Bay of Plenty Steamers are making their mark on the Super Rugby scene once again with nine players announced to take part in New Zealand's various 2014 Super Rugby campaigns.

This morning five Super Rugby franchises unveiled their 36-man squads for the upcoming season with five Steamers named in the Chiefs, three in the Highlanders and one in the Crusaders.

Tanerau Latimer, Brodie Retallick, Sam Cane, Carl Axtens and Josh Hohneck have been named in the Chiefs Super Rugby 2014 squad.

Standout Chiefs performers Tanerau Latimer, Sam Cane and Brodie Retallick all remain with the Waikato side for a tilt at a third straight title along with prop Josh Hohneck and wider training squad member Carl Axtens.

The remaining four will head south to ply their trade with prop Mike Kainga named in the Crusaders wider training group while Kane Hames, Phil Burleigh and Willie Ripia are all unveiled in the Highlanders squad.

The major talking point is the 13 new recruits the two time defending champions have named including seven Super Rugby debutants having earned selection from the ITM Cup.

With a number of experienced players heading overseas after this year's title – including Craig Clarke, Lelia Masaga and Richard Kahui - the Chiefs bolstered their stocks with the big name signings of Jamie Macintosh, Mils Muliaina, Robbie Fruean and Tom Marshall.

Chiefs coach Dave Rennie believes his squad is an effective blend of experienced proven performers and new talent. The squad contains five current All Blacks, five Maori All Blacks and 26 players involved in a winning Super Rugby title.

'We are really happy. We have a solid core of players who have been a big part of our success over the past two years and added both youth and experience to the mix,” says Dave.

'It's a very tough competition, so we're rapt we've been able to assemble a group of men high on character and work ethic.”

The majority of the squad will assemble on Thursday, November 28 and will be joined by the Maori All Blacks in mid-December and the All Blacks in late January 2014.

In a new initiative the Chiefs are progressing with the possibility of playing Toulon in France as part of their pre-season campaign, but there are still a few boxes to tick. The Chiefs are expected to finalise their pre-season matches in the coming weeks.

The Chiefs will kick-off their Investec Super Rugby season against the Crusaders on Friday, February 21 in Christchurch and will play their first home game against the Highlanders in Hamilton on Saturday, March 1.

Chiefs 2014 Investec Super Rugby Squad:

* denotes 2014 Chiefs recruits **Investec Super Rugby debutant

Ben Afeaki Prop North Harbour

Bundee Aki Midfield back Counties Manukau

Gareth Anscombe First five-eighth Auckland

Sam Cane Loose forward Bay of Plenty

Nick Crosswell Loose forward Manawatu

Aaron Cruden First five-eight Manawatu

Hikawera Elliot Hooker Counties Manukau

Ross Filipo Lock Wellington

Mike Fitzgerald Lock Manawatu

Robbie Fruean* Midfield back Canterbury

Josh Hohneck Prop Bay of Plenty

Andrew Horrell Utility back Hawke's Bay

Tawera Kerr-Barlow Halfback Waikato

Tanerau Latimer Loose forward Bay of Plenty

James Lowe*/** Outside back Tasman

Jamie Mackintosh* Prop Southland

Pauliasi Manu Prop Auckland

Rhys Marshall Hooker Taranaki

Tom Marshall* Outside back Tasman

Liam Messam Loose forward Waikato

Mils Muliaina* Midfield back TBC

Tim Nanai-Williams Outside back Counties Manukau

Charlie Ngatai Midfield back Wellington

Augustine Pulu Halfback Counties Manukau

Brodie Retallick Lock Bay of Plenty

Robbie Robinson Fullback Southland

Mahonri Schwalger Hooker Counties Manukau

Liam Squire*/** Loose forward Tasman

Matthew Symons*/** Lock Canterbury

Ben Tameifuna Prop Waikato

Kane Thompson* Loose forward TBC

Asaeli Tikoirotuma Winger Manawatu

Wider Training Squad

Carl Axtens*/** Loose forward Bay of Plenty

Nick Barrett* Prop Southland

Anton Lienert-Brown*/** Midfield back Waikato

Tevita Kolomatangi*/** Loose forward Tasman

Brad Weber*/** Halfback Waikato