All Blacks Squad Named for Nations Championship Southern Series

Ardie Savea has been named All Blacks Captain for 2026 and will lead a 34-strong squad in the Nations Championship Southern Series.

All Blacks Head Coach Dave Rennie has revealed his first squad at Feilding Yellows Rugby Club today alongside his fellow selectors, Sir Graham Henry, and Senior Assistant Coach Neil Barnes. 

The squad, which includes four debutants, will kick off its season against France in Christchurch on 4 July, followed by Tests against Italy in Wellington and Ireland in Auckland.

The 34-man squad is as follows (age, Super Rugby Club, province, Test caps)

* denotes new cap

Forwards (19)

Hookers

Asafo Aumua (29 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 20)
Codie Taylor (35 / Crusaders / Canterbury /106)
Samisoni Taukei’aho ( 28 / Chiefs / Waikato / 43)

Props

Ethan De Groot (27 / Highlanders / Southland / 40)
George Bower (34 / Crusaders / Otago / 25)
Xavier Numia * (27 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 0)
Tyrel Lomax (30 / Hurricanes / Tasman / 48)
Fletcher Newell (26 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 35)
Pasilio Tosi (27 / Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty / 16)

Locks

Tupou Vaa’i (26 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 45)
Patrick Tuipulotu (33 / Blues / Auckland / 56)
Josh Lord (25 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 12)
Sam Darry (25 / Blues / Canterbury / 8)

Loose Forwards

Peter Lakai (23 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 8)
Simon Parker (26 / Chiefs / Northland / 8)
Ardie Savea (32 / Moana Pasifika / Wellington / 106) (Captain)
Wallace Sititi (23 / Chiefs / North Harbour / 19)
Luke Jacobson (29 / Chiefs / Waikato / 24)
Anton Segner * (24 / Blues / Auckland / 0)

Backs (15)

Halfbacks

Cameron Roigard (25 / Hurricanes / Counties Manukau / 17)
Cortez Ratima (25 / Chiefs / Waikato / 21)
Kyle Preston (26 / Crusaders / Wellington / 1)

First Five-Eighths

Ruben Love (25 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 5)
Beauden Barrett (35 / Blues / Taranaki / 144)
Damian McKenzie (31 / Chiefs / Waikato / 74)

Midfielders

Jordie Barrett (29 / Hurricanes / Taranaki / 78)
Quinn Tupaea (27 / Chiefs / Waikato / 24)
Billy Proctor (27 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 11)
Anton Lienert-Brown (31 / Chiefs / Waikato / 88)

Outside Backs

Caleb Clarke (27 / Blues / Auckland / 33)
Fehi Fineanganofo * (23 / Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty / 0)
Leroy Carter (27 / Chiefs / Bay of Plenty / 6)
Josh Moorby * (27 / Hurricanes / Waikato / 0)
Will Jordan (28 / Crusaders / Tasman / 54)
 

Injury cover: Jamie Hannah * (23 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 0) will join the squad as temporary injury cover for Tupou Vaa’i until he is cleared to return to play following concussion protocols.

Unavailable due to injury: Tamaiti Williams; Scott Barrett; Fabian Holland; Leicester Fainga’anuku.
 

Rennie said his first squad as All Blacks Head Coach reflects the style of rugby he and his coaching team are wanting the All Blacks to play.

“We are rapt with this squad – players with the ability to bar up to the demands of test footy but also play with optimism and brutality. We look forward to connecting on Wednesday in preparation for three big tests against France Italy and Ireland.

“Special congratulations must go to our four uncapped players. These men have each had an outstanding Super Rugby season and fully deserve their place in the squad. It will be a massively proud time for their families, friends and team mates.

“Congratulations also to our new All Blacks Captain, Ardie Savea, who we know will do an outstanding job of leading this team on and off-field. Ardie is highly respected by his team mates and cares deeply about the black jersey,” Rennie said.

Savea said it was a huge honour to be the All Blacks Captain and he would be drawing on the leadership from those around him and those who have come before him to inspire and ground him.

“To serve this team, its people and its fans is one of the greatest honours in sport,” said Savea. “I believe this role is about empowering everyone in the group to be the best that they can be - from the leadership, to the players and wider staff.

“A united All Blacks team has the power to unite a nation. And we are going to need all five million Kiwis to get in behind us as we walk towards the challenges that are waiting for us over the next 16 months.

“We pay tribute to those who have gone before us while also acknowledging that the responsibility of writing the next chapter in the All Blacks story lies with us. Let’s get to work.

“A special thank you to my wife Saskia and our three children Kobe, Keeon and Kove. The same to our parents, our extended family and friends. We are blessed to have a ‘village’ that walks alongside us,” Savea added.

The All Blacks squad will assemble for the first time in Auckland from Wednesday this week, before travelling to Christchurch at the end of the week for the first Test of the Nations Championship.

Today's Squad Naming event can be viewed on Sky Sport Now, allblacks.com or the new All Blacks and Black Ferns app.

Nations Championship Southern Series Fixtures:

Saturday, 4 July 2026: All Blacks vs. France, 7:05pm, One New Zealand Stadium, Christchurch.
Friday, 10 July 2026: All Blacks vs. Italy, 5:05pm, Sky Stadium, Wellington.
Saturday, 18 July 2026: All Blacks vs. Ireland, 7:10pm, Eden Park, Auckland.