All Blacks: Last chance saloon for New Zealand’s 2023 breakout star as he returns to action ahead of year-end tour
All Blacks scrum-half Cam Roigard.
The All Blacks’ breakout star of 2023, Cam Roigard, is among 16 All Blacks who will return to action for their provinces in the National Provincial Championship (NPC) this weekend.
Roigard has been sidelined since the end of March after rupturing his left patella tendon while in action for the Hurricanes in their round six Super Rugby Pacific victory over the Highlanders in Dunedin.
The 23-year-old will make his return via the replacements bench for Counties Manukau when they take on Manawatu in their NPC clash in Palmerston North on Saturday.
He will be joined among Counties’ replacements by All Blacks openside flanker Dalton Papali’i.
Roigard shone for the All Blacks in his rookie season at international level in 2023, and after making his Test debut against Australia in the Rugby Championship, he was one of three scrum-halves named in New Zealand’s Rugby World Cup squad.
He caught the eye with some fine performances at the global showpiece and after veteran scrum-half Aaron Smith’s retirement at the end of 2023, Roigard was in line to become the All Blacks’ first choice number nine under new head coach Scott Robertson.
However, his world came crashing down when he suffered his injury after some fine performances for the Hurricanes.
Only chance to impress Scott Robertson
It is the final round of the NPC this weekend and Counties’ clash with Manawatu will be Roigard’s only chance to prove his fitness to Robertson before he names his All Blacks squad for their upcoming end-of-year tour to Japan and Europe.
Roigard is the only player among the 16 returning All Blacks who is back in action after a long-term injury, with the other returnees being released to get game-time after making limited appearances during the recent Rugby Championship.
“Sixteen members of the All Blacks Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship squad will represent their provincial unions in the final round-robin stage of the Bunnings Warehouse NPC this weekend,” read a statement from New Zealand Rugby.
“George Bower will be available for Otago when they travel to Semenoff Stadium to face Northland on Friday. Saturday’s four Bunnings Warehouse NPC matches will also each feature at least one of the Rugby Championship squad, with Dalton Papali’i and Cam Roigard available for Counties Manukau when they are hosted by Manawatu at Massey University; Southland and North Harbour having Ethan de Groot and Mark Tele’a at their service when they meet in Invercargill; Billy Proctor set to bolster Wellington when they take on Hawke’s Bay at Sky Stadium; and Samipeni Finau available for Waikato to face All Blacks teammates George Bell and Sam Darry in the Canterbury team.
Seven All Blacks in action on Sunday
“A further seven players are available for Sunday’s two matches, Tasman vs Taranaki and Auckland vs Bay of Plenty.
“Tasman will have Ethan Blackadder, Noah Hotham and David Havili ready to help defend the Ranfurly Shield for the last time this season, while Stephen Perofeta is eyeing a return from his calf injury to assist Taranaki’s Shield challenge.
“Pasilio Tosi is set to play for Bay of Plenty and both Harry Plummer and Patrick Tuipulotu are available for Auckland.”
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