Eight capped players named in All Blacks XV squad

Jamie Joseph and his coaching team have announced the 30-man All Blacks XV squad for the 2025 tour which includes eight capped Test players.

Midfielders David 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.

The squad contains a mix of youth and experience with an average age of 25.

Some of the headline younger talents include Auckland winger Caleb Tangitau, who has been a fan favourite for a call up to the main squad, hooker Jack Taylor and Wellington prop Siale Lauaki.

Missing selection is Otago halfback Dylan Pledger, who has starred in this year’s NPC campaign after featuring for New Zealand U20 earlier this year. Along with Fakatava and Preston, the third halfback picked was Xavier Roe of the Chiefs.

The first five-eighths named are Josh Jacomb and Northland’s Rivez Reihana, who piloted the Crusaders to a Super Rugby Pacific title in the final against the Chiefs.

Emerging Chiefs and Taranaki centre Daniel Rona is the fourth midfielder along with the three capped All Blacks.

The outside backs feature Chay Fihaki, who has trained with the top All Blacks squad over the last year, former sevens flyer Etene Nanai-Seturo, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens along with Tangitau.

“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.”

“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.

The 2025 All Blacks XV squad is: (position, age, Super Rugby club, province)

Hookers
Brodie McAlister (28 / Chiefs / Canterbury)
Jack Taylor (22 / Highlanders / Southland)
Bradley Slater (27 / Chiefs / Taranaki)

Props
George Dyer (25 / Chiefs / Waikato)
Josh Fusitua (24 / Blues / Auckland)
Benet Kumeroa (25 / Chiefs / Bay of Plenty)
Siale Lauaki (22 / Hurricanes / Wellington)
Xavier Numia (26 / Hurricanes / Wellington)

Locks
Naitoa Ah Kuoi (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty)
Josh Beehre (23 / Blues / Auckland)
Isaia Walker-Leawere (28 / Hurricanes / Hawke’s Bay)

Loose forwards
Kaylum Boshier (26 / Chiefs / Taranaki)
Devan Flanders (26 / Hurricanes / Hawke’s Bay)
Te Kamaka Howden (24 / Highlanders / Manawat?)
Christian Lio-Willie (27 / Crusaders / Otago)
Dalton Papali’i (28 / Blues / Counties-Manukau)
Sean Withy (24 / Highlanders / Southland)

Halfbacks
Folau Fakatava (25 / Highlanders / Hawke’s Bay)
Kyle Preston (26 / Crusaders / Wellington)
Xavier Roe (26 /Chiefs / Waikato)

First-fives
Josh Jacomb (24 / Chiefs / Taranaki)
Rivez Reihana (25 / Crusaders / Northland)

Midfielders
Braydon Ennor (28 / Crusaders / Canterbury)
David Havili (30 / Crusaders / Tasman)
Dallas McLeod (26 / Crusaders / Canterbury)
Daniel Rona (25 / Chiefs / Taranaki)

Outside backs
Chay Fihaki (24 / Crusaders / Canterbury)
Etene Nanai-Seturo (26 / Chiefs / Counties-Manukau)
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (24 / Highlanders / Taranaki)
Caleb Tangitau (22 / Highlanders / Auckland)

All Blacks XV 2025 schedule:

Sunday 2 November
All Blacks XV vs Barbarians, Gtech Community Stadium, Brentford, kick-off 2.15am NZT (Saturday 1 November 13:15pm local time).

Sunday 9 November
All Blacks XV vs England A, The Recreational Ground, Bath, kick-off 2.15am NZT (Saturday 8 November, 13:15pm local time).

Sunday 16 November
All Blacks XV v Uruguay, venue and kick off time TBC

The All Blacks XV’s record:

2024
v Georgia, Montpellier, 31-13 – W
v Munster, Limerick, 38-24 – W

2023
v Japan, Tokyo, 41-27 – W
v Japan XV, Kumamoto, 38-6 – W

2022
v Barbarians, London, 31-35 – L
v Ireland A, Dublin, 47-19 – W