Big calls headline All Blacks' 36-man squad for Nations Championship

All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has named his 36-man squad for the remainder of the Nations Championship, ahead of consecutive Tests against Scotland, Wales, and England, before a finals fixture in London.

Rennie’s side will leave New Zealand on Thursday to prepare for their first Nations Championship assignment since July, when they take on Gregor Townsend’s Scotland at Murrayfield in Edinburgh.

All Black centurion Codie Taylor will lead the squad in the United Kingdom, with Ardie Savea sidelined due to a shoulder injury.

The squad is headlined by the return of Richie Mo’unga from a calf injury, while Crusaders teammates Christian Lio-Willie and Leicester Fainga’aunku are also included.

Mo’unga has recovered from a calf injury that kept him out of both Bledisloe Cup Tests against Australia.

Fainga’anuku features in his first All Blacks squad in 2026, after a strong season with both the Crusaders and Tasman.

Hilux NPC-winning hooker George Bell gets the nod as the side’s third hooker for the tour, with Samisoni Taukei’aho out with a calf injury. Canterbury teammates Jamie Hannah and Chay Fihaki make the 36-man squad, over the likes of Sam Darry and Emoni Narawa respectively.

Highlanders prop Saula Ma’u is selected as the third specialist tighthead prop, and is one of two possible debutants on the tour alongside Josh Jacomb.

Northland and Chiefs loose-forward was unavailable for selection due to personal reasons, allowing Rennie to select Fainga’anuku and Lio-Willie.

All three Barrett brothers are named in the squad heading north, following Scott’s standout return performances against Australia.

And despite a hefty number of injured players left at home, Rennie is pleased with the 36-man squad.

“This is a really strong squad we have selected,” Rennie said.

“It’s great to officially welcome George, Saula, Leicester, Christian, Jamie and Chay back into the squad.

“They have all shown fantastic form during the NPC. We’re also rapt to have eight players who have played a lot of footy for us this year return from injury. They bring a lot of quality and experience to the group.

The All Blacks head coach admits the fixture list is going to be challenging, but is excited to see his squad embrace the challenge in the United Kingdom.

“Playing Scotland, Wales and England on consecutive weekends is a tough assignment. These are all proud rugby nations with passionate home crowds. We will embrace the challenge and the opportunity to build on our Bledisloe Cup performances.

“We have enjoyed fantastic support at home and away this year and acknowledge the thousands of Kiwis who we know will be setting alarms to watch from the other side of the world.”

The squad is as follows (age, Super Rugby club, province, Test caps):

* denotes new Test cap

Forwards (20)

Hookers

Codie Taylor (35 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 114) (Captain)

Asafo Aumua (29 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 27)

George Bell (24 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 4)

Props

Ethan de Groot (28 / Highlanders / Southland / 46)

George Bower (34 / Crusaders / Otago / 31)

Xavier Numia (27 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 6)

Fletcher Newell (26 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 43)

Pasilio Tosi (28 / Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty / 19)

Saula Ma’u* (26 / Highlanders / Otago / 0)

Locks

Scott Barrett (32 / Crusaders / Taranaki / 91)

Josh Lord (25 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 18)

Fabian Holland (24 / Highlanders / Otago / 16)

Jamie Hannah (23 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 1)

Tupou Vaa’i (26 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 53)

Loose Forwards

Anton Segner (25 / Blues / Auckland / 3)

Leicester Fainga’anuku (27 / Crusaders / Tasman / 12)

Ethan Blackadder (31 / Crusaders / Tasman / 15)

Christian Lio-Willie (28 / Crusaders / Otago / 3)

Peter Lakai (23 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 16)

Wallace Sititi (24 / Chiefs / North Harbour / 25

Backs (16)

Halfbacks

Cam Roigard (25 / Hurricanes / Counties Manukau / 26)

Kyle Preston (27 / Crusaders / Wellington / 6)

Cortez Ratima (25 / Chiefs / Waikato / 25)

First Five-Eighths

Richie Mo’unga (32 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 57)

Damian McKenzie (31 / Chiefs / Waikato / 83)

Josh Jacomb* (25 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 0)

Midfielders

Jordie Barrett (29 / Hurricanes / Taranaki / 86)

Quinn Tupaea (27 / Chiefs / Waikato / 31)

Timoci Tavatavanawai (28 / Highlanders / Tasman / 3)

Anton Lienert-Brown (31 / Chiefs / Waikato / 94)

Outside Backs

Rieko Ioane (29 / Blues / Auckland / 91)

Chay Fihaki (25 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 1)

Fehi Fineanganofo (24 / Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty / 1)

Josh Moorby (28 / Hurricanes / Waikato / 7)

Will Jordan (28 / Crusaders / Tasman / 63)

Beauden Barrett (35 / Blues / Taranaki / 147)

Unavailable due to injury: Samisoni Taukei’aho (calf); Shannon Frizell (knee); Tyrel Lomax (neck); Leroy Carter (ankle); Ruben Love (ankle); Ardie Savea (shoulder); Luke Jacobson (elbow); Caleb Clarke (shoulder); Ollie Norris (knee).
Unavailable for personal reasons: Simon Parker.

2026 Nations Championship Northern Series Fixtures (all times listed are NZDT):

• All Blacks v Scotland, 8 November 2026, Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh, 3:10am
• All Blacks v Wales, 15 November 2026, Principality Stadium, Cardiff, 3:10am
• All Blacks v England, 22 November 2026, Allianz Stadium, London, 3:10am