All Blacks XV squad: Dalton Papali’i one of EIGHT internationals named by Jamie Joseph for overseas tour
All Blacks XV head coach Jamie Joseph (inset) and New Zealand flanker Dalton Papali'i.
All Blacks XV head coach Jamie Joseph has named a 30-man squad, which includes eight players with international experience, for their upcoming tour to Europe.
Joseph, who will have Jamie Mackintosh, David Hill, and Cory Jane as his assistant coaches on the three-match tour, selected his squad in collaboration with the All Blacks selectors led by Scott Robertson.
The All Blacks XV will play two matches in England, against the Barbarians and England A, and a third match against Uruguay at a venue which has not been confirmed yet.
Joseph‘s squad has a mix of of emerging talent and experience ranging from Southland hooker Jack Taylor and Wellington prop Siale Lauaki, who are both 22, to Tasman and the Crusaders’ 32-Test, 30-year-old utility back David Havili.
Another experienced All Blacks player in the squad is Counties-Manukau and Blues flanker Dalton Papali’i, who, like Havili, was part of New Zealand’s squad which finished as runners-up at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
Joseph is looking forward to the tour and is excited to work with the players in his squad.
“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,” he 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 this weekend’s National Provincial Championship (NPC) semi-finals and the final, which takes place on October 25.
Non-finalists, who are part of the All Blacks XV squad, will assemble on October 24 before heading to England.
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“The squad includes representation from 13 of the 14 NPC unions and across all five of New Zealand Rugby’s Super Rugby franchises, while there are 10 players back from the 2024 All Blacks XV squad,” said Joseph.
“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.
“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.
All Blacks XV squad
Forwards: Brodie McAlister (Chiefs and Canterbury), Jack Taylor (Highlanders and Southland), Bradley Slater (Chiefs and Taranaki), George Dyer (Chiefs and Waikato), Josh Fusitua (Blues and Auckland), Benet Kumeroa (Chiefs and Bay of Plenty), Siale Lauaki (Hurricanes and Wellington), Xavier Numia (Hurricanes and Wellington), Naitoa Ah Kuoi (Chiefs and Bay of Plenty), Josh Beehre (Blues and Auckland), Isaia Walker-Leawere (Hurricanes and Hawke’s Bay), Kaylum Boshier (Chiefs and Taranaki), Devan Flanders (Hurricanes and Hawke’s Bay), Te Kamaka Howden (Highlanders and Manawatū), Christian Lio-Willie (Crusaders and Otago), Dalton Papali’i (Blues and Counties-Manukau), Sean Withy (Highlanders and Southland)
Backs: Folau Fakatava (Highlanders and Hawke’s Bay), Kyle Preston (Crusaders and Wellington), Xavier Roe (Chiefs and Waikato), Josh Jacomb (Chiefs and Taranaki), Rivez Reihana (Crusaders and Northland), Braydon Ennor (Crusaders and Canterbury), David Havili (Crusaders and Tasman), Dallas McLeod (Crusaders and Canterbury), Daniel Rona (Chiefs and Taranaki), Chay Fihaki (Crusaders and Canterbury), Etene Nanai-Seturo (Chiefs and Counties-Manukau), Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (Highlanders and Taranaki), Caleb Tangitau (Highlanders and Auckland)
All Blacks XV 2025 schedule
Saturday, 1 November: All Blacks XV v Barbarians, Gtech Community Stadium, Brentford
Saturday, 8 November: All Blacks XV v England A, The Recreational Ground, Bath
Saturday 15 November: All Blacks XV v Uruguay, venue TBC