How does Bryn Evans crack a Super Rugby squad and a player like Tom Parsons miss out?

That question flowed regularly from the mouths of Hawke's Bay Magpies fans after the 2021 Super Rugby squads were announced today. Two-test All Black Evans, 36, who last played Super Rugby in 2011 before heading overseas has been selected in the Highlanders squad for next year despite being the Magpies fourth-ranked lock this season.

Parsons, who was regularly ranked among the top three locks in this season's Mitre 10 Cup and was in the Highlanders wider training group this year, again missed selection. Former Hurricanes and Blues player Evans and his younger brother and former All Black loosie Gareth Evans, who was again signed by the Hurricanes, were among 12 Magpies to get the nod.

Magpies head coach Mark Ozich agreed it was tough on Parsons and fellow regular starting Magpies lock Geoff Cridge, a former Hurricane, to both miss selection.

"Both of them performed really well," Ozich said.

"I'm not around the table when the Super Rugby selectors have their meetings. I'm not privy to what is wanted from Bryn but I have heard his experience will be welcomed and he will be used to help educate the young Highlanders locks as well as play," Ozich explained.

Two of the Highlanders promising locks, Pari Pari Parkinson and Manaaki Selby-Rickit, have both made Maori All Black level and Parkinson in particular has the potential to gain All Black selection in the future.

Ozich, who along with assistant coach Josh Syms will be back with the Magpies next year, was rapt to have 12 Magpies selected in Super squads.

"Combine this 12 with Kurt Baker and Ollie Sapsford who have made All Black Sevens squad and it's been a pretty good year. I'm picking we will have another three or four players called into wider training squads for pre-season training during the coming weeks too," Ozich said.

Magpies winger Jonah Lowe, who has been a Hurricane since 2018, will move to the Chiefs in search of more minutes. Magpies and All Black halfback Brad Weber will again play for the Chiefs.

Along with Gareth Evans, fellow loosie Devan Flanders, lock Isaia Walker-Leawere, prop Pouri Rakete-Stones and outside back Danny Toala have all been retained by the Hurricanes.

Winger Lolagi Visinia (pictured below), who has played for the Blues previously, will be a Canes newcomer.

Magpies captain and hooker Ash Dixon, loosie Marino Mikaele-Tu'u and halfback Folau Fakatava will join Bryn Evans at the Highlanders.

As expected Dixon and Walker-Leawere have made the Maori All Blacks starting XV for Saturday night's match against Moana Pasifika in Hamilton. Rakete-Stones and Lowe will get game time off the pine. Fakatava and Mikaele-Tu'u have predictably made the Moana Pasifika starting XV.

 Hawke's Bay Rugby Union CEO Jay Campbell was just as delighted as Ozich with the Magpies "Super Rugby dozen."

"These selections were the icing on the cake to what has been a memorable season. We achieved our goal of promotion to the Premiership, we won and retained the Ranfurly Shield for the summer and beat Canterbury for the first time since 1982," Campbell said.

"But our mottos hasn't changed. Every day we open our doors we try and do things better than we did the previous day," Campbell added.

Super Rugby squads 2021

Blues

Hookers: Ray Niuia, James Parsons, Soane Vikena

Props: Alex Hodgman, Nepo Laulala, James Lay, Marcel Renata, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Ofa Tuungafasi

Locks: Gerard Cowley-Tuioti , Sam Darry, Josh Goodhue, Jacob Pierce, Patrick Tuipulotu

Loose forwards: Blake Gibson, Dillon Hunt, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii, Taine Plumtree, Tom Robinson, Hoskins Sotutu

Halfbacks: Finlay Christie, Sam Nock, Jonathan Ruru

Inside backs: Otere Black, Stephen Perofeta, Harry Plummer

Midfield: TJ Faiane, Rieko Ioane, Tanielu Tele'a

Outside backs: Caleb Clarke, AJ Lam, Jone Macilai-Tori, Emoni Narawa, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Zarn Sullivan, Mark Telea

Chiefs

Hookers: Nathan Harris, Bradley Slater, Samisoni Taukei'aho

Props: Sione Mafileo, Atunaisa Moli, Ollie Norris, Reuben O'Neill, Aidan Ross, Angus Ta'avao

Locks: Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Josh Lord, Laghlan McWhannell, Tupou Vaa'i

Loose forwards: Kaylum Boshier, Lachlan Boshier, Mitchell Brown, Sam Cane, Pita Gus Sowakula, Luke Jacobson, Mitchell Karpik, Simon Parker

Halfbacks: Xavier Roe, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, BRAD WEBER

Inside backs: Bryn Gatland, Rivez Reihana, Kaleb Trask

Midfielders: Anton Lienert-Brown, Alex Nankivell, Bailyn Sullivan, Quinn Tupaea

Outside backs: JONAH LOWE, Damian McKenzie, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Shaun Stevenson, Chase Tiatia, Sean Wainui.

Hurricanes

Props: POURI RAKETE-STONES, Alex Fidow, Xavier Numia, Tyrel Lomax, Fraser Armstrong, Tevita Mafileo

Hookers: Ricky Riccitelli, Asafo Aumua, Dane Coles,

Locks: Liam Mitchell, James Blackwell, Scott Scrafton, Kane Leaupepe, ISAIA WALKER-LEAWERE

Loose forwards: Du Plessis Kirifi, Reed Prinsep, GARETH EVANS, Ardie Savea, DEVAN FLANDERS, Vaea Fifita, Brayden Iose

Halfbacks: Jamie Booth, Jonathan Taumateine, Luke Campbell

Inside backs: Jackson Garden Bachop, Simon Hickey

Midfield: Ngani Laumape, Billy Proctor, Vince Aso, Julian Savea

Outside backs: Salesi Rayasi, Wes Goosen, Jordie Barrett, DANNY TOALA, Peter Umaga Jensen, LOLAGI VISINIA, Ruben Love, Pepesana Patafilo

CRUSADERS

Props: Joe Moody, Ollie Jager, Isi Tuungafasi, George Bower, Michael Alaalatoa, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell

Hookers: Codie Taylor, Brodie McAlister, Andrew Makalio,

Locks: Scott Barrett, Quentin Strange, Mitchell Dunshea, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano

Loose forwards: Cullen Grace, Tom Sanders, Ethan Blackadder, Sione Havili, Whetu Douglas, Tom Christie

Halfbacks: Mitch Drummond, Ere Enari, Bryn Hall,

Inside backs: Richie Mo'unga, Brett Cameron

Midfield: Jack Goodhue, Fergus Burke, Braydon Ennor, Dallas McLeod,

Outside backs: Chay Fihaki, George Bridge, Manasa Mataele, Sevu Reece, David Havili, Will Jordan, Leicester Faingaanuku, Isaiah Punivai

Highlanders

Props: Ayden Johnstone, Siate Tokolahi, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Jeff Thwaites, Ethan de Groot, Jermaine Ainsley, Josh Hohneck

Hookers: Ricky Jackson, ASH DIXON, Liam Coltman

Locks: Pari Pari Parkinson, Josh Dickson, Maanaki Selby-Rickit, BRYN EVANS

Loose forwards: Billy Harmon, James Lentjes, Shannon Frizell, MARINO MIKAELE TU'U, Sione Misiloi, Teariki Ben-Nicholas, Liam Squire

Halfbacks: Kazuki Himeno, Aaron Smith, Kayne Hammington, FOLAU FAKATAVA

Inside backs: Josh Ioane, Mitchell Hunt

Midfield: Fetuli Paea, Sio Tomkinson, Thomas Umaga Jensen, Ngane Punivai

Outside backs: Nehe Milner Skudder, Connor Garden Bachop, Scott Gregory, Jona Nareki, Solomon Alaimalo, Michael Collins, Sam Gilbert, Vilimoni Koroi.

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