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All Blacks selectors Scott Robertson, Scott Hansen and Jason Ryan have named their 33-man squad for the 2025 Lipovitan-D July Series against France, which includes five uncapped players. Scott Barrett returns as All Blacks Captain, with Ardie Savea and Jordie Barrett as his Vice-Captains.
The announcement was made at the Coastal Club in Rahotu, which is the home club of the Barrett family, and all three brothers have made the squad, with Jordie returning from his URC title-winning season with Leinster.
Nearly three-quarters (26 players) of the squad announced were part of the setup in the European tour at the tail end of 2024 and the selection speaks of continuity and balance. The selectors said that players have been included based on merit and on form in the Super Rugby Pacific. The squad included 18 forwards and 15 backs.
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson said of re-appointing Scott Barrett as team captain, “Scott’s leadership is highly valued in this group, and well complemented by Ardie and Jordie. They will play a vital role, along with the wider player leadership group, in supporting the transition of the new players into the environment and imparting their experience to ensure the squad is set up for success.”
Both hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho and midfielder Quinn Tupaea, who have not featured for the All Blacks since 2023 and 2022 respectively, have been selected.
There are 11 from the Chiefs, 7 Hurricanes & Crusaders players, 4 from the Blues, 3 from the Highlanders and 1 from Moana Pasifika named in the All Blacks squad.
Several players can count themselves unlucky not to make the squad, notably David Havili and Ethan Blackadder, who were part of the Crusaders side that lifted another Super Rugby title (their 13th) over the weekend in beating the Chiefs 16-12. Other players, who the fans have expressed disappointment at not making the team, are Leroy Carter and Rivez Reihana.
There seemed to be mixed opinions on the inclusion of both Caleb Clarke and Rieko Loane from the Blues - the latter will be on sabbatical next season with Leinster.
With the Maori All Blacks squad yet to be announced, and that team playing both Japan XV (28 June) and Scotland (5 July) over the coming weeks, several players who narrowly missed out on All Blacks selection will be active and available if needed.
The newly selected players who could earn their first caps for New Zealand are: Ollie Norris (prop), Brodie McAlister (hooker), Fabian Holland (lock), Du’Plessis Kirifi (loose forward), Timoci Tavatavanawai (centre).
The All Blacks head coach said of the five debutantes selected, “These players have all impressed us with their talent and work ethic and have earned their opportunity to be part of this All Blacks squad. We know that each of these players possesses the ability to make their mark in the black jersey, and we look forward to working with them over the coming weeks.
Fabian Holland became the first Dutch All Black selected after moving to NZ from the Netherlands when he was 16 years old. Although all five are eligible, three of the players were not born in New Zealand.
The All Blacks squad will begin preparations in Auckland on 25 June for the first Test against France on 5 July in Dunedin.
Saturday July 5, 7.05pm – All Blacks v France, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Saturday July 12, 7.05pm – All Blacks v France, Sky Stadium, Wellington
Saturday July 19, 7.05pm – All Blacks v France, FMG Stadium, Hamilton
Although all eyes will be on the upcoming series, the French, as they do annually, will not be sending a full-strength team on the mid-year tour. With the Springboks due to visit New Zealand (including a test match at fortress Eden Park) later in the year, there might well be changes to come as those two fixtures will be seen as the highlight of the test calendar between the two rivals who share seven Rugby World Cups between them.
France coach Fabien Galthie said he has no choice but to select a second-choice squad, and only five players from the upcoming Top 14 final, which features a host of Le Blues players from Toulouse and Bordeaux, can be selected.
That means they are unlikely to tour with Louis Bielle-Biarrey, fullback Thomas Ramos or No. 8 Gregory Alldritt, while Antoine Dupont continues his recovery from a serious knee injury sustained in February.
“We have no other solution. I think it’s quite clear - or the New Zealanders can help us to reinvent our domestic season’s schedule."
His France XV overcame the England XV this past weekend in the non-capped match, and the 28-man squad excluded players involved in the Top 14 semi finals. But the performance and the scrum in particular didn't set the world alight - if this is the base squad for the New Zealand tour, they should not seriously challenge the All Blacks.
However, Galthie is expected to include as many as a dozen players who were not available in the France XV win.
The squad is as follows: (age, Super Rugby club, province, Test caps).
Hookers:
Codie Taylor (34, Crusaders / Canterbury, 96)
Samisoni Taukei’aho (27, Chiefs / Waikato, 30)
Brodie McAlister (28, Chiefs / Canterbury, *)
Props:
Ethan de Groot (26, Highlanders / Southland, 29)
Tamaiti Williams (24, Crusaders / Canterbury, 18)
Ollie Norris (25, Chiefs / Waikato, *)
Tyrel Lomax (29, Hurricanes / Tasman, 44)
Fletcher Newell (25, Crusaders / Canterbury, 22)
Pasilio Tosi (26, Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty, 7)
Locks:
Scott Barrett (31, Crusaders / Taranaki, 80) (Captain)
Patrick Tuipulotu (32, Blues / Auckland, 51)
Tupou Vaa’i (25, Chiefs / Taranaki, 38)
Fabian Holland (22, Highlanders / Otago, *)
Loose forwards:
Samipeni Finau (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 8)
Ardie Savea (31, Moana Pasifika / Wellington, 94) (Vice-Captain)
Du’Plessis Kirifi (28, Hurricanes / Wellington, *)
Wallace Sititi (22, Chiefs / North Harbour, 10)
Luke Jacobson (28, Chiefs / Waikato, 24)
Scrum Halves
Cameron Roigard (24, Hurricanes / Counties Manukau, 10)
Cortez Ratima (24, Chiefs / Waikato, 11)
Noah Hotham (22, Crusaders / Tasman, 1)
Fly Halves
Beauden Barrett (34, Blues / Taranaki, 134)
Damian McKenzie (30, Chiefs / Waikato, 61)
Centres
Anton Lienert-Brown (30, Chiefs / Waikato, 84)
Jordie Barrett (28, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 68) (Vice-Captain)
Rieko Ioane (28, Blues / Auckland, 81)
Quinn Tupaea (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 14)
Billy Proctor (26, Hurricanes / Wellington, 2)
Timoci Tavatavanawai (27, Highlanders / Tasman, *)
Outside backs:
Caleb Clarke (26, Blues / Auckland, 29)
Sevu Reece (28, Crusaders / Southland, 32)
Will Jordan (27, Crusaders / Tasman, 41)
Ruben Love (24, Hurricanes / Wellington, 1)
Injury Cover - The following players have been named as injury cover for the start of the Lipovitan-D July Series:
Christian Lio-Willie (26, Crusaders / Otago, *) for Luke Jacobson
Emoni Narawa (25, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 2) for Anton Lienert-Brown
Unavailable due to injury:
Asafo Aumua; Ofa Tu’ungafasi; Sam Darry; Peter Lakai; Stephen Perofeta.
* denotes new caps
