The New Zealand Rugby Football Union and New Zealand Rugby Football League have announced their intention to amalgamate and form the New Zealand Rugby Association in line with similar moves by other rugby union and rugby league national boards to counter the tsunami of football's popularity.
NZRU boss Steve Tew and NZRL CEO Phil Holden announced the move at the new body's headquarters at the Executive Chambers of Parliament in Wellington - the space was initially going to be left for the office of Kim Dotcom's Internet Party but that move was quickly rebuffed by John Key earlier in the week.
As a result, the Warriors will merge with the Blues - coach John Kirwan said how excited he was to be able to select Shaun Johnson at first five, adding that Chris Noakes isn't worthy to clean Shaun Johnson's boots at this time, and that Johnson and Marshall would make a fine first five/second five combo.
The All Blacks and Kiwis will also merge to become the Kiwi Blacks and to mark the occasion will play a one off test against the newly formed Wallaroos featuring only bad boys James O'Connor and Todd Carney.
The test will see the debut of the new rugby rules with scrums replaced by quick-taps and tries under the sticks worth 10 points - double the normal 5. Rucks have also been outlawed and if the ball won't come out, the ball will restart with a lineout in the middle of the field - think AFL style.
Here is the first squad -
1.Sam Rapira
2.Dane Coles
3.Owen Franks
4.Sam Whitelock
5.Jarrad Waerea-Hargreaves
6.Simon Mannering
7.Richie McCaw
8.Kieran Read
9.Aaron Smith
10.Shaun Johnson
11.Manu Vatuvei
12.Sonny Bill Williams
13.Konrad Hurrell
14.Ben Smith
15.Benji Marshall
16.Aaron Cruden
17.Isaac Luke
18.Ben Matulino
19.Liam Messam
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