All Blacks XV coach Leon Macdonald has named Patrick Tuipulotu to lead All Blacks XV on their Northern Tour, which includes a first-of-its-kind match against the Barbarians.
Bryn Gatland, the son of previous Barbarians Head Coach Warren Gatland, is also included alongside the nephew of Barbarians legend Pat Lam, AJ Lam.
Blues Head Coach Leon MacDonald will be Head Coach of the All Blacks XV, alongside Assistant Coaches Clayton McMillan and Scott Hansen, who will face familiar faces in the Barbarians coaching team of Crusaders’ Scott Robertson and Stade Rochelais’ Ronan O’Gara, who formerly worked with Robertson in New Zealand. The squad will boost the depth in New Zealand’s talent pool as Rugby World Cup 2023 approaches.
The 28-strong squad is as follows: (Super Rugby club / province)
Forwards
- Asafo Aumua (Hurricanes / Wellington)
- George Bell (Crusaders / Canterbury)
- Finlay Brewis (Crusaders / Canterbury)
- Josh Dickson (Highlanders / Otago)
- Zach Gallagher (Crusaders / Canterbury)
- Dominic Gardiner (Crusaders / Canterbury)
- Billy Harmon (Highlanders / Canterbury)
- Luke Jacobson (Chiefs / Waikato)
- Oli Jager (Crusaders / Canterbury)
- Christian Lio-Willie (Crusaders / Otago)
- Brodie McAlister (Crusaders / Canterbury)
- Marino Mikaele-Tu’u (Highlanders, Hawkes Bay)
- Aidan Ross (Chiefs / Bay of Plenty)
- Angus Ta’avao (Chiefs / Auckland)
- Patrick Tuipulotu – Captain (Blues / Auckland)
- Tamaiti Williams (Crusaders / Canterbury)
Backs
- Levi Aumua (Moana Pasifika / Tasman)
- Bryn Gatland (Chiefs / North Harbour)
- Bryce Heem (Blues / Auckland)
- AJ Lam (Blues / Auckland)
- Ruben Love (Hurricanes / Wellington)
- Damian McKenzie (Chiefs / Waikato)
- Alex Nankivell (Chiefs / Tasman)
- TJ Perenara (Hurricanes / Wellington)
- Cam Roigard (Hurricanes / Counties Manukau)
- Bailyn Sullivan (Hurricanes / Waikato)
- Mark Telea (Blues / North Harbour)
- Brad Weber (Chiefs / Hawke’s Bay)
All Blacks XV Head Coach, Leon MacDonald said, “We are expecting an intense challenge from both Ireland A and the Barbarians. These two fixtures will allow players to showcase what they have and put their best foot forward on an international stage.
“The selection panel have named a dynamic All Blacks XV squad, with eight capped All Blacks who know how to perform at this level and emerging talent. To play at international level is extremely valuable for the players and I am looking forward to guiding the team in what will be a first for the All Blacks XV.”
Ian Foster All Blacks Head Coach and All Blacks XV selector said, “The squad has a mixture of some experienced players and some younger talent coming through that we, as a group of All Blacks, are really keen to see how they progress in a Northern Hemisphere environment.
“It’s a great opportunity for them to play with a black jersey on, in a different environment and test themselves against different game plans and styles. Hopefully, that will help prepare us really well in another part of our building blocks for the Rugby World Cup next year.”
The All Blacks XV was launched as NZR’s next senior national representative team after the All Blacks, as a critical high-performance pathway to the All Blacks. As the next senior national representative side, the All Blacks XV will have the same high expectations as the other Teams in Black.
The All Blacks XV follows in the footsteps of similar teams which have assembled throughout New Zealand rugby’s history, including the Junior All Blacks, New Zealand A and Emerging Players.
The high-performance team adds a new element to the New Zealand Rugby set-up, representing a development opportunity for future All Blacks – as well as a chance for current players to make their case for All Blacks selection or recall.
Killik & Co are delighted to be the match sponsor for the Barbarians annual Autumn International once again, marking over a decade of The Killik Cup.
Tickets are available from £40 for adults and £25 for children*. Visit www.ticketmaster.co.uk/barbarians to get your tickets now.
For all hospitality premium packages, go to www.tottenhamhotspur.com for more information.
(* Booking Fees Apply)