{"id":17725,"date":"2026-06-22T13:19:34","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T01:19:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thebuzz.apnanetwork.co.nz\/?p=17725"},"modified":"2026-06-22T13:19:34","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T01:19:34","slug":"all-blacks-squad-four-uncapped-players-in-dave-rennies-first-squad-ardie-savea-named-captain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thebuzz.apnanetwork.co.nz\/?p=17725","title":{"rendered":"All Blacks squad: Four uncapped players in Dave Rennie’s first squad, Ardie Savea named captain"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Fehi Fineanganofo is one of four uncapped players named in\u00a0Dave Rennie’s first squad<\/a>\u00a0as All Blacks coach, the England-bound Hurricanes winger busting down the door after a brilliant season for the Super Rugby champion Hurricanes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Ardie Savea unsurprisingly succeeds the injured Scott Barrett as captain in a squad of 34 for next month’s Nations Championship home tests, starting against France in Christchurch on 4 July.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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World class loose forward Savea is coming fresh off a championship-winning season under Rennie for Kobe Steel in Japan’s League One competition, along with seasoned midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown, who also wins selection.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Kobe<\/div>
Kobe Steelers coach Dave Rennie (L) and Ardie Savea.<\/p>\n

www.photosport.nz<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Fineanganofo and fellow-Hurricanes winger Josh Moorby are both a chance make their test debut in next month’s Nations Championship home matches, starting against France in Christchurch on July 4.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Room has also been found for prop Xavier Numia – a third uncapped player from the Hurricanes – while German-born Blues flanker Anton Segner wins promotion in a highly-contestable loose forward mix.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Fineanganofo’s inclusion is most noteworthy, given in January he signed a two-year contract with English Premiership club Newcastle, set to begin in December.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Players in such circumstance rarely win All Blacks selection but Rennie has made an exception for the 23-year-old former All Blacks Sevens player, who enjoyed a breakout season at the Hurricanes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Fineanganofo and Moorby scored 17 tries each, breaking the competition record for a season as the team from the capital swept all before them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Hurricanes<\/div>
Hurricanes Josh Moorby (L) and Fehi Fineanganofo celebrate a try.<\/p>\n

Kerry Marshall \/ www.photosport.nz<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Media reports have said Rennie has been in talks with Fineanganofo to potentially perform a u-turn on his Newcastle contract, although New Zealand Rugby has said it isn’t involved in such discussions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Rennie has included a handful of players under injury clouds, including Crusaders fullback Will Jordan (calf) and Chiefs flanker Wallace Sititi (concussion), who were unavailable over the closing weeks of Super Rugby.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Chiefs lock Tupou Vaa’i suffered a head knock in his team’s 60-5 Super Rugby final hammering at the hands of the Hurricanes and is a major doubt for the France test.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Uncapped Crusaders lock Jamie Hannah will join the squad as injury cover for Vaa’i when they gather in Auckland on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A New Zealand Rugby statement said four players weren’t considered because of injury – Crusaders trio Scott Barrett (back), Tamaiti Williams (spinal infection) and Leicester Fainga’anuku (leg fracture); and Highlanders lock Fabian Holland (shoulder).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Scott<\/div>
Scott Barrett (L) and Fabian Holland.<\/p>\n

www.photosport.nz<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Among those potentially considered unfortunate to miss out are Highlanders midfield back Timoci Tavatavanawai, Crusaders halfback Noah Hotham, Chiefs prop Ollie Norris and a trio of loose forwards – Du’Plessis Kirifi (Hurricanes), Christian Lio-Willie (Crusaders) and Samipeni Finau (Chiefs).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Segner and Chiefs pair Simon Parker and Luke Jacobson won the nod in a contentious six-man loose forward mix, alongside Savea, Sititi and Peter Lakai.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Hotham is omitted in favour of Preston, the man who has largely replaced him off the bench this year at the Crusaders.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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There was no room for experienced test outside back Rieko Ioane, who ended his sabbatical with Irish province Leinster in impressive fashion, scoring a try in the United Rugby Championship final against South Africa’s Bulls on Sunday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Rising Hurricanes first-five Ruben Love has been included alongside veteran playmakers Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"All<\/div>
All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie at the squad announcement on Monday.<\/p>\n

RNZ \/ Baz Macdonald<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Rennie, promoted to the role after predecessor Scott Robertson was sacked following two seasons in charge, said his first squad reflected the style of rugby he wants to play.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“We are rapt with this squad – players with the ability to bar up to the demands of test footy but also play with optimism and brutality. We look forward to connecting on Wednesday in preparation for three big tests against France, Italy and Ireland,” Rennie said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“Special congratulations must go to our four uncapped players. These men have each had an outstanding Super Rugby season and fully deserve their place in the squad. It will be a massively proud time for their families, friends and teammates.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“Congratulations also to our new All Blacks captain, Ardie Savea, who we know will do an outstanding job of leading this team on and off-field. Ardie is highly respected by his teammates and cares deeply about the black jersey.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Savea said the role was “one of the greatest honours in sport”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Ardie<\/div>
Ardie Savea.<\/p>\n

Kerry Marshall \/ www.photosport.nz<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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“I believe this role is about empowering everyone in the group to be the best that they can be – from the leadership, to the players and wider staff,” he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“A united All Blacks team has the power to unite a nation. And we are going to need all five million Kiwis to get in behind us as we walk towards the challenges that are waiting for us over the next 16 months.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“We pay tribute to those who have gone before us while also acknowledging that the responsibility of writing the next chapter in the All Blacks story lies with us. Let’s get to work.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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All Blacks squad:<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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Outside backs<\/strong>: Leroy Carter, Caleb Clarke, Fehi Fineanganofo, Will Jordan, Josh Moorby<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Midfield<\/strong>: Jordie Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown, Billy Proctor, Quinn Tupaea<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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First fives<\/strong>: Beauden Barrett, Ruben Love, Damian McKenzie<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Halfbacks<\/strong>: Kyle Preston, Cortez Ratima, Cam Roigard<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Loose forwards<\/strong>: Luke Jacobson, Peter Lakai, Simon Parker, Ardie Savea, Anton Segner, Wallace Sititi<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Locks<\/strong>: Sam Darry, Josh Lord, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tupou Vaa’i<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Props<\/strong>: George Bower, Ethan de Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Xavier Numia, Pasilio Tosi<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Hookers<\/strong>: Asafo Aumua, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Codie Taylor<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Nations Championship schedule<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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  • 4 July, vs France, Christchurch<\/li>\n
  • 11 July, vs Italy, Wellington<\/li>\n
  • 18 July, vs Ireland, Auckland<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Source: RNZ<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Fehi Fineanganofo is one of four uncapped players named in\u00a0Dave Rennie’s first squad\u00a0as All Blacks coach, the England-bound Hurricanes winger busting down the door after a brilliant season for the Super Rugby champion Hurricanes. Ardie Savea unsurprisingly succeeds the injured Scott Barrett as captain in a squad of 34 for next month’s Nations Championship home […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":17726,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17725","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebuzz.apnanetwork.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17725","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebuzz.apnanetwork.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebuzz.apnanetwork.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebuzz.apnanetwork.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebuzz.apnanetwork.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17725"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thebuzz.apnanetwork.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17725\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17727,"href":"https:\/\/thebuzz.apnanetwork.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17725\/revisions\/17727"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebuzz.apnanetwork.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/17726"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebuzz.apnanetwork.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17725"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebuzz.apnanetwork.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17725"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebuzz.apnanetwork.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17725"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}