Māori All Blacks squad named for 2025

Kua whakaingoatia te uri o Ngāti Kahu, a Kurt Eklund hei kāpene ki te ārahi i te 29 kua tohua ki te Kapa Ōpango Māori 2025. 11 ngā kaitākaro hou kua tohua hei whakakanohi i ō rātou hapū, i ō rātou iwi ki Hapani, ki Whangārei anō hoki.

Nā Ross Filipo o Muaupoko rātou ko Greg Feek o Ngāti Kahungunu, ko Roger Randle o Ngāti Awa te kapa nei i whiriwhiri. Ka pakanga atu te kapa nei ki te kapa Hapani XV ki Tokyo a te 28 o Hune, ki a Kotirana ki Whangārei ā te 5 o Hūrae anō hoki.

Ko te 29 o te Kapa Ōpango Māori mō tēnei tau ko:

* denotes new cap

Props / Poumua
Benet Kumeroa (Te Atihaunui a Pāpārangi/Bay of Plenty/Chiefs)
Jared Proffit* (Ngāti Porou/Taranaki/Chiefs)
Pouri Rakete-Stones (Ngāpuhi/Hawke’s Bay/Hurricanes)
Kershawl Sykes-Martin* (Ngāti Porou/Tasman/Crusaders)
Mason Tupaea* (Ngaati Tiipa, Ngaati Amaru/Waikato/Blues)

Hookers / Waekape
Jacob Devery* (Te Aitanga a Mahaki/Hawke’s Bay/Hurricanes)
Kurt Eklund (Ngāti Kahu/Bay of Plenty/Blues)

Locks / Pouwhītiki
Zach Gallagher* (Te Ātiawa/Canterbury/Hurricanes)
Laghlan McWhannell (Ngāti Kahungunu/Waikato/Blues)  
Antonio Shalfoon* (Whakatōhea/Tasman/Crusaders)
Isaia Walker-Leawere (Ngāti Porou/Hawke’s Bay/Hurricanes)

Loose forwards / Pouwātea
Nikora Broughton (Ngārauru, Ngāti Ruanui/Bay of Plenty/Highlanders)
Jahrome Brown* (Ngāti Porou/Waikato/Chiefs)
Caleb Delany (Ngāti Tūwharetoa/Wellington/Hurricanes)
Cullen Grace (Ngāti Whakaue/Canterbury/Crusaders)
Te Kamaka Howden (Tūhoe/Manawatū/Highlanders)

Half Backs / Poutoko
Kemara Hauiti-Parapara* (Ngāi Tai, Ngāti Porou/Auckland)
Sam Nock (Ngāpuhi/Northland/Blues)

First five-eighths / Topatahi
Rivez Reihana (Ngāpuhi, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Hine/Northland/Crusaders)
Kaleb Trask (Ngāpuhi/Bay of Plenty/Chiefs)

Midfield / Topapū
Corey Evans (Te Aupouri, Ngāti Kahu/Northland/Blues)
Bailyn Sullivan (Ngāti Kahungunu/Waikato/Hurricanes)
Daniel Rona (Te Ātiawa/Taranaki/Chiefs)
Xavi Taele* (Ngāi Tahu/Auckland/Blues)
Gideon Wrampling* (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine/Waikato/Chiefs)

Outside Backs / Pouwaho
Cole Forbes (Ngāti Awa/Bay of Plenty/Blues)
Jonah Lowe (Ngāti Pikiao/Hawke’s Bay/Highlanders)
Zarn Sullivan (Ngāti Kahungunu/Hawke’s Bay/Blues)

Injury Cover/Kaiwhakakapi  - Kade Banks* (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua/North Harbour/Hurricanes) has joined the squad as temporary injury cover for Daniel Rona.

The following players were not considered due to injury / Te hunga whara:
Rameka Poihipi (Ngāti Whakaue)
Cameron Suafoa (Ngāpuhi)
Taha Kemara (Te Whānau a Apanui, Te Whakatōhea)
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Ngāti Rangitihi, Ngāti Pikiao, Tūhourangi, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Awa)
Marcel Renata (Ngāti Whānaunga)
Manaaki Selby-Rickit (Ngāti Raukawa)

Hei tā Filipo, i tohua te tautōhito a Eklund hei kāpene i te nui o te wheako, te mōhio, te mana anō hoki.

“This team demands a strong leader with mana, and Kurt has shown that quality and more over a long period of time, for the Māori All Blacks, Auckland, Bay of Plenty and the Blues. He has a lot of experience throughout the squad and that will be a strength for what will be two tough matches.”

I mihia ngā kaitākaro hou e Filipo, atu i te mea teina a Xavi Taele (20 te pakeke), ki te mea pakeke a Jared Proffit (31 te pakeke).

“It’s a proud moment for all the new caps and their whānau. This is a special team, and these players know they are here to are represent something bigger than themselves - their whakapapa, their language, the jersey and Aotearoa.”

I whakapāohotia te whakaingoatanga o te kapa ki ngā pae o Te Ao Māori News, All Blacks Youtube, i Māori+ Youtube anō hoki e te mema Poari Whutupōro Māori a Rob Clark. Nā te Pou Tikanga a Te Wehi Wright (Te Awara, Ngāruahine, Ngāti Whitikaupeka, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa, Ngāti Raukawa) ia i tautoko.

Ko Rob Clark hoki ngā mātāpono me ngā kaupapa matua o te kapa nei i tuari hei whakaū i te tuakiri o tēnei kaupapa.

“Māori rugby is the vehicle we use to express our indigenous identity. It holds the health and wellbeing of our people at the forefront, following in the pathways that have been paved before us and those that will follow. This team allows us to express our kaupapa to the world, to inspire all people and protect the taonga that is rugby in Aotearoa.”

Kua hui tahi te kapa ki Tāmaki Makaurau ki te whakariterite i mua i tā rātou wehe ki Hapani.

_____________________________________________________________________

Kurt Eklund (Ngāti Kahu) has been named as the new Māori All Blacks captain, with a 29-strong squad including 11 uncapped players announced today ahead of two matches against the Japan XV in Tokyo, and Scotland in Whangārei.

The 2025 squad selected by Māori All Blacks Head Coach Ross Filipo (Muaūpoko) and his two Assistant Coaches Greg Feek (Ngāti Kahungunu) and Roger Randle (Ngāti Awa) will play the Japan XV in Tokyo on 28 June and Scotland in Whangarei on 5 July.

The 29-strong Māori All Blacks squad is as follows: (iwi, province, Super Rugby club)
* denotes new cap

Props / Poumua
Benet Kumeroa (Te Atihaunui a Pāpārangi/Bay of Plenty/Chiefs)
Jared Proffit* (Ngāti Porou/Taranaki/Chiefs)
Pouri Rakete-Stones (Ngāpuhi/Hawke’s Bay/Hurricanes)
Kershawl Sykes-Martin* (Ngāti Porou/Tasman/Crusaders)
Mason Tupaea* (Ngaati Tiipa, Ngaati Amaru/Waikato/Blues)

Hookers / Waekape
Jacob Devery* (Te Aitanga a Mahaki/Hawke’s Bay/Hurricanes)
Kurt Eklund (Ngāti Kahu/Bay of Plenty/Blues)

Locks / Pouwhītiki
Zach Gallagher* (Te Ātiawa/Canterbury/Hurricanes)
Laghlan McWhannell (Ngāti Kahungunu/Waikato/Blues)  
Antonio Shalfoon* (Whakatōhea/Tasman/Crusaders)
Isaia Walker-Leawere (Ngāti Porou/Hawke’s Bay/Hurricanes)

Loose forwards / Pouwātea
Nikora Broughton (Ngārauru, Ngāti Ruanui/Bay of Plenty/Highlanders)
Jahrome Brown* (Ngāti Porou/Waikato/Chiefs)
Caleb Delany (Ngāti Tūwharetoa/Wellington/Hurricanes)
Cullen Grace (Ngāti Whakaue/Canterbury/Crusaders)
Te Kamaka Howden (Tūhoe/Manawatū/Highlanders)

Half Backs / Poutoko
Kemara Hauiti-Parapara* (Ngāi Tai, Ngāti Porou/Auckland)
Sam Nock (Ngāpuhi/Northland/Blues)

First five-eighths / Topatahi
Rivez Reihana (Ngāpuhi, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Hine/Northland/Crusaders)
Kaleb Trask (Ngāpuhi/Bay of Plenty/Chiefs)

Midfield / Topapū
Corey Evans (Te Aupouri, Ngāti Kahu/Northland/Blues)
Bailyn Sullivan (Ngāti Kahungunu/Waikato/Hurricanes)
Daniel Rona (Te Ātiawa/Taranaki/Chiefs)
Xavi Taele* (Ngāi Tahu/Auckland/Blues)
Gideon Wrampling* (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine/Waikato/Chiefs)

Outside Backs / Pouwaho
Cole Forbes (Ngāti Awa/Bay of Plenty/Blues)
Jonah Lowe (Ngāti Pikiao/Hawke’s Bay/Highlanders)
Zarn Sullivan (Ngāti Kahungunu/Hawke’s Bay/Blues)

Injury Cover/Kaiwhakakapi  - Kade Banks* (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua/North Harbour/Hurricanes) has joined the squad as temporary injury cover for Daniel Rona.

The following players were not considered due to injury / Te hunga whara:
Rameka Poihipi (Ngāti Whakaue)
Cameron Suafoa (Ngāpuhi)
Taha Kemara (Te Whānau a Apanui, Te Whakatōhea)
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Ngāti Rangitihi, Ngāti Pikiao, Tūhourangi, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Awa)
Marcel Renata (Ngāti Whānaunga)
Manaaki Selby-Rickit (Ngāti Raukawa)

Māori All Blacks Head Coach Ross Filipo said he had selected a highly experienced squad led by 32-year-old Aucklander Eklund.

“This team demands a strong leader with mana, and Kurt has shown that quality and more over a long period of time, for the Māori All Blacks, Auckland, Bay of Plenty and the Blues. He has a lot of experience throughout the squad and that will be a strength for what will be two tough matches.”

Filipo congratulated the new caps, which range from 20-year-old Blues midfielder Xavi Taele, the youngest member of the squad, and 31-year-old Gisborne-born, Taranaki prop Jared Proffit.

“It’s a proud moment for all the new caps and their whānau. This is a special team, and these players know they are here to are represent something bigger than themselves - their whakapapa, their language, the jersey and Aotearoa.”

The squad was announced in a live broadcast segment on Te Ao Māori News website, All Blacks Youtube and Māori+ Youtube this afternoon with support from New Zealand Māori Rugby Board representative Rob Clark (Waikato), who was accompanied by Māori All Blacks Cultural Advisor Te Wehi Wright (Te Awara, Ngāruahine, Ngāti Whitikaupeka, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa, Ngāti Raukawa).

Māori Rugby Board member Rob Clark (Waikato, Ngāti Tiipa) today shared the role of the team and of the Māori Rugby Board in protecting the kaupapa and the identity of Māori rugby.

“Māori rugby is the vehicle we use to express our indigenous identity. It holds the health and wellbeing of our people at the forefront, following in the pathways that have been paved before us and those that will follow. This team allows us to express our kaupapa to the world, to inspire all people and protect the taonga that is rugby in Aotearoa.”

The squad has assembled in Auckland to begin their campaign preparations before leaving for Japan on 25 June.

2025 Māori All Blacks campaign:

Saturday 28 June
Māori All Blacks vs Japan XV, 6PM (JST), Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo, Japan
Saturday 5 July
Māori All Blacks vs Scotland, 3.35PM (NZST), Semenoff Stadium, Whangārei, New Zealand