Fainga’anuku shift headlines revamped All Blacks squad for demanding Northern Tour
Leicester Fainga’anuku will make his All Blacks return on the Northern Tour, named among the loose forwards in Dave Rennie’s 36-strong squad in a move that underlines both his versatility and the coaches’ need for depth in the back row.
The 27-year-old, who has 12 tests to his name in the backline, is one of two additions in the loose forwards alongside a recall for Crusaders teammate Christian Lio-Willie, who last played for the All Blacks against Wales last November.
The pair are among a cluster of newcomers or returning faces brought in as injuries open the door for others and force adjustments ahead of a physically demanding block of test rugby.
Selection shake-up as injuries reshape the pack
Hooker George Bell, tighthead prop Saula Ma’u, lock Jamie Hannah, outside back Chay Fihaki and midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown are all back in the squad after previously missing out and, in Bell’s case, spending time as an injury replacement in the Bledisloe Cup squad.
First five-eighths Richie Mo’unga and loose forward Ethan Blackadder have also been named after missing the Bledisloe Cup with calf injuries, with Blackadder hurt during warm-ups for the first test in Auckland. Their returns stabilise two key areas of the field – game management at No 10 and high-work-rate physicality in the loose forwards – at a time when several frontline players remain unavailable.
Among those ruled out are Samisoni Taukei’aho (calf), Shannon Frizell (knee), Tyrel Lomax (neck), Leroy Carter (ankle), Ruben Love (ankle), Ardie Savea (shoulder), Luke Jacobson (elbow), Caleb Clarke (shoulder) and Ollie Norris (knee), while Simon Parker is absent for personal reasons. The number and profile of those injuries explain both the promotion of form NPC players and the decision to utilise Fainga’anuku in the loose forwards group rather than exclusively as a backline option.
Three Home Nations in three weeks, then Nations Championship finals
The squad departs for the United Kingdom on Thursday for a tour that mirrors the traditional test-window structure used in the global calendar overseen by World Rugby. The All Blacks will face:
- Scotland – 8 November
- Wales – 15 November
- England – 22 November
The tour then concludes with the Nations Championship finals in London across the weekend of 28-30 November, adding knockout or playoff-style pressure to a schedule already loaded with travel, short turnarounds and tier-one opposition.
For international audiences, this run of fixtures effectively stress-tests New Zealand’s depth across four consecutive weekends of high-intensity rugby in Europe, with potential implications for future squad hierarchies and selection calls in subsequent World Rugby-sanctioned windows.
Rennie welcomes returning core and NPC form players
Coach Dave Rennie framed the campaign as an extension of the group’s recent progress.
He said the upcoming series is a strong opportunity for the squad to keep building, highlighting both the quality of the 36-man group and the pathway from domestic to international rugby. Rennie noted it was “great to officially welcome” Bell, Ma’u, Fainga’anuku, Lio-Willie, Hannah and Fihaki back into the squad, praising their form during the NPC and stressing how important it is that eight players who have logged significant minutes this year are now returning from injury to add experience and stability.
Rennie also underlined the difficulty of playing Scotland, Wales and England on consecutive weekends in front of passionate home crowds, and spoke of the team’s intention to build on their Bledisloe Cup performances while acknowledging the support of fans in New Zealand and across the globe who will follow the tour from a distance.
Positional balance, versatility and new caps
One of the most notable selection themes is flexibility. Fainga’anuku’s inclusion among the loose forwards, after a test career primarily in the backline, gives the coaches an additional ball-carrying and defensive option in the back row while preserving strike power if he is used wider out. Similarly, players such as Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane provide cover across multiple backline positions, a crucial asset when facing three test matches in as many weeks.
The squad also features players marked for potential debuts at test level, with Ma’u and first five-eighths Josh Jacomb identified by an asterisk as new caps. That mix of uncapped prospects, recalled forwards and senior playmakers reflects a dual focus: winning immediately on tour and gathering evidence on who can handle tier-one test rugby ahead of future global competitions.
Full All Blacks 36-man squad for Northern Tour
Hookers: Codie Taylor, Asafo Aumua, George Bell
Props: Ethan de Groot, George Bower, Xavier Numia, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi, Saula Ma’u*
Locks: Scott Barrett, Josh Lord, Fabian Holland, Jamie Hannah, Tupou Vaa’i
Loose forwards: Anton Segner, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Ethan Blackadder, Christian Lio-Willie, Peter Lakai, Wallace Sititi
Halfbacks: Cam Roigard, Kyle Preston, Cortez Ratima
First five-eighths: Richie Mo’unga, Damian McKenzie, Josh Jacomb*
Midfielders: Jordie Barrett, Quinn Tupaea, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Anton Lienert-Brown
Outside backs: Rieko Ioane, Chay Fihaki, Fehi Fineanganofo, Josh Moorby, Will Jordan, Beauden Barrett
Unavailable: Samisoni Taukei’aho (calf); Shannon Frizell (knee); Tyrel Lomax (neck); Leroy Carter (ankle); Ruben Love (ankle); Ardie Savea (shoulder); Luke Jacobson (elbow); Caleb Clarke (shoulder); Ollie Norris (knee). Simon Parker (personal reasons).
* denotes new test cap
What the tour means for selection pecking orders
While results in Scotland, Wales and England will be the public barometer of success, the internal stakes are just as significant. With multiple senior forwards unavailable, this tour gives Segner, Lakai, Sititi, Lio-Willie and others a rare extended window to contest starting roles and bench spots against tier-one opposition.
In the backs, the presence of Mo’unga, McKenzie and Jacomb at first five-eighths shapes the playmaking depth chart, while combinations involving Jordie Barrett, Tupaea, Lienert-Brown and Tavatavanawai in midfield will be closely watched as coaches assess balance between distribution, defence and gain-line threat.
For players returning from injury, the tour offers a measure of both resilience and readiness. A strong month in Europe could cement their status ahead of future test windows, while for those chasing a first cap or a regular match-day role, it is an opportunity to convert domestic form into long-term international careers.
With the tour feeding directly into the Nations Championship finals in London, New Zealand’s performance across these weeks will also shape how the All Blacks are seeded and perceived within the emerging global competition framework, adding strategic weight to every selection and every minute played.