Centurion’s salute: Codie Taylor honoured as 100th All Blacks Test awaits

The All Blacks centurion club may well add another member this weekend, with hooker Codie Taylor currently sitting on 99 Test caps ahead of round two of the Rugby Championship.

The 34-year-old debuted against Argentina in the 2015 Rugby Championship, taking the field to replace Kevin Mealamu and going on to earn his place in the All Blacks’ infamous 2015 Rugby World Cup squad.

10 years later, Taylor is as embedded in the All Blacks squad as ever, and is likely to become the 14th man to play 100 games for the team when New Zealand take the field tp play the same opponent.

Having spent a large chunk of his international career forming a one-two punch with the recently retired Dane Coles, Taylor has operated as a starter in two-thirds of his All Blacks appearances. His great-great-grandfather, Walter Pringle, was the 30th player to wear the black jersey in 1893.

All Blacks assistant coach Scott Hansen has worked with Taylor at the Crusaders as well as in the All Blacks set up, and expressed nothing short of admiration for the hooker ahead of his potential milestone.

“Let’s talk about the man. Competitor, absolute professional, every day he rocks up to be better. On the side of that, a great, humble New Zealander, a beautiful family man. We’re really proud of Codie,” Hansen said on Sport Nation radio.

“Now, let’s talk about the rugby player. Someone who makes the team better, world-leading in his position, an absolute warrior – we started the conversation today talking about warriors, well, there goes one right there.

“Codie Taylor playing his 100th Test for the All Blacks is a special occasion for him, his family, and everything that he represents. I couldn’t, and we couldn’t, as a group, speak highly enough of Codie. A beautiful man, and an outstanding All Black.”

Long-time broadcaster Scotty Stevenson echoed Hansen’s sentiment, adding: “Everything Codie Taylor does screams professionalism, humility and mana.”

The hooker has succeeded TJ Perenara as kaea (leader) of the All Blacks haka in 2025, signalling his standing in the team, and he’s done so with a new Maripi (weapon/tool) in hand. The new addition to the All Blacks’ haka was explained by New Zealand Rugby as: “the manaia form, the connector between our living world and our ancestors. It brings everyone into the haka with us and binds us to those who came before.”

All Blacks centurions (with total Test caps)

153 – Sam Whitelock
148 – Richie McCaw
137* – Beauden Barrett
132 – Keven Mealamu
127 – Kieran Read
125 – Aaron Smith
118 – Tony Woodcock
112 – Dan Carter
109 – Brodie Retallick
108 – Owen Franks
104 – Sam Cane
103 – Ma’a Nonu
100 – Mils Muliaina

99 – Codie Taylor