TUTIRA MAI | Our new #TeamAllBlacks campaign is here! Will you join us and #OUTROAR the Lions fans in the stands?#TutiraMai pic.twitter.com/KibmlWrQ0Q— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) June 1, 2017

Maori All Blacks Head Coach Colin Cooper (Ngati Pukenga/Ngati Porou) has named an experienced squad to play the British & Irish Lions in Rotorua next Saturday.The 2017 Maori All Blacks Squad for the DHL New Zealand Lions Series is (* denotes new cap):PropsChris Eves - North Harbour - Waikato/Tainui (7 appearances)Kane Hames - Tasman - Ngai Tuhoe/Ngati Porou (5) Mike Kainga - Taranaki - Ngati Kahungunu (2)Ben May - Hawke’s Bay - Ngati Maniapoto (12)Marcel Renata - Auckland - Ngati Whanaunga / Te Aupouri (4)HookersAsh Dixon (captain) - Hawke’s Bay - Ngati Tahinga (8)Hikawera Elliot - Counties Manukau - Ngati Awa (9)LocksTom Franklin - Bay of Plenty - Ngati Maniapoto (4)Leighton Price - Taranaki - Waikato/Ngati Maniapoto (3)Joe Wheeler - Tasman - Ngai Tahu (2)Loose forwardsElliot Dixon - Southland - Ngapuhi (9)Akira Ioane - Auckland - Ngapuhi/Te Whanau a Apanui (5)Liam Messam - Waikato - Ngati Maniapoto (12)Reed Prinsep - Canterbury - Te Rarawa (2)Kara Pryor – Northland - Ngati Awa/Ngati Pikiao/Ngati Rangitihi (2)HalfbacksBryn Hall* - North Harbour - Ngati Ranginui Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi* - Taranaki - Ngati PikiaoFirst five-eighthsOtere Black - Manawatu - Ngai Tuhoe/Te Whanau a Apanui/Ngati Tuwharetoa (4)Ihaia West - Hawke’s Bay - Ngati Kahungunu/Ngati Porou (7)MidfieldersTim Bateman - Canterbury - Ngai Tahu (12)Charlie Ngatai - Taranaki - Ngati Porou/Te Whanau a Apanui/Te Whakatohea (9)Matt Proctor - Wellington - Ngai Te Rangi/Ngapuhi (9)Rob Thompson* - Canterbury - Ngati Kahungunu James Lowe - Tasman - Ngapuhi/Ngai Te Rangi (5)Outside backsDamian McKenzie - Waikato - Ngati Tuwharetoa/Ngati Tahinga (3)Nehe Milner-Skudder - Manawatu - Ngati Porou/Tapuika (2)Declan O’Donnell - Taranaki - Ngati Tuwharetoa/Ngati Porou (1)Head Coach - Colin Cooper - Ngati Pukenga/Ngati PorouAssistant Coach - Tana UmagaSet-piece Coach - Carl HoeftManager - Tony WardKaumatua - Luke Crawford - Ngati Tuwharetoa/Ngati PorouMedia Manager - Hannah Fleming - Te Atiawa/Ngati Te WhitiDoctor - Zig KhouriPhysiotherapist - Ash DraperStrength and Conditioning coach - Brad Anderson - NgapuhiAnalyst - Jayson Ross - Ngati KahungunuLogisitics/Massage - Paul MinehanAnnounced in Auckland this afternoon by Maori Rugby Board Chair, Dr Farah Palmer, the squad features three new caps among a number of experienced players who have previously had the honour of pulling on the jersey. Cooper is looking forward to bringing the players together in Rotorua, along with the management team, to face the Lions.“We’ve got a very exciting group coming together to experience this special and rare occasion. The majority of us have been working together over the past couple of years so we already have an understanding of each other and clarity around what we’re looking to achieve.”Cooper said the magnitude of the match was huge and representing the country, New Zealand Rugby and Maoridom was always front of mind for the Maori All Blacks.“Knowing the ground will be full for the match, and getting a feel for the support that’s coming from the Rotorua community in hosting us, along with the rest of New Zealand around the Series and the match itself is exciting.“We’re very much looking forward to bringing our whanau together over the weekend to start focusing on how we’re going to present ourselves to the Lions, and the world, as the Maori All Blacks.These two sides last met in 2005, when the Maori All Blacks upset the touring British and Irish Lions 19-13 at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.