Injury forces All Blacks to update squad one day after naming

The All Blacks have updated their Northern Tour squad just one day after naming it, with veteran lock Patrick Tuipulotu ruled out of the Grand Slam tour with a shoulder injury.

The injury was revealed to be a pre-existing issue that worsened throughout the Rugby Championship, and now requires surgery with an expected recovery timeline of six months. That timeline would see Tuipulotu miss the start of the Blues’ Super Rugby Pacific season as well.

It’s a tough blow for the 32-year-old, who has had an injury-riddled 11-year All Blacks career to date, including a facial fracture picked up in Argentina during the Rugby Championship.

In Tuipulotu’s place comes seven-time All Black Sam Darry, who debuted for the team in 2024. Darry comes into camp off a strong season with Canterbury in the NPC, and was set to be named in the All Blacks XV squad before Tuipulotu’s withdrawal.

Darry will join the All Blacks squad next week, meaning he will be unavailable for the NPC final, should Canterbury reach it.

New Zealand’s second row stocks look much less experienced without Tuipulotu’s presence, since they have also lost starter Tupou Vaa’i for the remainder of the season.

All Blacks captain Scott Barrett (86) is now the lone lock with more than nine Test caps, joined by Fabian Holland (9), Josh Lord (8), and now Darry.

The All Blacks XV squad will carry three locks: Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Josh Beehre, and Isaia Walker-Leawere, one of whom was brought in as a replacement for Darry following his call-up to the top squad.