All Blacks XV head coach Jamie Joseph has named eight players with Test experience, including David Havili, in his 30-man squad to play three matches in Europe.
Midfielder Havili, a 30-year-old who has played 32 Tests and has not been required for the All Blacks this year despite an outstanding Super Rugby season with the Crusaders, is the oldest player.
Loose forward Dalton Papali’i, who played in the France series for the All Blacks but was not included in the Rugby Championship squad, has also been named, along with hooker Brodie McAlister and loosie Christian Lio-Willie, both of whom have played at the top level this year.
Papali'i, who has played 37 Tests, is the most experienced player in the squad.
In a curious development this morning, lock Sam Darry, due to be named in the squad, was promoted to the full All Blacks squad for their November tour after the full extent of Patrick Tuipulotu's shoulder injury was revealed. Tuipulotu had been named in the All Blacks squad yesterday.
Rivez Reihana and Josh Jacomb are the two first-fives, with the outside backs consisting of Chay Fihaki, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens and Caleb Tangitau.
Coached by Joseph and his assistants Jamie Mackintosh, David Hill, and Cory Jane, the All Blacks XV will play two matches in England, against the Barbarians and England A, and a third match against Uruguay.
The squad has an average age of 25.
“It’s a squad with a good mix of experience and emerging talent and reflects the depth that’s building in the NPC and Super Rugby Pacific,” Joseph said.
“There were a number of players who have put their hands up during the NPC and that made for some tight calls, but we think we’ve got the balance right.”
All Blacks XV players will be available for the NPC semifinals and the final with non-finalists assembling on October 24 before heading to England.
The squad includes representation from 13 of the 14 NPC provincial unions and across all five of New Zealand Rugby’s Super Rugby clubs, while there are 10 players back from the 2024 All Blacks XV squad.
“A core purpose of this team is to develop and promote players through to the next level and the effectiveness of the pathway was highlighted in the All Blacks Northern Tour squad which included seven members of the 2024 All Blacks XV squad," Joseph said.
“No doubt some of these players will progress on to the All Blacks in future years and if that’s the case we will have done our job. The core focus in the short term will be heading north to represent the black jersey and win three games in Europe.”
The 2025 campaign will be the fourth for the All Blacks XV, New Zealand Rugby’s second tier team behind the All Blacks. Since being established in 2022 the team has won five of their six international fixtures.
The 2025 All Blacks XV squad
(position, age, Super Rugby club, province)
Hookers
Brodie McAlister (28 / Chiefs / Canterbury)
Jack Taylor (22 / Highlanders / Southland)
Bradley Slater (27 / Chiefs / Taranaki)
Props
George Dyer (25 / Chiefs / Waikato)
Josh Fusitua (24 / Blues / Auckland)
Benet Kumeroa (25 / Chiefs / Bay of Plenty)
Siale Lauaki (22 / Hurricanes / Wellington)
Xavier Numia (26 / Hurricanes / Wellington)
Locks
Naitoa Ah Kuoi (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty)
Josh Beehre (23 / Blues / Auckland)
Isaia Walker-Leawere (28 / Hurricanes / Hawke’s Bay)
Loose forwards
Kaylum Boshier (26 / Chiefs / Taranaki)
Devan Flanders (26 / Hurricanes / Hawke’s Bay)
Te Kamaka Howden (24 / Highlanders / Manawatū)
Christian Lio-Willie (27 / Crusaders / Otago)
Dalton Papali’i (28 / Blues / Counties-Manukau)
Sean Withy (24 / Highlanders / Southland)
Halfbacks
Folau Fakatava (25 / Highlanders / Hawke’s Bay)
Kyle Preston (26 / Crusaders / Wellington)
Xavier Roe (26 /Chiefs / Waikato)
First-fives
Josh Jacomb (24 / Chiefs / Taranaki)
Rivez Reihana (25 / Crusaders / Northland)
Midfield
Braydon Ennor (28 / Crusaders / Canterbury)
David Havili (30 / Crusaders / Tasman)
Dallas McLeod (26 / Crusaders / Canterbury)
Daniel Rona (25 / Chiefs / Taranaki)
Outside backs
Chay Fihaki (24 / Crusaders / Canterbury)
Etene Nanai-Seturo (26 / Chiefs / Counties-Manukau)
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (24 / Highlanders / Taranaki)
Caleb Tangitau (22 / Highlanders / Auckland)
All Blacks XV 2025 schedule:
Sunday 2 November: All Blacks XV vs Barbarians, Gtech Community Stadium, Brentford, kick-off 2.15am NZT (Saturday 1 November 13:15pm local time).
Sunday 9 November: All Blacks XV vs England A, The Recreational Ground, Bath, kick-off 2.15am NZT (Saturday 8 November, 13:15pm local time).
Sunday 16 November: All Blacks XV v Uruguay, venue and kick off time TBC.
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