International
Five new caps named in All Blacks’ Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship squad
All Blacks selectors Ian Foster, Jason Ryan and Joe Schmidt have announced a squad of 36 players for the Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship.
The 36-strong squad is as follows: (age, Super Rugby club, province, Test caps).
* denotes new caps
Hookers:
Codie Taylor (32, Crusaders / Canterbury, 76)
Dane Coles (36, Hurricanes / Wellington, 84)
Samisoni Taukei’aho (25, Chiefs / Waikato, 24)
Props:
Ethan de Groot (24, Highlanders / Southland, 13)
Fletcher Newell (23, Crusaders / Canterbury, 6)
Nepo Laulala (31, Blues / Counties Manukau, 45)
Ofa Tu’ungafasi (31, Blues / Northland, 50)
Tamaiti Williams (22, Crusaders / Canterbury, *)
Tyrel Lomax (27, Hurricanes / Tasman, 23)
Locks:
Brodie Retallick (32, Chiefs / Hawkes Bay, 100)
Josh Lord (22, Chiefs / Taranaki, 2)
Samuel Whitelock (34, Crusaders / Canterbury, 143)
Scott Barrett (29, Crusaders / Taranaki, 58)
Tupou Vaa’i (23, Chiefs / Taranaki, 18)
Loose forwards:
Ardie Savea (29, Hurricanes / Wellington, 70)
Dalton Papali’i (25, Blues / Counties Manukau, 22)
Luke Jacobson (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 12)
Sam Cane (captain) (31, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 86)
Samipeni Finau (24, Chiefs / Waikato, *)
Shannon Frizell (29, Highlanders / Tasman, 25)
Halfbacks:
Aaron Smith (34, Highlanders / Manawatu, 114)
Finlay Christie (27, Blues / Tasman, 14)
Cam Roigard (22, Hurricanes / Counties Manukau, *)
First-five eighths:
Beauden Barrett (32, Blues / Taranaki, 112)
Damian McKenzie (28, Chiefs / Waikato, 40)
Richie Mo’unga (29, Crusaders / Canterbury, 44)
Midfielders:
Anton Lienert-Brown (28, Chiefs / Waikato, 60)
Jordie Barrett (26, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 48)
Rieko Ioane (26, Blues / Auckland, 59)
Braydon Ennor (25, Crusaders / Canterbury, 6)
Dallas McLeod (24, Crusaders / Canterbury, *)
Outside backs:
Caleb Clarke (24, Blues / Auckland, 15)
Emoni Narawa (23, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, *)
Leicester Fainga’anuku (23, Crusaders / Tasman, 2)
Mark Telea (26, Blues / North Harbour, 2)
Will Jordan (25, Crusaders / Tasman, 21)
Note: Shaun Stevenson (26, Chiefs / North Harbour, *) has been added as injury cover for Mark Telea for the start of the Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship.
Unavailable due to injury: Angus Ta’avao, Ethan Blackadder, Cullen Grace, David Havili, Joe Moody, George Bower, Patrick Tuipulotu, Quinn Tupaea, Sevu Reece, TJ Perenara.
In naming his first squad of the year, All Blacks coach Ian Foster highlighted that the upcoming Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship is vital preparation for the Rugby World Cup later this year.
“We are very excited about the group we have selected,” Foster said. “The Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship is a vital piece in our preparation for the World Cup later in the year. It’s a key opportunity to get our game ready so we can enter the global tournament with confidence.”
Foster has also announced that Sam Cane will return as captain of the All Blacks.
“Sam has proven himself as a great leader of our team despite having had a disrupted couple of seasons leading into this one,” said Foster. “We have total belief that he is the right man to lead us.”
The selectors also congratulated the five uncapped players – Cam Roigard, Dallas McLeod, Emoni Narawa, Samipeni Finau and Tamaiti Williams – who have impressed in DHL Super Rugby Pacific.
“This is very special day for them and their families who I’m sure will be extremely proud of their achievements,” Foster said. “We have a new group of exciting players who will be keen to make a difference in the All Black jersey.”
A number of other capped All Blacks and emerging players will be given the opportunity to gain valuable experience on tour with the All Blacks XV. The squad will play two matches in Japan next month, boosting the depth in New Zealand’s talent pool as the Rugby World Cup approaches.
LINK: SEE THE ALL BLACKS XV SQUAD HERE
The All Blacks will begin their preapartions with a training camp at Mount Maunganui from June 21-23 for the non DHL Super Rugby Pacific finalists. The full squad will assemble in Auckland on June 27, before travelling to Mendoza for the opening Test of the year against Argentina on Saturday July 8th.
FIXTURES:
WEEK 1 vs. ARGENTINA. Saturday 8 July, 4:10PM (7:10AM, Sunday 9 July NZT), Estadio Malvinas, MENDOZA
WEEK 2 vs. SOUTH AFRICA. Saturday 15 July, 7.05PM, Go Media Stadium Mt Smart, AUCKLAND
WEEK 3 vs. AUSTRALIA. Saturday 29 July, 7.45PM (9:45PM NZT), Melbourne Cricket Ground, MELBOURNE
WEEK 4 vs. AUSTRALIA. Saturday 5 August, 2.35PM, Forsyth Barr Stadium, DUNEDIN
UNCAPPED PLAYER PROFILES:
Emoni Narawa
POSITION Outside back
BORN 13/7/1999
WEIGHT 98kg
HEIGHT 1.84m
PROVINCE Bay of Plenty
SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC Chiefs
Fijian-born wing Emoni Narawa thrived in the Chiefs’ Super Rugby Pacific environment in 2023. The side’s attacking approach allowed him many opportunities to use his speed, and he shared in some great tries during the campaign.
He has had to wait his time. Coming out of Hamilton Boys’ High School, he made his first-class debut for Bay of Plenty when Chiefs’ coach Clayton McMillan was involved, and in 37 appearances for the union, he has scored 24 tries. His first Super Rugby home was with the Blues in 2020-21, but he made only seven appearances. Transferring to the Chiefs in 2022, he hasn’t looked back. Playing either at fullback or on the wing, he scored five tries in nine games.
In 2023, his game blossomed due to work put in during the off-season and he was a regular starter. One of the fastest players with the ball in hand, he has complemented the skills of the players inside him.
Cam Roigard
POSITION Halfback
BORN 16/11/2000
WEIGHT 88kg
HEIGHT 1.83m
PROVINCE Counties Manukau
SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC Hurricanes
Cameron Roigard began his association with the Hurricanes as a replacement player during their 2020 pre-season programme. But such was the work ethic and dedication he showed his contract was extended for the 2020 campaign. He didn’t play but took his experience training with the side back to Pukekohe, where he debuted for Counties Manukau in the 2020 National Provincial Championship. He returned to Wellington for Super Rugby Pacific and debuted against the Crusaders.
While his opportunities were restricted as he played in the shadows of All Black TJ Perenara and the experienced Jamie Booth, Roigard showed enough to be named a member of the All Blacks XV in 2022, substituting for Perenara against Ireland A. With Perenara suffering an Achilles’ tendon injury when called into the All Blacks to play England, Roigard found himself with the chance for more starts with the Hurricanes, something he achieved with significant effect with some outstanding play in Super Rugby Pacific 2023.
Shaun Stevenson
POSITION Outside back
BORN 14/11/1996
WEIGHT 100kg
HEIGHT 1.9m
PROVINCE North Harbour
SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC Chiefs
Shaun Stevenson had an outstanding season for the Chiefs, one of the leading try scorers in Super Rugby Pacific in 2023. He played for the 2016 New Zealand Under-20s after being an NZ Secondary Schools selection in 2014. Around the first-class scene since making his provincial debut for Waikato in 2015, Stevenson has matured into a consistently high-performing player, whether at fullback or on the wing.
While he returned to his home region of North Harbour in 2017, the impression he made with Waikato saw the Chiefs sign him for Super Rugby, and he has remained with them. By 2022, he started to reap the benefits of his persistence when playing outstanding games for the Māori All Blacks, for whom he has played 12 games since 2017, and being selected for the All Blacks’ XV that toured in Ireland and England in 2022.
Coming into the 2023 season, he played from the outset with a high degree of confidence and in partnership with the Chiefs’ high-quality backline, he scored some outstanding tries and featured at the top of the tryscoring lists.
Tamaiti Williams
POSITION Prop
BORN 10/8/2000
WEIGHT 140kg
HEIGHT 1.96m
PROVINCE Canterbury
SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC Crusaders
Whangarei-born Tamaiti Williams burst onto the national scene when debuting for Canterbury in the National Provincial Championship in 2020. A year after he represented New Zealand Under-20 at the Junior World Championships, the Crusaders soon secured him, where he became part of a solid scrummaging unit including several All Blacks.
After debuting for Canterbury in 2020, his strong displays resulted in his selection for the Māori All Blacks. In 2022 he was included in the All Blacks XV, playing against the Ireland XV and the Barbarians on their tour.
A product of St Kentigern College in Auckland, he had an outstanding season for the Crusaders during their 2023 campaign. A strong scrummager, he has sound skills with the ball in hand and is dangerous close to the line.
Cam Roigard
POSITION Halfback
BORN 16/11/2000
WEIGHT 88 kg
HEIGHT 1.83m
PROVINCE Counties Manukau
SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC Hurricanes
Halfback Cam Roigard played for Counties Manukau in 2020 and was originally selected in the Hurricanes squad as a replacement player that year.
His contract was extended to cover the 2020 season and he debuted for the Hurricanes against the Crusaders in 2021.
The 22-year-old has caught the eye of selectors as a promising young player.
Dallas McLeod
POSITION Midfield/outside back
BORN 30/04/1999
WEIGHT 101kg
HEIGHT 190cm
PROVINCE Canterbury
SUPER RUGBY Pacific Crusaders
Centre Dallas McLeod was selected in the Crusaders for the 2020 season after an impressive debut season with Canterbury in the Mitre 10 Cup.
McLeod was a key member of the Canterbury Under 19 squad and was Vice Captain for the New Zealand side in the 2019 Under 20 World Championship in Argentina.
His skill and versatility are what has grabbed the selectors attention, as he can play outside or mid-field back positions.
Samipeni Finau
POSITION Loose forward
BORN 10/05/1999
WEIGHT 115kg
HEIGHT 1.93m
PROVINCE Waikato
SUPER RUGBY Pacific Chiefs
Born in Tonga, dynamic young loose forward Samipeni Finau played much of his rugby at fullback before switching to the loose forwards.
Finau was selected for the 2017 New Zealand Secondary Barbarians team in 2017 after an impressive season at St Peters School in Cambridge.
After playing for Waikato in the 2020 NPC, Finau made his Super Rugby debut for the Chiefs in 2021 starting alongside Sam Cane and Luke Jacobson.
His speed and power off the side of the scrum made him a formidable player and he’s impressed his Chiefs team-mates with his versatility and his talent.
Content & Images from – New Zealand Rugby
Munster Rugby and the IRFU are pleased to confirm contract extensions for Conor Murray and Jack Daly with Brian Gleeson to be promoted from the Academy to the senior squad next season.
Murray and Daly have signed one-year extensions with Gleeson moving up to the senior squad on a two-year deal.
Gleeson is one of five Academy players moving up to the senior squad next year with Tony Butler, Ethan Coughlan, Mark Donnelly and Edwin Edogbo also signing two-year deals.
Conor Murray is one of the most decorated scrum-halfs in world rugby with 116 Ireland caps and three British & Irish Lions tours to his name.
A former St Munchin’s College student, the Garryowen man won his fifth 6 Nations title with Ireland last month and earned his second league title with Munster last season.
The 34-year-old has made 185 Munster appearances and scored 34 tries for the province to date and was named on World Rugby’s Team of the Decade in 2019.
25-year-old flanker Jack Daly came up through the ranks at Castleisland RFC and made his Munster debut against Zebre in 2020.
Daly joined the Academy in 2018, moved up to the senior squad in 2021 and plays his AIL rugby with Garryowen. A former Ireland U20 international, he made his Champions Cup debut against Toulouse in the quarter-final at the Aviva Stadium in 2022.
Try-scoring number 8 Brian Gleeson leads the charge for the Ireland Under-20s against France ©INPHO/Evan Treacy
20-year-old Gleeson moves up to the senior squad after just one year in the Academy that has seen him score one try in nine senior appearances.
Currently out of action with an ankle injury, he had already made three Champions Cup appearances before turning 20.
The powerful back-row forward was a Grand Slam winner with the Ireland U20s last year. plays his AIL rugby with Garryowen and came up through the ranks at Thurles RFC and Rockwell College.
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against Scotland at Aviva Stadium (Kick-off 4.45pm).
Ireland – currently sitting top of the Six Nations table heading into Super Saturday – can clinch back-to-back Championship titles with victory over Scotland in Dublin.
Farrell has named an unchanged starting XV for the Round 5 clash, as Hugo Keenan, Calvin Nash and James Lowe continue in the Ireland back three. Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki are once again selected in midfield, with Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park the starting half-backs.
Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong pack down in the front row, with Joe McCarthy partnering Tadhg Beirne – who is set to win his 50th Test cap for Ireland – in the engine room.
Captain Peter O’Mahony is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Caelan Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.
The Ireland Coaching Team have opted for a 5-3 split on the bench, with Rónan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan providing the reinforcements up front, and Conor Murray, Harry Byrne and the fit-again Garry Ringrose the backline options.
Saturday’s match is live on Virgin Media One and ITV, with live radio coverage available on RTE Radio 1.
Ireland Team & Replacements (v Scotland, Guinness Men’s Six Nations, Saturday, March 16, 4.45pm)
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(39)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(5)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(71)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(55)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(30)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(13)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(34)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(63)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(25)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(75)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(9)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(49)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(104)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(61)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(40)
Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(30)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(128)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(39)
19. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(19)
20. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(45)
21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(115)
22. Harry Byrne (UCD/Leinster)(3)
23. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(57).
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against England at Twickenham (Kick-off 4.45pm).
Peter O’Mahony captains Ireland for the Round 4 visit to London, with Hugo Keenan returning to the starting XV after recovering from injury.
Keenan joins Calvin Nash and James Lowe in the Ireland back three, with Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw continuing their midfield partnership.
Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park are retained as the half-back pairing.
In the pack, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong are in the front row, with Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne named in the engine room. Captain O’Mahony is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Caelan Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.
The Ireland Coaching Team have selected a 6-2 split on the bench, as Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan provide the reinforcements in the pack.
Backs Conor Murray and Ciaran Frawley complete Ireland’s Match Day 23 to face England.
Saturday’s match is live on RTÉ2 and ITV.
Ireland:
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(38)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(4)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(70)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(54)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(29)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(12)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(33)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(62)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(24)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(74)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(8)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(48)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(103)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(60)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(39)
Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(29)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(127)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(38)
19. Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster)(80)
20. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(18)
21. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(44)
22. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(114)
23. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(3)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
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