All Blacks name 36-man squad for northern tour

Dave Rennie has named a 36-man All Blacks squad to tour the United Kingdom for the Nations Championship finale. The squad will face Scotland on 8 November in Edinburgh, Wales on 15 November in Cardiff, and England on 22 November at Twickenham. The series concludes with the Nations Championship playoffs in London between 28 and 30 November.

Leicester Fainga'anuku and Christian Lio-Willie are notable inclusions, with Fainga'anuku being officially listed as a loose forward despite having played 12 previous tests as a midfielder or wing. Fainga'anuku returns from a fibula fracture and high ankle sprain. Lio-Willie, who made three test appearances in 2025, has been recalled following the NPC.

New additions to the squad include hooker George Bell, prop Saula Ma'u, lock Jamie Hannah, and wing Chay Fihaki. Ma'u and Josh Jacomb are the only squad members who have not yet received a test cap. Several players return to the squad after recovering from injury, including Jordie Barrett, Richie Mo'unga, Anton Lienert-Brown, Quinn Tupaea, Ethan Blackadder, Anton Segner, Asafo Aumua, and Fehi Fineanganofo.

Codie Taylor will serve as tour captain in the absence of Ardie Savea, who is unavailable due to a shoulder injury. Other players unavailable due to injury include Samisoni Taukei'aho (calf), Shannon Frizell (knee), Tyrel Lomax (neck), Leroy Carter (ankle), Ruben Love (ankle), Luke Jacobson (elbow), Caleb Clarke (shoulder), and Ollie Norris (knee). Simon Parker is unavailable for personal reasons.

How it developed

• Tue 27 Oct, 6:01pmChay Fihaki was selected for the squad over Emoni Narawa and Kyren Taumoefolau.

Where reports differ

• One report notes Sam Darry was omitted from the squad in favour of Jamie Hannah.
• Richie Mo'unga is described as unlikely to be available for the first test against Scotland due to a calf injury.

Compiled from reports by Stuff, The Post, 1News, NZ Herald and Otago Daily Times.