Chiefs call new winger

Bay of Plenty rookie winger Jason Hona has been plucked from the wider training group to accompany the Chiefs on their season-opening overseas tour.

Hona was one of 26 players who headed to South Africa yesterday ready for the Chiefs' Super 14 opener against the Sharks in Durban next Sunday morning (6.10am NZ time).

His presence on the three-match tour, which also includes matches against the Lions in Johannesburg and Force in Perth, comes at the expense of young Waikato lock Romana Graham, with only 26 of the 28-man squad allowed to tour and a need to bolster the weakened outside back stocks.

Skipper/fullback Mils Muliaina misses the first three weeks of the competition as part of his New Zealand Rugby Union contract that was renegotiated last year, while dynamic wing Lelia Masaga was deemed not quite ready for the tour in his return from shoulder surgery.

Masaga has returned to full training and has done a lot of physical work as part of his rehab but he has only just started back into his contact and medical staff felt it was too early to pitch him straight into the Super 14 action.

Hona started last Friday's final pre-season outing against the Hurricanes and the big (1.89m, 102kg) 23-year-old also saw game time in the other two trial games, producing solid if not spectacular form.

With young fullback/wing Tim Nanai-Williams also showing good attacking form against the Hurricanes, coach Ian Foster's final selections for the Sharks match will prove interesting.

The backline selection could also be affected by the availability of second-five Callum Bruce, who suffered a slight knee strain in the Hurricanes match and is regarded as touch-and-go for the competition opener in Durban, even though a scan on the injury saw him cleared to tour.

"It has been pleasing to come through the pre-season with no more significant injuries and having shown good progression through our three pre-season games," Foster said.

"A number of new players have had a lot of game time and that will prepare them well for what is a tough but exciting start to this year."

The Chiefs' first home match is not until round four against the Reds at Waikato Stadium on Friday, March 5.

TOURING SQUAD

Ben Afeaki, Colin Bourke, Luke Braid, Callum Bruce, Craig Clarke, Aled de Malmanche, Mike Delany, Stephen Donald, Hika Elliot, Jason Hona, Jarrad Hoeata, Richard Kahui, Tanerau Latimer, Sione Lauaki (c), Brendon Leonard, James McGougan, Liam Messam, Tim Nanai-Williams, Kevin O'Neill, Junior Poluleuligaga, Culum Retallick, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Dwayne Sweeney, Sona Taumalolo, Nathan White, Jackson Willison.

- © Fairfax NZ News