Centre Mauger and prop Hayman are currently playing their trade in England with Leicester and Newcastle respectively and were initially approached by All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith during New Zealand's end of year tour.

NZRU general manager Neil Sorensen told reporters this week that the process to bring the two players, who are both out of contract at the end of the season, back to New Zealand had begun. Newstalk ZB reported that although they haven't got as far as offering the contracts both players are considering a return to New Zealand this year and could be back in New Zealand before the start of this years Air New Zealand Cup.

Burger, who served an eight-week ban last year for making 'contact with the eye area' of Lions winger Luke Fitzgerald, has been handed the leadership of the side following the departure of senior players Jean de Villiers and Luke Watson who are now playing for Munster in Ireland and Bath in England respectively.

"My style of captaincy is to lead by example," the 26-year-old told the Cape Times. "I'll be playing the way I have always played and will not change. But obviously with the captaincy comes an added responsibility, it will be foolish not to think so.

Coach Allister Coetzee, who can also boast new signings Bryan Habana and Jaque Fourie in his ranks, added, "It's not only a big season for us, but also for every other Super 14 franchise as well. We don't want to talk too much too soon. We first want to get the first couple of games under the belt and then we can see what we need to do to be successful and take it from there."

"We saw some good sevens rugby in Queenstown and despite the tough weather conditions, it was a very competitive tournament. I was impressed with a few players and the training squad I have selected has a good mix of experienced and new players," Tietjens said. "This is a big season for us with the Commonwealth Games later in the year, and that is what we will be working towards as we play the next six tournaments in the world series."