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International

Breakdown panel questions eligibility rule for returning All Blacks

Henry Lee

Published: 46 days ago | 12 April 2026 16:30 America/Los_Angeles
Updated: 46 days ago | 12 April 2026 22:11 America/Los_Angeles

Shannon Frizell and Richie Mo’unga of New Zealand react during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 semi-final match between Argentina and New Zealand at Stade de France on October 20, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Franco Arland/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

Both Shannon Frizell and Richie Mo’unga are heading home in 2026, returning to New Zealand Rugby ahead of the Rugby World Cup in 2027.

However, under the current eligibility rules at New Zealand Rugby, both players will need to play in the 2026 Bunnings NPC competition for their respective provinces before being selectable for the end-of-year tour later in the year.

Unless a rule change is confirmed, new All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie and his coaching staff will be without the services of the two experienced campaigners for the historic Greatest Rivalry Tour to South Africa.

It wouldn’t surprise many if NZR were to allow the players to be selected for South Africa, after allowing Leicester Faa’ianganuku to be picked in 2025, while the Black Ferns have also recently been granted permission to select a number of PWR players due to injuries.

On Sky Sport, three former All Blacks have discussed whether it would be beneficial for Rennie to have these two players in the mix for the important tour.

“For me, this is about we’ve signed them for one reason, and that’s to improve the performance of the All Blacks,” former All Black Jeff Wilson said.

“Now, how they do that and when they do that should be as soon as possible, and playing an arbitrary 40 minutes of NPC rugby does not help you get ready to play for the All Blacks.

VIDEO

“So for me, I look at it as soon as they are fit and available, and in New Zealand, they need to be involved with the All Blacks, whether it be in the squad to go to South Africa or sitting outside in preparation in the middle of the year, in July.”

Current Auckland NPC head coach and former All Black Steven Bates agrees, adding that if New Zealand want to be better as a rugby nation, this decision is a no brainer.

“They’ve come home for a reason and they’ve come home to make us better,” Bates said on The Breakdown..

“Do we want to be better as a rugby nation? I think the answer is yes. Rennie or the powers that be have decided these two people make us better. So chuck them in there and get us better.”

For the Greatest Rivalry tour specifically, the All Blacks will take on three South African franchises before the start of the four-Test series, while playing the last of the domestic sides between the first and second Test.

The All Blacks squad will likely feature 40 or more players, which is why Wilson believes you need players like Frizell and Mo’unga to add experience to the group.

“You’ve got to remember, that there are midweek games and there are games against provincial teams to start the South African trip, and I think it’s really important.

“You’ve got 18 months, we’ve got these young players who’ve had an opportunity recently, but if they’re going to go through for the next 18 months, if you lose someone young, I’d like to replace someone with experience.

“Richie Mo’unga has played 56 tests, Frizzell 33, Findlay Christie’s played 28, Rieko Ioane’s played 88, now he might not be in your starting team for the All Blacks right now, but the value he will have in a 40 odd man team to South Africa will be huge, because you don’t want to drop any games as you build.

“Anton Lienert-Brown, 88, he’s coming back into the fold. All of these guys may not be in your starting team, but massive for the for the culture and the group as a whole.”

Comments

10 Comments

B 45 days ago

Dave Rennie is focused on Japan Rugby League One while his staff in NZ are doing likewise with SRPacific.

If any of the probable AB’s players being looked at aren't physically, mentally fit, healthy, injury free and performing, the possible fringe players will get their chance..

Reputation counts for nothing in going forward and not delivering…

PickOllieMathisOrKeepLosing,Rob. 45 days ago

I haven’t been watching the Japanese comp, but rest assured if those players are good enough they will get picked for the South African tour. No way NZ will apply a rule they made up themselves that hurts the ABs chances.

Long view be damned.

Blackmania 46 days ago

If you bring Mo’unga and Frizell back home, it’s not to have them play in the NPC… nobody cares. They obviously need to be made eligible for the July tests and in South Africa. It’s just common sense.

JW 45 days ago

They’ve been brought back for the WC, if it was anything else they’d obviously have been made elligible for it?

Is it short sighted? I believe so, this July and SA tour are no ordinary fixtures and an exception can be made. Have they? No.

Hammer Head 46 days ago

Lots of no brainers. But what’s not a no-brainer is this test in Baltimore.

Completely unnecessary.

How can we campaign to get it scrapped!?

Bazzallina 46 days ago

33 player squad for July?( with the 4 odd training squad guys) those tests should be from what we have, 40 odd for the “ tour” or will it be closer to 50? ( it should be imo) does that mean 4 10s and 4 9s? Richie M seems a no brainer to me but with Shannon feel like I need to see something or if we see nothing from the other “ big” 6 candidates if Guzzler say signs up again I would have him in the Richie category even tho I think our lock depth is good atm it’s highly unlikely sll of those guys will be fit come time for SA

JW 45 days ago

Not about what we see lol It does change the game that the key selectors (now) have actually been based in the same place as these Japanese guys, so it gives a lot more credence to being able to over rule the “form” requirement of playing NPC.

It’s just whether they can justifiably say theyre better than those playing in Super.

JW 46 days ago

“For me, this is about we’ve signed them for one reason, and that’s to improve the performance of the All Blacks,” former All Black Jeff Wilson said.

“Now, how they do that and when they do that should be as soon as possible, and playing an arbitrary 40 minutes of NPC rugby does not help you get ready to play for the All Blacks.

Unusual for Wilson to be so off and inaccurate in his statements. He understands the position of leadership he has within the industry, and this is poor form.

The players have obviously been signed for the RWC. To improve their chances of winning there.

The arbitrary 40 mins has been abolished long ago, that has been replaced by loyalty and commitment (ie agreeing to more than a 18month contract) factors instead. You can go straight back in now.

New players, and in this case returning All Blacks, still have some arbitrary return to play time frame, but it is closer to a month, with there elgibility not openining up until October (I’m unsure if this is a form requirement, or if they can even be selected without playing when returning from injury).

And of course theres the aspect that what Wilson is concerned with is the immediate future, where these rules are obviously in place for the long term benefit of the game.

SB 46 days ago

I think giving different players an opportunity in July is a good idea but for the South African tour, the best possible squad should be selected.

Bruiser 46 days ago

No Brainer

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