Three Highlanders named in new look Māori All Blacks
The Māori All Blacks have a new captain and 11 uncapped players for two matches against the Japan XV in Tokyo and Scotland in Whangārei.
Hooker Kurt Eklund (Ngāti Kahu) in his first time as Māori All Blacks captain will lead a 29-strong squad that includes new caps, which range from 20-year-old Blues midfielder Xavi Taele, the youngest member of the squad, to 31-year-old Gisborne-born, Taranaki prop Jared Proffit.
Head coach Ross Filipo said 32-year-old Aucklander Eklund was the right fit for captain.
"This team demands a strong leader with mana, and Kurt has shown that quality and more over a long period of time, for the Māori All Blacks, Auckland, Bay of Plenty and the Blues. He has a lot of experience throughout the squad and that will be a strength for what will be two tough matches."
Māori Rugby board member Rob Clark (Waikato, Ngāti Tiipa) said the team and the board had a role in protecting the kaupapa and the identity of Māori rugby.
"Māori rugby is the vehicle we use to express our indigenous identity. It holds the health and wellbeing of our people at the forefront, following in the pathways that have been paved before us and those that will follow. This team allows us to express our kaupapa to the world, to inspire all people and protect the taonga that is rugby in Aotearoa."
The squad has assembled in Auckland to begin their campaign preparations before leaving for Japan on 25 June.
The game againt the Japan XV in Tokyo is on 28 June and Scotland in Whangarei on 5 July. Māori All Blacks squad
(iwi, province, Super Rugby club) * denotes new cap
Props:
Benet Kumeroa (Te Atihaunui a Pāpārangi/Bay of Plenty/Chiefs)
Jared Proffit* (Ngāti Porou/Taranaki/Chiefs)
Pouri Rakete-Stones (Ngāpuhi/Hawke's Bay/Hurricanes)
Kershawl Sykes-Martin* (Ngāti Porou/Tasman/Crusaders)
Mason Tupaea* (Ngaati Tiipa, Ngaati Amaru/Waikato/Blues)
Hookers:
Jacob Devery* (Te Aitanga a Mahaki/Hawke's Bay/Hurricanes)
Kurt Eklund (Ngāti Kahu/Bay of Plenty/Blues)
Locks:
Zach Gallagher* (Te Ātiawa/Canterbury/Hurricanes)
Laghlan McWhannell (Ngāti Kahungunu/Waikato/Blues)
Antonio Shalfoon* (Whakatōhea/Tasman/Crusaders)
Isaia Walker-Leawere (Ngāti Porou/Hawke's Bay/Hurricanes)
Loose forwards:
Nikora Broughton (Ngārauru, Ngāti Ruanui/Bay of Plenty/Highlanders)
Jahrome Brown* (Ngāti Porou/Waikato/Chiefs)
Caleb Delany (Ngāti Tūwharetoa/Wellington/Hurricanes)
Cullen Grace (Ngāti Whakaue/Canterbury/Crusaders)
Te Kamaka Howden (Tūhoe/Manawatū/Highlanders)
Halfbacks:
Kemara Hauiti-Parapara* (Ngāi Tai, Ngāti Porou/Auckland)
Sam Nock (Ngāpuhi/Northland/Blues)
First five-eighths:
Rivez Reihana (Ngāpuhi, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Hine/Northland/Crusaders)
Kaleb Trask (Ngāpuhi/Bay of Plenty/Chiefs)
Midfield:
Corey Evans (Te Aupouri, Ngāti Kahu/Northland/Blues)
Bailyn Sullivan (Ngāti Kahungunu/Waikato/Hurricanes)
Daniel Rona (Te Ātiawa/Taranaki/Chiefs)
Xavi Taele* (Ngāi Tahu/Auckland/Blues)
Gideon Wrampling* (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine/Waikato/Chiefs)
Outside Backs:
Cole Forbes (Ngāti Awa/Bay of Plenty/Blues)
Jonah Lowe (Ngāti Pikiao/Hawke's Bay/Highlanders)
Zarn Sullivan (Ngāti Kahungunu/Hawke's Bay/Blues)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
10 hours ago
- NZ Herald
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson joins Jason Pine live on Newstalk ZB to take listeners' calls
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson is set to join Newstalk ZB's Weekend Sport with Jason Pine to talk about his first squad selection of the year and take listeners calls. It comes after Robertson, about to start his second year in the role, named his first All Blacks squad of 2025 on Monday ahead of the home series against France, beginning next week. Watch above or listen live from 1pm on Newstalk ZB below. Six new faces picked for first squad of 2025 Following a spate of injuries and departures offshore, Robertson has put his faith in six newcomers to face Les Bleus, themselves weakened by an inability to select from their full complement for the tour opener, writes the Herald's Alex Powell. After close to a decade of service at both Super Rugby and NPC level, Hurricanes standout and co-captain Du'Plessis Kirifi has earned his first-call up. The 28-year-old was arguably the form No 7 in this year's competition, and takes the place of Sam Cane – who left Aotearoa for Japan at the end of 2024. His inclusion, though, comes at the expense of Ethan Blackadder, who was overlooked, and after Peter Lakai's injury, with Robertson naming just five specialist loose forwards. The Highlanders have contributed two of the six new players, despite finishing Super Rugby Pacific as the lowest-placed of the New Zealand sides. Versatile back Timoci Tavatavanawai has earned his maiden selection, and provides Robertson with cover in both the midfield and on the wing. The 27-year-old was a clear standout in the early rounds of Super Rugby Pacific, but was unable to steer his side into a playoffs place. Tavatavanawai is one of six midfielders picked in the 35-man squad, but is also an option to cover the wing, with incumbent Mark Tele'a having signed to join Japanese side Toyota Verblitz from next season. Having impressed for both the All Blacks XV and as a development player with the All Blacks, Fabian Holland's rapid rise into Robertson's plans has taken the next step. An injury to Sam Darry, who himself debuted in 2024, means Holland wins his first selection, after only recently qualifying for New Zealand having relocated from the Netherlands. In the front row, the Chiefs make up the rest of the uncapped brigade. Following injury to Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 25-year-old prop Ollie Norris has been called up for the first time and will contest the No 1 jersey with incumbents Ethan de Groot and Tamaiti Williams. Hooker Brodie McAlister, meanwhile, is arguably the squad's one and only bolter. The 28-year-old moved north from the Crusaders to the Chiefs at the start of the season, but largely played back-up to Samisoni Taukei'aho. His inclusion comes with Hurricanes hooker Asafo Aumua sidelined by a hamstring injury, and ahead of Crusaders youngster George Bell, who was selected for the first time and debuted last year. 'Around three-quarters of the players named today were part of our squad for the 2024 northern tour, which is important because we want to continue to build on the rugby we were playing at the end of last year,' Robertson said on Monday. 'We have balanced that with an exciting group of new and returning players who have performed during Super Rugby Pacific. 'For the five uncapped players – Ollie, Brodie, Fabian, Du'Plessis and Timoci – this is a particularly special day. 'These players have all impressed us with their talent and work ethic and have earned their opportunity to be part of this All Blacks squad. 'We know that each of these players possesses the ability to make their mark in the black jersey and we look forward to working with them over the coming weeks.' Elsewhere, Quinn Tupaea returns to the All Blacks for the first time since 2022. The 26-year-old's World Cup dreams were crushed when a reckless tackle by Wallabies lock Darcy Swain left him with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, and forced Tupaea to spend the last two years building back to form. But Tupaea's selection leaves no room for Crusaders captain David Havili, despite leading his side to the Super Rugby Pacific title last week. Meanwhile an ankle injury to loose forward Wallace Sititi has ruled him out of the French series, with the uncapped Christian Lio-Willie called in as his replacement. Sititi was initially named in the 35-man squad on Monday, but the All Blacks announced on Thursday he would require surgery. Blues loose forward Dalton Papali'i replaces Lio-Willie as injury cover for Luke Jacobson, who races to prove his fitness to face France. Chiefs prop George Dyer joined the squad as training cover yesterday.
NZ Herald
a day ago
- NZ Herald
Māori All Blacks v Japan XV live updates
Follow the action as the Māori All Blacks take on the Japan XV in Tokyo. Māori All Blacks side to take on the Japan XV: 1. Jared Proffit 2. Kurt Eklund 3. Kershawl Sykes-Martin 4. Isaia Walker-Leawere 5. Laghlan McWhannell 6. Te Kamaka Howden 7. Jahrome Brown 8. Cullen Grace 9. Sam Nock 10. Rivez Reihana 11. Jonah Lowe 12. Gideon Wrampling 13. Bailyn Sullivan 14. Cole Forbes 15. Zarn Sullivan. Bench: 16. Jacob Devery 17. Pouri Rakete-Stones 18. Benet Kumeroa 19. Zach Gallagher 20. Caleb Delany 21. Kemara Hauiti-Parapara 22. Kaleb Trask 23. Xavi Taele. It's the first of two matches the Māori All Blacks will play, as they also host Scotland in Whangārei next weekend. Head coach Ross Filipo said he had been thoroughly impressed with the players returning to the team environment and those new to the group, remarking on how well they have come together, and focused on the campaign ahead. 'It's a tight turnaround for us with plenty of our players in the Super Rugby Pacific final [last] Saturday night and then coming straight into this environment. Selections were tough, and our coaching group spent quite some time together to make sure we had the right mix to take the field in Tokyo. We are determined to right a wrong from our last game in Aichi in 2024.'
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Support for sporty kids
Athlete development expert Dr Craig Harrison is speaking in Queenstown next week. PHOTO: SUPPLIED An expert in athlete development is returning to Queenstown to help parents of sporty children better understand how to support them. Dr Craig Harrison, a coach, researcher and speaker who specialises in helping young people thrive in sport, is giving a presentation at the Queenstown Events Centre this coming Wednesday. The Aucklander, who gave a similar talk in the resort three years ago, blends real-world experience with the latest research in long-term athletic development, child psychology, and performance to empower parents to play a positive role in their child's sporting journey. Harrison says he aims to help young athletes, their parents and coaches reach a shared understanding of their goals and how to achieve them. "What we can do to support the young person in what they want to achieve, how long that's going to take, and the types of environments that are going to support that." Crucially, their day-to-day experience of their sport needs to be a "valuable, enjoyable, fulfilling process". High-level sport is extremely competitive, and not every young athlete will make it, he says. "Performance is one thing, but we also have to make sure we're looking after their health and wellbeing, and all those skills that flow into other areas of their life." 'The Sporting Parent' with Dr Craig Harrison, Queenstown Events Centre, Wednesday, 6.30pm to 8pm. Tickets $34.05 via eventfinda
