The former All Blacks flanker Daniel Braid is the surprise omission from the Blues Super Rugby squad for next year's competition.
Braid, who's 30 and appeared in six tests, played his 100th game for Auckland in the ITM Cup final against Canterbury at the weekend.
He's also played 100 Super rugby matches, 81 of them for the Blues and 19 for the Queensland Reds.
Coach Sir John Kirwan has included All Blacks lock Anthony Boric who missed all of this year's Super rugby competition with a neck injury.
While the final squad will be made up of 37 players, only 32 players per franchise are announced today, with the remaining five players in each squad to be announced in coming weeks.
The full Blues squad is:
Keven Mealamu, Kane Barrett, Anthony Boric, Luke Braid, Charlie Faumuina, Malakai Fekitoa, Jamison Gibson-Park, Frank Halai, Bryn Hall, Baden Kerr, Steven Luatua, Quentin MacDonald, Tom McCartney, Marty McKenzie, George Moala, Liaki Moli, Waisake Noholo, Chris Noakes, Brendan O'Connor, James Parsons, Tim Perry, Charles Piutau, Ronald Raaymakers, Rene Ranger, Callum Retallick, Francis Saili, Peter Saili, Angus Ta'avao, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Piri Weepu, Ali Williams, Jackson Willison.
