Beauden Barrett among fourteen All Blacks released for final Hilux NPC round

145-Test All Blacks first-five Beauden Barrett is set to line up for Taranaki for the first time since 2020, when they take on Wellington in the final regular season round of the Hilux NPC competition

Barrett, who played a limited part in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, could start the round ten Hilux NPC clash alongside his brother, Scott, who played his first competitive match in 2026 last weekend against Hawke’s Bay.

The squeeze is on for Dave Rennie’s 34-man Bledisloe Cup squad, which is named on Tuesday. Barrett is up against Ruben Love, Damian McKenzie, Richie Mo’unga, and Josh Jacomb for the squad’s playmaker positions.

Highlanders prop Saula Ma’u will once again pull on the Otago colours on Thursday against Auckland, while Semesi Tupou Ta’eiloa and Simon Parker will line up for their respective sides on Friday night in Invercargill.

Sam Darry will make his first appearance of the season for Canterbury when they travel to take on Manawatu on Saturday afternoon, where George Bell will play his third straight game after returning from a calf injury on Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.

All Blacks halfback Cortez Ratima will lace up for Waikato again against Tasman, after getting through his first game back from a minor knee injury against Wellington on Sunday.

Tasman will continue to have the services of Timoci Tavatavanawai and Noah Hotham. Bay of Plenty will take on North Harbour with Fehi Fineanganofo and Emoni Narawa in their squad, if selected.

All Blacks available for their provinces this week:

Thursday 1 October

Otago v Auckland at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, 7:10pm

Otago: Saula Ma’u

Friday 2 October

Southland v Northland at Invercargill Rugby Park, 7:10pm

Southland: Semisi Ta’eiloa

Northland: Simon Parker

Saturday 3 October

Manawatu v Canterbury at Central Energy Trust Arena, Palmerston North, 2:05pm

Canterbury: Sam Darry; George Bell

Counties Manukau v Hawke’s Bay at Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe, 5:05pm

Waikato v Tasman at FMG Stadium Waikato, 7:10pm

Waikato: Cortez Ratima

Tasman: Noah Hotham; Timoci Tavatavanawai

Sunday 4 October

Taranaki v Wellington at Stadium Taranaki, 2:05pm

Taranaki: Beauden Barrett; Bradley Slater; Josh Jacomb

Wellington: Siale Lauaki

Bay of Plenty v North Harbour at Tauranga Domain, 4:35pm

Bay of Plenty: Emoni Narawa; Fehi Fineanganofo