Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Clayton McMillan’s key update on NPC Final before All Blacks XV's tour

Du'Plessis Kirifi of Wellington leads the team out for the round one Bunnings Warehouse NPC match between Auckland and Wellington at Eden Park, on August 09, 2024, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Dave Rowland/Getty Images)

All Blacks XV head coach Clayton McMillan insists those selected in the representative squad will still be available for the biggest game in provincial rugby before heading offshore. The 29-man squad was announced this week ahead of matches against Munster and Georgia in November.

ADVERTISEMENT

New Zealand’s famed NPC has reached the knockout rounds of its season, with Wellington Lions beating Counties Manukau 29-14 in the first quarter-final on Friday evening. Du’Plessis Kirifi and Riley Higgins were among the standouts for the Lions at Sky Stadium.

Higgins linked up with Asafo Aumua to score the opener just six minutes into the contest, and captain Kirifi was the next man to cross for a five-pointer in the 21st minute. That set the tone for what ended up being a solid win for the table-topping Wellingtonians.

While the Lions still need to win one more match to make the big dance, fans can take a collective sigh of relief in knowing that some of their best will be available should they qualify – and that goes for any side that makes it to the 2024 NPC Final.

It’s been reported that most of that squad will leave New Zealand for Ireland on the 26th of October, which is the same day as the NPC decider. But coach McMillan has confirmed that All Blacks XV players will likely be allowed to represent their province in the Final.

“There is every intent to try to keep those that are still playing in the finals selected in the All Blacks XV to continue playing for their teams,” McMillan told SENZ’s The Run Home.

“I guess the only caveat is if any of them are required to go away with the All Blacks, that might be a different case.

ADVERTISEMENT

“But I’m pretty sure from our discussions that there is certainly an appetite to make sure that we protect the integrity of the NPC by anyone in the AB XV that is still playing in finals, being able to play in finals.”

There are 10 players with Test-level experience in this squad. George Bower, Josh Lord and Hoskins Sotutu are the three capped All Blacks in the group, while the other seven include backline superstars such as Emoni Narawa, Shaun Stevenson and Harry Plummer.

Related

McMillan, along with assistant coaches Cory Jane, Jamie Mackintosh and David Hill, with lead the side in matches against Munster at Thomond Park and later Georgia at Montpellier’s GGL Stadium on November 11.

“There’s a lot of good players,” McMillan said. “Just excited to get back out on the grass again, Kirsty, and it’s an exciting young group – a couple of old dogs in there just to give us good balance.

ADVERTISEMENT

“There’s some really tough games up in the north so a lot to get excited about.”

Watch the highly acclaimed five-part documentary Chasing the Sun 2, chronicling the journey of the Springboks as they strive to successfully defend the Rugby World Cup, free on RugbyPass TV (*unavailable in Africa)

ADVERTISEMENT

Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

Argentina v France | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Men's Match Highlights

New Zealand v Australia | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Women's Match Highlights

Tokyo Sungoliath vs Shizuoka BlueRevs | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Reds vs Force | Super Rugby W 2025 | Full Match Replay

The Rise of Kenya | The Report

New Zealand in Hong Kong | Brady Rush | Sevens Wonders | Episode 4

The Fixture: How This Rugby Rivalry Has Lasted 59 Years

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

2 Comments
B
BM 172 days ago

THANK YOU CLAYTON FOR THE NPC UPDATE. However now that Taranaki (2) has lost to Waikato ( 7) in third quarterfinal there are no rules for who plays who in SEMIS? I did read last year that should a lower seeded team beat a higher seed as happened for Waikato tonight that they have to play top seed Wellington Lions(1) in the semis instead of BOP. Should Tasman(3) beat Canterbury (8) in the fourth quarterfinal tomorrow then they play BOP (4) in second semi next week in Tasman. however should Canterbury beat Tasman then semis would be Canterbury(8) playing W Lions (1) in first semi as highest seedings alway get home advantage. I BELIEVE THAT is confused but RIGHT if any one can confirm. GL all to aim for final BIG KUDOS!

B
BM 172 days ago

Dreaming of a second NPC title in three years for WELLINGTON LIONS as Clayton McMillan says all blacks concerned will still be here!

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

P
Patrickhill300 42 minutes ago
Can 'great' Gibson-Park best 'freakish' Dupont in scrum-half clash for the ages?

Learn how to recover lost or stolen cryptocurrency with thorough methods and professional advice. This procedure entails comprehending the complexities of blockchain technology, seeing possible weaknesses, and using cutting-edge recovery methods. You may improve the security of your digital assets by learning about the different techniques that hackers employ. Furthermore, using expert recovery tools and services can greatly improve your chances of recovering cryptocurrency that has been lost or stolen. To protect your investments in the constantly changing world of digital currencies, be proactive and knowledgeable. My name is Patrick Hills, and I would like to talk about how I became a victim of a fraudulent investment scheme nine weeks ago. I couldn't resist the allure of this company's claim to double my income in two weeks. However, the company turned out to be fraudulent, thus I ended up in the wrong hands. They requested more money when I tried to withdraw my alleged earnings after the allotted time. When I learned I had lost everything I had invested, it was a sad time. I started learning how to recover cryptocurrency that has been lost or stolen. In my frustration and desperation, I turned to the internet, hoping to find a solution or at least some guidance. During my search, I stumbled upon numerous reviews praising Wizard James for his expertise in helping people recover lost cryptocurrency. Intrigued and hopeful, I reached out to him for assistance.  In addition to recovering my stolen Bitcoin, Wizard James Recovery spent time teaching me Java coding. I now possess the knowledge necessary to better defend myself against scams of this nature in the future thanks to my newfound ability. Wizard James Recovery has given me greater security and knowledge about protecting my digital assets.Do not hesitate to get in touch with Wizard James Recovery if you need assistance recovering your stolen cryptocurrencies in a similar circumstance. His knowledge and advice can be quite helpful in getting back what you've lost and giving you the means to avoid losing it again.In conclusion, retrieving lost or stolen cryptocurrency calls for a trifecta of resources, awareness, and diligence. You may better safeguard your digital assets by being aware of potential dangers and comprehending the intricacies of blockchain technology. Asking professionals like Wizard James for help Your chances of recovering and gaining useful talents to stop losses in the future can both be greatly increased with Wizard James Recovery. To protect your interests in the ever-changing world of digital currencies, remain knowledgeable, proactive, and armed with the required resources. Reach them at WIZARDJAMESRECOVERY@USA.COM right now. 

8 Go to comments
P
Patrickhill300 59 minutes ago
Mixed Wales update on availability of Josh Adams, Gareth Anscombe

Learn how to recover lost or stolen cryptocurrency with thorough methods and professional advice. This procedure entails comprehending the complexities of blockchain technology, seeing possible weaknesses, and using cutting-edge recovery methods. You may improve the security of your digital assets by learning about the different techniques that hackers employ. Furthermore, using expert recovery tools and services can greatly improve your chances of recovering cryptocurrency that has been lost or stolen. To protect your investments in the constantly changing world of digital currencies, be proactive and knowledgeable. My name is Patrick Hills, and I would like to talk about how I became a victim of a fraudulent investment scheme nine weeks ago. I couldn't resist the allure of this company's claim to double my income in two weeks. However, the company turned out to be fraudulent, thus I ended up in the wrong hands. They requested more money when I tried to withdraw my alleged earnings after the allotted time. When I learned I had lost everything I had invested, it was a sad time. I started learning how to recover cryptocurrency that has been lost or stolen. In my frustration and desperation, I turned to the internet, hoping to find a solution or at least some guidance. During my search, I stumbled upon numerous reviews praising Wizard James for his expertise in helping people recover lost cryptocurrency. Intrigued and hopeful, I reached out to him for assistance.  In addition to recovering my stolen Bitcoin, Wizard James Recovery spent time teaching me Java coding. I now possess the knowledge necessary to better defend myself against scams of this nature in the future thanks to my newfound ability. Wizard James Recovery has given me greater security and knowledge about protecting my digital assets.Do not hesitate to get in touch with Wizard James Recovery if you need assistance recovering your stolen cryptocurrencies in a similar circumstance. His knowledge and advice can be quite helpful in getting back what you've lost and giving you the means to avoid losing it again.In conclusion, retrieving lost or stolen cryptocurrency calls for a trifecta of resources, awareness, and diligence. You may better safeguard your digital assets by being aware of potential dangers and comprehending the intricacies of blockchain technology. Asking professionals like Wizard James for help Your chances of recovering and gaining useful talents to stop losses in the future can both be greatly increased with Wizard James Recovery. To protect your interests in the ever-changing world of digital currencies, remain knowledgeable, proactive, and armed with the required resources. Reach them at WIZARDJAMESRECOVERY@USA.COM right now. 

4 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
'I'm really disappointed': Former All Blacks disagree with Anzac Test outcome

Well obviously NZR is not beholden to revenue then Marshall.


And it simply never was a revenue issue. The AFL and NRL milk the ANZACs deaths and sacrifice for their own personal gain, they did not make their decisions based on “the rugby”, it’s all about taking over the day for the financial benefit. Why would NZR want to be a apart of that? We know RA would, but more than ever they are driven by the bottom line, and not the values that will be the factor in NZRs decision.


So you need to get outside you bubble Tim Horan and think about reality. First, did Australians need something to do on ANZAC day (assuming it was for the weekend celebration day proposal) or have they been brainwashed into disconnecting with their mates and connecting with the TV. What purpose does it provide other than financially essentially? Then ask yourself that same question for the communities out side of that, through Aus and then into NZ and around the pacific, world even.


We don’t need your shortshighted aussie brain calling out NZR thanks.


NZR also doesn’t want to destroy a good thing that is SRs revival amongst wider entertainment enjoyer base, and having a SR break/interruption was a big driver towards fans turning off previously. You’d have to wait at least a few years before they feel comfortable in disrupting that again. Actually having it at the beggining of 2027, World Cup year in Australia, might actually be the most sensible thing (though I actually really like Utiku’s idea). It would both drum up support and get the spotlight on rugby early in the season, helping anticipation/buildup for the big event, and more importantly, give the sides an extra game that year to get things right for a tilt at thge trophy.

10 Go to comments
T
THE HACK ANGELS RECOVERY EXPERT 3 hours ago
English rugby pundits and fans really need to get a grip

RECOVER YOUR STOLEN BITCOIN / USDT OR MONEY LOST TO SCAMMERSThis is to notify anyone looking to reclaim his\her bitcoin lost to   scammers. For a successful recovery procedure, I advise you to get in touch with THE HACK ANGELS RECOVERY EXPERT. They are the best in recovery of lost funds. They have a background in cybersecurity and have obtained licenses and certifications that have equipped them with the necessary skills to recover lost funds. Everyone should be careful and stop being deceived by all these online scammers? I lost about $985,000 to these online scammersThis made me very unhappy and upset. I had no idea what to do. A friend recommended me to a recovery expert called THE HACK ANGELS RECOVERY EXPERT. After a few hours of working with them, I was shocked to learn that they had recovered all of my stolen  bitcoin in just 48 hours. I said that I will not hold this to myself but share it to the public so that all scammed victims can get their funds back. I advise everyone seeking to recover their lost bitcoin wallet, any online scam. Reach out to THE HACK ANGELS RECOVERY EXPERT. I am so happy to get my funds back and to share the good news to whom it may concern. I can't keep but share this information particularly to anyone else in a similar situation who wants to recover lost assets. Contact inform:  WhatsApp +1(520)200-2320 ) or shoot them an Email at (support@thehackangels.com) They also have a great Website at (www.thehackangels.com

6 Go to comments
T
THE HACK ANGELS RECOVERY EXPERT 3 hours ago
Duhan van der Merwe's Lions tour thrown into doubt

RECOVER YOUR STOLEN BITCOIN / USDT OR MONEY LOST TO SCAMMERSThis is to notify anyone looking to reclaim his\her bitcoin lost to   scammers. For a successful recovery procedure, I advise you to get in touch with THE HACK ANGELS RECOVERY EXPERT. They are the best in recovery of lost funds. They have a background in cybersecurity and have obtained licenses and certifications that have equipped them with the necessary skills to recover lost funds. Everyone should be careful and stop being deceived by all these online scammers? I lost about $985,000 to these online scammersThis made me very unhappy and upset. I had no idea what to do. A friend recommended me to a recovery expert called THE HACK ANGELS RECOVERY EXPERT. After a few hours of working with them, I was shocked to learn that they had recovered all of my stolen  bitcoin in just 48 hours. I said that I will not hold this to myself but share it to the public so that all scammed victims can get their funds back. I advise everyone seeking to recover their lost bitcoin wallet, any online scam. Reach out to THE HACK ANGELS RECOVERY EXPERT. I am so happy to get my funds back and to share the good news to whom it may concern. I can't keep but share this information particularly to anyone else in a similar situation who wants to recover lost assets. Contact inform:  WhatsApp +1(520)200-2320 ) or shoot them an Email at (support@thehackangels.com) They also have a great Website at (www.thehackangels.com

1 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Why NZR's Ineos settlement maybe the most important victory they'll enjoy this year Why NZR's Ineos settlement maybe the most important victory they'll enjoy this year
Search