Sotutu and Reece in All Blacks Squad

Fiji-born wing Sevu Reece and Blues number 8 Hoskins Sotutu have been named in the All Blacks 2020 Rugby Championship Squad.

Sotutu is the son of Waisake Sotutu who was Fiji's vice-captain to the 1999 Rugby World Cup.

Speaking to Sky Sport, Sotutu says he still getting used to rubbing shoulders with top players.

Sotutu says his family was excited when he delivered the news that he was an All Black.

There are seven new caps and several returnees in the first All Blacks squad of 2020.

Head coach Ian Foster and his fellow selectors named a 35-strong group this morning.

Five of the news faces were in the forwards, including Blues No 8 Hoskins Sotutu and prop Alex Hodgman, rising Chiefs lock Tupou Vaa'i and lock Quinten Strange and loose forward Cullen Grace from the Crusaders.

Outside backs Caleb Clarke of the Blues and Will Jordan of the Crusaders were the uncapped backs.

The squad also featured the return of Blues flanker Akira Ioane, Hurricanes hooker Asafo Aumua, Blues prop Karl Tu'inukuafe and Highlanders prop Tyrel Lomax.

Foster said he was excited at the calibre of the players selected and had enjoyed working with assistant coach John Plumtree as part of the new selectors' group.

Three players weren't considered due to injury, including prop Atu Moli, lock Scott Barrett and midfielder Ngani Laumape.

Foster said, like all rugby fans, the team was waiting for the All Blacks schedule to be finalised, with SANZAAR to confirm the Test programme in due course.

Foster said, in the meantime, the All Blacks would return to their provincial sides for the opening weekend of New Zealand's premier domestic competition.

Forwards

Hookers

Asafo Aumua (23, Hurricanes / Wellington, uncapped, two matches) Dane Coles (33, Hurricanes / Wellington, 69) Codie Taylor (29, Crusaders / Canterbury, 50)

Props

Alex Hodgman (27, Blues / Auckland, new cap) Nepo Laulala (28, Chiefs / Counties Manukau, 26) Tyrel Lomax (24, Highlanders / Tasman, 1) Joe Moody (31, Crusaders /Canterbury, 46) Karl Tu’inukuafe (27, Blues / North Harbour, 13) Ofa Tuungafasi (28, Blues / Auckland, 35)

Locks

Quinten Strange (24, Crusaders / Tasman, new cap) Patrick Tuipulotu (27, Blues / Auckland, 30) Tupou Vaa’i (20, Chiefs / Taranaki, new cap) Samuel Whitelock (31, Crusaders / Canterbury, 117)

Loose Forwards

Sam Cane (28, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 68) - captain Shannon Frizell (26, Highlanders / Tasman, 9) Cullen Grace (20, Crusaders / Canterbury, new cap) Akira Ioane (25, Blues / Auckland, uncapped, one match) Dalton Papalii (22, Blues / Auckland, 3) Ardie Savea (26, Hurricanes / Wellington, 44) Hoskins Sotutu (22, Blues / Auckland, new cap)

Backs

Halfbacks

TJ Perenara (28, Hurricanes / Wellington, 64) Aaron Smith (31, Highlanders / Manawatu, 92) Brad Weber (29, Chiefs / Hawke’s Bay, 5)

First five-eighths

Beauden Barrett (29, Blues / Taranaki, 84) Richie Mo’unga (26, Crusaders / Canterbury, 17)

Midfielders

Braydon Ennor (23, Crusaders, Canterbury, 1) Jack Goodhue (25, Crusaders / Northland, 13) Rieko Ioane (23, Blues / Auckland, 29) Anton Lienert-Brown (25, Chiefs / Waikato, 44)

Outside backs

Jordie Barrett (23, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 17) George Bridge (25, Crusaders / Canterbury, 9) Caleb Clarke (21, Blues / Auckland, new cap) Will Jordan (22, Crusaders / Tasman, new cap) Damian McKenzie (25, Chiefs / Waikato, 23) Sevu Reece (23, Crusaders / Tasman, 7)

[Source: AllBlacks.com]