Ruben Love joins four newbies in All Blacks XV squad update

Injuries in both of New Zealand’s current touring teams have resulted in a bevy of changes ahead of the All Blacks XV’s opening game against Munster this weekend.

The development squad was initially slated to include Super Rugby Pacific MVP Hoskins Sotutu and fellow former All Black Emoni Narawa. The team have since confirmed both players are injured and therefore unavailable.

Recent Test debutant Ruben Love will join the team in search of more minutes following his impressive two-try All Blacks debut against Japan in Tokyo over the weekend.

Ardie Savea speaks to the press ahead of England Test

Interview with New Zealand rugby captain Ardie Savea ahead of their match against England at Twickenham on November 2. [via New Zealand Rugby]

Ardie Savea speaks to the press ahead of England Test

Interview with New Zealand rugby captain Ardie Savea ahead of their match against England at Twickenham on November 2. [via New Zealand Rugby]

It was recently revealed that due to the injuries of All Blacks loose forward trio Dalton Papali’i, Ethan Blackadder and Luke Jacobson, the latter of whom is now set to miss the tour entirely, All Blacks XV selections Peter Lakai, Josh Lord and Christian Lio-Willie would join the top squad as injury replacements.

With the haul of departures and injuries, All Blacks selectors have called in reinforcements for the development side.

Corey Kellow (Crusaders), Devan Flanders (Hurricanes), Caleb Delaney (Hurricanes) and Simon Parker (Chiefs) are the new faces en route to Ireland.

Ruben Love joins six All Blacks XV players who trained with the All Blacks over the Japan week in rejoining the development squad, having previously impressed in the team’s inaugural tour in 2022.

“We are keen to keep the momentum going for Ruben, following his impressive All Blacks debut against Japan,” All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson said of the decision.

“This is one of the benefits of having both teams in the Northern Hemisphere at the same time; it creates more opportunities for a greater number of players to gain international experience and valuable game time.”

Updated All Blacks XV 2024 squad (Age / Super Rugby Club / Province)

Forwards (17)
Naitoa Ah Kuoi (25 / Chiefs / Bay of Plenty)
George Bower (32 / Crusaders / Otago)*
Caleb Delaney (24 / Hurricanes / Wellington)**
George Dyer (24/ Chiefs / Waikato)
Kurt Eklund (32 / Blues / Bay of Plenty)
Devan Flanders (25 / Hurricanes / Hawke’s Bay)**
Oliver Haig (22 / Highlanders / Otago)*
Fabian Holland (21 / Highlanders / Otago)*
Corey Kellow (23 / Crusaders / Canterbury)**
Du’Plessis Kirifi (27 / Hurricanes / Wellington)
Saula Ma’u (24 / Highlanders / Otago)
Brodie McAlister (27 / Crusaders / Canterbury)
Xavier Numia (25 / Hurricanes / Wellington)
Simon Parker (24 / Chiefs / Northland)**
Marcel Renata (30 / Blues / Auckland)
Bradley Slater (26 / Chiefs / Taranaki)*
Isaia Walker-Leawere (27 / Hurricanes / Hawke’s Bay)

Backs (12)
Finlay Christie (29 / Blues / Tasman)
Chay Fihaki (23 / Crusaders / Canterbury)
Riley Higgins (22 / Hurricanes / Wellington)
Noah Hotham (21 / Crusaders / Tasman)
Josh Jacomb (23 / Chiefs / Taranaki)
AJ Lam (26 / Blues / Auckland)*
Ruben Love (23 / Hurricanes / Wellington)
Dallas McLeod (25 / Crusaders / Canterbury)
Kiniviliame Naholo (25 / Hurricanes / Taranaki)
Harry Plummer (26 / Blues / Auckland)*
Shaun Stevenson (27 / Chiefs / North Harbour)
Quinn Tupaea (25 / Chiefs / Waikato)

*Travelled with All Blacks to Japan, re-joined All Blacks XV
**New All Blacks XV player named

The upcoming fixtures for the All Blacks XV are as follows:

Sunday 3 November – All Blacks XV v Munster, 6.30AM NZDT, Thomond Park Limerick, Ireland

Monday 11 November – All Blacks XV v Georgia, 2.00AM NZDT, GGL Stadium, Montpellier, France