Wellington, Dec 8 NZPA - Eighteen new players have been added to next year's Super 14 wider training groups, the New Zealand Rugby Union said today.

A total of 35 players have been named in wider training groups for the five New Zealand super rugby franchises. The players named today will act as back-up and provide injury cover for the full squads announced in Auckland last month.

The wider training groups are:

Blues: Michael Reid (prop, North Harbour), Ash Dixon (hooker, Auckland)*, James King (lock, North Harbour)*, Onosa'i Auva'a (loose forward, Auckland), Taniela Moa (halfback, Auckland), Michael Harris (five eighth, North Harbour)*, Jack McPhee (fullback, North Harbour)*

Chiefs: Toby Smith (prop, Waikato), Vern Kamo (hooker, Waikato), Toby Lynn (lock, Waikato), Jack Lam (loose forward, Waikato), Tawera Kerr-Barlow (halfback, Waikato)*, Trent Renata (five eighth, Waikato), Jason Hona (wing, Bay of Plenty)*

Hurricanes: Michael Bent (prop, Taranaki)*, Ged Robinson (hooker, Wellington), Api Naikatini (lock, Wellington), Faifili Levave (loose forward, Wellington), Chris Eaton (halfback, Hawkes Bay), Johnny Leota (centre, Manawatu), Alapati Leiua (wing, Wellington)*

Crusaders: Hamish Cochrane (prop, Tasman)*, Quentin MacDonald (hooker, Tasman)*, Joe Wheeler (lock, Tasman)*, Matt Todd (loose forward, Canterbury)*, Ash Parker (loose forward, Canterbury)*, Willie Heinz (halfback, Canterbury)*, Tu Umaga-Marshall (wing, Canterbury)*

Highlanders: Sam Hibbard (prop, Otago)*, Sam Anderson-Heather (hooker, Otago)*, Hoani Matenga (loose forward, Otago)*, Scott Cowan (halfback, Southland), Chris Noakes (five eighth, Otago), Brett Mather (centre, Otago), Ryan Shortland (wing, Otago)*

* Denotes players not previously named in a franchise wider training group

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