14 Makos confirmed in Super Rugby squads for 2017
Andrew Makalio is heading to the Crusaders after a stellar debut season in Tasman's front row.
Three Tasman rookies are set to take their rugby educations to the next level as part of next year's Super Rugby competition.
Hooker Andrew Makalio, lock Quinten Strange and halfback Finlay Christie were among the 15 Tasman Makos players confirmed in four of New Zealand's five franchises on Wednesday.
Tasman's biggest involvement is with the Crusaders, with six players selected, followed by the Highlanders with five. Three players are heading to the Chiefs and one to the Blues. Once again, no Tasman players have been picked up by the Wellington-based Hurricanes franchise.
Tasman rookie Quinten Strange will be alongside three All Blacks locks at the Crusaders.
Strange, 20, will be among some illustrious company at the Crusaders, joining All Blacks Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano and Scott Barrett after his debut season with Tasman. He is a former New Zealand Schools representative and played for New Zealand at this year's World Rugby Under-20 championship in England.
Makalio continues his rapid rise up the national rugby ranks, the former Auckland B rake becoming an established part of the Makos' front row this year after acting on advice from former Tasman prop, Tristan Moran, now part of Auckland's coaching set-up, to move south.
Tasman halfback Finlay Christie has been named in the 2017 Chiefs Super Rugby squad.
Despite his impressive performances this season, the powerful 24-year-old hooker's selection still took him by surprise.
"I'm pretty stoked about it," Makalio said. "I wasn't expecting Super [selection], but it actually happened so, yeah, I'm pretty happy.
"It wasn't part of my goals for this year, but everything's come pretty quick, especially for my first year in the Mitre 10 Cup."
Makalio was justifiably satisfied with his own form this season but is excited at the prospect of continuing his development at the next level.
"I've still got a lot of stuff to work on and hopefully I'll come back stronger and fitter next year."
And he's almost forgotten about the broken hand, suffered early in Tasman's final regulation season win over Southland, that threatened to derail his chances of appearing in last Saturday's premiership final against Canterbury. But with the help of massage and some judicious maintenance, he was able to take his place in Tasman's starting lineup.
Prop Tim Perry, flanker Pete Samu, midfielder David Havili and outside back Mitchell Hunt have all been re-signed.
Halfback Christie will be joined by prop Kane Hames and winger James Lowe at the Hamilton-based Chiefs.
Born in Scotland, Christie moved to Pukekohe with his family as a seven-year-old and represented Counties Manukau at age group level, so is a natural fit for the Chiefs.
Lowe and Hames, who made his All Blacks test debut this year, are currently on tour with the New Zealand Maori team, with Lowe now a well-established part of the Chiefs' backline.
Previously with the Highlanders, Hames joined the Chiefs as injury cover for the end of this year's campaign. However, 20-year-old Christie is one of five new Chiefs selections and joins All Black Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Hawkes Bay's Brad Weber, also a one-test All Black, as the Chiefs' No 9 options.
Tasman's injury-plagued loose forward, Tevita Koloamatangi, wasn't re-signed by the Chiefs.
While lock Joe Wheeler wasn't part of this year's Tasman set-up, opting instead to head to the Suntory Sungoliath club in Japan, he is returning to the Highlanders for next year's campaign.
He'll rejoin the usual list of established Tasman players in Dunedin, including his former Tasman locking partner Alex Ainley, prop Siosuia Halanukonuka, flanker Shane Christie and All Blacks loosie Liam Squire.
Tasman tighthead prop Ross Geldenhuys hasn't been re-signed, the Highlanders instead selecting former Western Force prop Guy Millar who has played for Southland in the past two seasons of New Zealand's provincial competition.
Halfback Billy Guyton returns to the Blues franchise where he'll compete for the No 9 jersey with Counties Manukau's Augustine Pulu.
Former Tasman Super players Quentin MacDonald (France), Marty Banks (Italy) and Kieron Fonotia (Wales) are all continuing their careers offshore.
At a glance
BLUES - Billy Guyton
CHIEFS - Kane Hames, Finlay Christie*, James Lowe
CRUSADERS - Tim Perry, Andrew Makalio*, Quinten Strange*, Pete Samu, David Havili, Mitchell Hunt
HIGHLANDERS - Siosuia Halanukonuka, Joe Wheeler, Alex Ainley, Liam Squire, Shane Christie
