All Blacks announce squad for blockbuster northern hemisphere tour

The Northern Tour squad features just one change to the 36-man Rugby Championship squad, with Cam Roigard returning from the knee injury he sustained during the Super Rugby season and creating a halfback selection dilemma for the All Blacks coaches.

"It was fantastic to see Cam in great form for Counties in the weekend and we are excited to have him back in the mix. Fellow halfbacks Cortez Ratima and TJ Perenara showed during the Rugby Championship that they deserve their spots in the squad, and this means Noah Hotham will be included in the All Blacks XV squad to be announced tomorrow, where he will be able to gain some valuable playing time," said Robertson.

"This Northern Tour is an exciting challenge, which will allow us to continue evolving our game and building a style of rugby that creates opportunities against some fierce competition. We have selected a squad that will bring consistency and continuity, while also achieving the right balance of giving newer talent the chance to develop within a team that has valuable experience against these northern hemisphere sides."

In addition to the squad of 36, a small number of players from the All Blacks XV squad will travel to Japan with the All Blacks to help with their preparation and gain additional experience in the All Blacks environment, before joining up with the All Blacks XV squad to play Munster and Georgia in November.  

This will also allow a group of players from the All Blacks squad to travel to England two days earlier to focus on preparation for the Northern Tour test matches.  

The All Blacks squad will depart for Japan on 17 October.

Forwards

Asafo Aumua, Codie Taylor, George Bell, Ethan De Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Tamaiti Williams, Scott Barrett (captain), Tupou Vaa'i, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Darry, Ethan Blackadder, Sam Cane, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papali'i, Ardie Savea (vice Captain), Wallace Sititi

Backs

Cam Roigard, TJ Perenara, Cortez Ratima, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Jordie Barrett (Vice Captain), David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Billy Proctor, Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan, Ruben Love, Stephen Perofeta, Sevu Reece, Mark Tele'a

Fixtures

26 October- All Blacks vs Japan, 6.50PM (NZST), Nissan Stadium, Yokohama

03 November - All Blacks vs England, 4.10AM (NZST), Twickenham Stadium, London

09 November - All Blacks vs Ireland, 9.10AM (NZST), Aviva Stadium, Dublin

17 November - All Blacks vs France, 9.10AM (NZST), Stade de France, Paris

24 November - All Blacks vs Italy, 9.10AM (NZST), Allianz Stadium, Turin 

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