No Nonu as 'Canes head to SA

The Hurricanes depart for South African on Saturday without veteran All Black Ma'a Nonu.

Capped 94 times by his country, the 32-year-old will remain in New Zealand and will miss the Hurricanes' first game of the Super Rugby season, as he awaits the birth of his third child.

He is scheduled to link up with the team on February 12, but will not face the Lions next week in Johannesburg.

He will have to wait until the following week's game against the Bulls to play the first competitive game for the side, after his acrimonious departure in 2011.

The Hurricanes will have captain and fellow All Black Conrad Smith on board. Smith confirmed on Thursday that he will leave New Zealand to play for French second division (ProD2) side Pau at the end of the year.

Prop Ben May, who made his return to the Hurricanes after two seasons in Japan when he came off the bench in their 29-32 loss to the Blues at North Harbour on Friday, has also been named in the tour squad.

Other All Blacks who did not feature in Friday's final pre-season outing, but will tour, include Dane Coles, Ben Franks, Victor Vito, Beauden Barrett and Julian Savea.

Jeremy Thrush and Cory Jane, who started against the Blues, have also been named for the trip across the Indian Ocean.

Hurricanes squad: Ardie Savea, Beauden Barrett, Ben Franks, Ben May, Blade Thomson, Brad Shields, Brayden Mitchell, Callum Gibbins, Chris Eves, Chris Smylie, Conrad Smith, Cory Jane, Dane Coles, James Broadhurst, James Marshall, Jason Woodward, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Jeremy Thrush, Julian Savea, Mark Abbott, Matt Proctor, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Reggie Goodes, Rey Lee-Lo, TJ Perenara, Victor Vito, Vince Aso.