Punivai
* – denotes new Highlanders in 2021
** – denotes returning Highlanders in 2021
*** – Koroi will assemble with the All Blacks Sevens squad in preparation of the Tokyo Olympics
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Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments