Laumape joins Aus/NZ combined side to face Lions
All Blacks centre Ngani Laumape, who started the third Test against the British and Irish Lions in 2017, has been named in the combined Australia and New Zealand squad to face the Lions.
The 32-year-old scored the opening try in the third Test against the Lions in 2017 after making his All Blacks debut in their second Test defeat in Wellington.
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Laumape earned his call-up to the Test series after impressing for the Hurricanes in a thrilling warm-up match against the Lions, which ended 31-31.
The hard-running centre, who has been playing for Japanese side Kobelco Steelers, won the last of his 15 caps in 2020.
Laumape has opted to play his rugby outside of New Zealand since 2021, but will join Auckland-based Super Rugby side Moana Pasifika for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
Highly rated Blues prop Josh Fusitua has also been added to the combined Australia and New Zealand squad.
Organisers of the fixture, to be staged at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday, 12 July, have failed with approaches to New Zealand fly-half Richie Mo'unga and former Australia captain Michael Hooper.
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In other news, Wallabies wing Andrew Kellaway has been released back to the NSW Waratahs for their game against the Lions on Saturday, with Corey Toole returning to the ACT Brumbies.
Wider training members Tane Edmed, David Feliuai, Lington Ieli, Ryan Lonergan and Rory Scott have also returned to their Super Rugby clubs.
Last week Australia head coach Joe Schmidt rejected claims from the Lions that he must release all of his biggest stars to their clubs side, saying it would be a "counter-productive" move.
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