Eight Test players in Jamie Joseph's All Blacks XV squad
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Eight capped Test players and a group of rising young stars have been included in the 30-man 2025 All Blacks XV squad announced on Tuesday for three international fixtures in Europe.
Coached by new head coach Jamie Joseph and his assistants Jamie Mackintosh, David Hill, and Cory Jane, the All Blacks XV squad was selected in collaboration with the All Blacks selectors led by Scott Robertson to play two matches in England, against the Barbarians and England ‘A’, and a third match against Uruguay.
With an average age of 25, the squad features a mix of emerging talent and experience, ranging from 22-year-old front rowers Jack Taylor (Southland) and Siale Lauaki (Wellington) to Tasman’s 32-Test, 30-year-old midfielder David Havili.
Midfielders Havili, Dallas McLeod, Braydon Ennor, halfbacks Folau Fakatava and Kyle Preston, loose forwards Christian Lio-Willie and Dalton Papali’i, and hooker Brodie McAlister all bring Test match experience to the 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,” 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 24 October 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.
“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 is:
Hookers: Brodie McAlister, Jack Taylor, Bradley Slater
Props: George Dyer, Josh Fusitua, Benet Kumeroa, Siale Lauaki, Xavier Numia
Locks: Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Josh Beehre, Isaia Walker-Leawere
Loose forwards: Kaylum Boshier, Devan Flanders, Te Kamaka Howden, Christian Lio-Willie, Dalton Papali’i, Sean Withy
Scrumhalves: Folau Fakatava, Kyle Preston, Xavier Roe
Flyhalves: Josh Jacomb, Rivez Reihana
Midfield: Braydon Ennor, David Havili, Dallas McLeod, Daniel Rona
Outside backs: Etene Nanai-Seturo, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Caleb Tangitau.
All Blacks XV 2025 schedule:
Saturday, November 1:
All Blacks XV vs Barbarians
Venue: Gtech Community Stadium, Brentford
Kick-off: 13.15 (02.15 NZT Sunday, November 2)
Sunday, November 9:
All Blacks XV vs England ‘A’
Venue: The Recreational Ground, Bath
Kick-off: 13.15 (02.15 NZT Sunday, November 9)
Saturday, November 15
All Blacks XV v Uruguay
Venue and kick off time TBC
