Seven All Blacks released: Team lists for NPC quarter-finals

All Blacks Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson and Anton Lienert-Brown headline Waikato’s team for their NPC quarter-final away to Otago, with the trio all named in the run-on side to take on the Ranfurly Shield holders at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

After the final round of The Rugby Championship, seven members of the All Blacks’ squad have returned to their provincial sides, with Waikato benefiting the most. Bay of Plenty, Taranaki and Canterbury have welcomed back at least one All Black each as well.

Finau and Jacobson bolster a Waikato forward pack that already includes former New Zealand U20 backrower Malachi Wrampling at blindside flanker, and 53-game Chiefs tighthead prop George Dyer.

Xavier Roe and Aaron Cruden will link up in the halves, while Lienert-Brown will start alongside Bailyn Sullivan in the midfield. Josh Moorby has been picked on the left wing, with All Blacks Sevens representatives Oli Mathis and Tepaea Cook-Savage completing the outside backs.

Waikato are chasing an upset win over Otago, who finished second on the table with eight wins from their 10 regular-season matches. Otago are on a five-match winning streak, dating back to their last defeat away to Tasman at Trafalgar Park on August 30.

Former All Blacks hooker Liam Coltman starts after recently reaching the 100-game mark for the provincial union. Crusaders and All Blacks No. 8 Christian Lio-Willie has also been named in Otago’s starting forward pack.

Dylan Pledger and Cam Millar will continue their partnership in the halves. Jona Nareki, Thomas Umaga-Jensen and Sam Gilbert are among the backs named in the First XV, while Nathan Hastie and Josh Whaanga will look to provide impact off the bench.

Bay of Plenty have two current All Blacks in their matchday 23, with Tevita Mafileo named on the bench. Pasilio Tosi has been named in the run-on side at tighthead prop, joining Josh Bartlett and Kurt Eklund in the front-row.

Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Lucas Cashmore, Lalomilo Lalomilo and Cole Forbes have also been selected in the Steamers’ First XV. All Blacks Sevens representatives Fehi Fineanganofo and Ngarohi McGarvey-Black add some x-factor to the 23-player squad as well.

Tasman Mako captain David Havili will start at fullback, while William Havili steers the team around the park at first five-eighth. Jay Renton, Macca Springer, Levi Aumua, Cooper Roberts and Kyren Taumoefolau are the other starting backs.

These two sides met in the opening round of the season on August 3, with the Bay winning that encounter 37-7. Eklund and Forbes scored a try each for the Steamers, who went on to finish the regular season in third.

In the third quarter-final of the 2025 NPC season, Jacob Devery captains fourth-place Hawke’s Bay against fifth-place Taranaki. The Magpies finished with a slightly better record of 7-3, one win more than their quarter-final rivals.

Devery leads a Hawke’s Bay side that also includes Devan Flanders in the pack, and the likes of Folau Fakatava and Zarn Sullivan in the backs. No current All Blacks have been released to play for Hawke’s Bay in this quarter-final.

Towering All Black Josh Lord has been named at No. 5 lock for Taranaki. Josh Jacomb lines up at first five-eighth – fresh off signing a future deal with the Highlanders in Super Rugby Pacific – with an All-Star calibre backline outside him.

Taniela Rakuro will wear the No. 11 jersey as the team’s left winger, with Chiefs star Daniel Rona at outside centre, and Highlanders playmaker Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens at fullback.

In the last quarter-final, All Blacks Sevens veteran Andrew Knewstubb starts at first five-eighth for Canterbury against Counties Manukau. Tom Christie will captain a side that also includes George Bell, Dom Gardiner, Dallas McLeod, Braydon Ennor and Chay Fihaki in the 1^st XV.

All Black Brodie McAlister is also in the team, named to come off the pine.

Jimmy Tupou will lead Counties out onto the field at Christchurch’s Apollo Projects Stadium, with Dalton Papali’i and Etene Nanai-Seturo both among the starters.

Otago vs Waikato

Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin. Friday, 7.10 pm

Otago: 1. Abraham Pole, 2. Liam Coltman, 3. Rohan Wingham, 4. Will Tucker, 5. Joseva Tamani, 6. Will Stodart, 7. Lucas Casey, 8. Christian Lio-Willie, 9. Dylan Pledger, 10. Cameron Millar, 11. Jona Nareki, 12. Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 13. Josh Timu, 14. Jae Broomfield, 15. Sam Gilbert, 16. A-One Lolofie, 17. Benjamin Lopas, 18. Moana Takataka, 19. Oliver Haig, 20. Harry Taylor, 21. Nathan Hastie, 22. Josh Whaanga, 23. Sam Neeme-Vial

Waikato: 1. Mason Tupaea, 2. Manaaki Boyle-Tiatia, 3. George Dyer, 4. James Tucker, 5. Samipeni Finau, 6. Malachi Wrampling, 7. Mitch Jacobson, 8. Luke Jacobson, 9. Xavier Roe, 10. Aaron Cruden, 11. Joshua Moorby, 12. Anton Lienert-Brown, 13. Bailyn Sullivan, 14. Oli Mathis, 15. Tepaea Cook-Savage, 16. Sean Ralph, 17. Taipari Quinn, 18. Sefo Kautai, 19. Hamilton Burr, 20. Senita Lauaki, 21. Charlie Marsh, 22. Aki Tuivailala, 23. Liam Coombes Fabling

Bay of Plenty vs Tasman Mako

Tauranga Domain, Tauranga. Saturday, 4.10 pm

Bay of Plenty: 1. Josh Bartlett, 2. Kurt Eklund, 3. Pasilio Tosi, 4. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 5. Aisake Vakasiuola, 6. Jacob Norris, 7. Veveni Lasaqa, 8. Nikora Broughton, 9. Charlie Sinton, 10. Lucas Cashmore, 11. Fehi Fineanganofo, 12. Seamus Bardoul, 13. Lalomilo Lalomilo, 14. Kele Lasaqa, 15. Cole Forbes, 16. Taine Kolose, 17. Haereiti Hetet, 18. Tevita Mafileo, 19. Semisi Paea, 20. Joe Johnston, 21. Richard Judd, 22. Reon Paul, 23. Ngarohi McGarvey-Black

Tasman: 1. Ryan Coxon, 2. Tomasi Maka, 3. Sam Matenga, 4. Antonio Shalfoon, 5. Lopeti Faifua, 6. Tayne Hemopo, 7. Sione Havili Talitui, 8. Fletcher Anderson, 9. Jay Renton, 10. William Havili, 11. Macca Springer, 12. Levi Aumua, 13. Cooper Roberts, 14. Kyren Taumoefolau, 15. David Havili (C), 16. Samuela Moli, 17. Lavengamonu Moli, 18. Quinn Harrison Jones, 19. Joseph Domoni, 20. Tone Ng Shiu, 21. Wil Thornalley, 22. Maloni Kunavave, 23. Jack Gray

Hawke’s Bay vs Taranaki

McLean Park, Napier. Saturday, 7.10 pm

Hawke’s Bay: 1. Pouri Rakete-Stones, 2. Jacob Devery, 3. Joe Apikotoa, 4. Geoff Cridge, 5. Tom Parsons (C), 6. Miracle Fai’ilagi, 7. Sam Smith, 8. Devan Flanders, 9. Folau Fakatava, 10. Lincoln McClutchie, 11. Neria Fomai, 12. Le Roux Malan, 13. Nick Grigg, 14. Jonah Lowe, 15. Zarn Sullivan, 16. Kianu Kereru-Symes, 17. Hadlee Hay-Horton, 18. Manahi Goulton, 19. Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20. Frank Lochore, 21. Ereatara Enari, 22. Anaru Paenga-Morgan, 23. Andrew Tauatevalu

Taranaki: 1. Jared Proffit, 2. Bradley Slater, 3. Reuben O’Neill, 4. Fiti Sa, 5. Josh Lord, 6. Hemopo Cunningham, 7. Michael Loft, 8. Arese Poliko, 9. Logan Crowley, 10. Josh Jacomb, 11. Taniela Rakuro, 12. Meihana Grindlay, 13. Daniel Rona, 14. Adam Lennox, 15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 16. JJ Pokai, 17. Perry Lawrence, 18. Marika Parker, 19. Jesse Parete, 20. Olly Lawson, 21. Ben Dufficy, 22. Brayton Northcott-Hill, 23. Vereniki Tikoisolomone

Canterbury vs Counties Manukau

Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch. Sunday, 2.10 pm

Canterbury: 1. Finlay Brewis, 2. George Bell, 3. Seb Calder, 4. Liam Jack, 5. Jamie Hannah, 6. Zach Gallagher, 7. Tom Christie (C), 8. Dom Gardiner, 9. Tyson Belworthy, 10. Andrew Knewstubb, 11. Ngatungane Punivai, 12. Dallas McLeod, 13. Braydon Ennor, 14. Manasa Mataele, 15. Chay Fihaki, 16. Brodie McAlister, 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18. Darcy Breen, 19. Sam Darry, 20. Torian Barnes, 21. Luke Chapman, 22. James White, 23. Jone Rova

Counties Manukau: 1. Thomas Polo, 2. Ioane Moananu, 3. Keran Van Staden, 4. Leo Ngatai-Tafau, 5. Jimmy Tupou, 6. Cameron Church, 7. Adam Brash, 8. Dalton Papali’i, 9. Cohen Brady-Leathem, 10. AJ Alatimu, 11. Peniasi Malimali, 12. Gibson Popoali’i, 13. Tevita Ofa, 14. Joshua Gray, 15. Etene Nanai-Seturo, 16. Zuriel Togiatama, 17. Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 18. Siate Taupaki, 19. William Furniss, 20. Alamanda Motuga, 21. Sam Wye, 22. Sione Molia, 23. Simon-Peter Toleafoa