All Blacks XV bolster squad ahead of Northern Tour
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The All Blacks XV have called in an additional six players to join the squad, ahead of their inaugural Northern Tour against Ireland A (4 November) and Barbarians (13 November).
Cortez Ratima, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Shaun Stevenson, Josh Ioane, Tevita Mafileo and Tyrone Thompson will join the All Blacks XV in Auckland tomorrow morning. Replacing injured players and covering those called in to join the All Blacks.
The updated 25-strong All Blacks XV squad is as follows (age, Super Rugby club, province):
Forwards:
Props
Finlay Brewis (22, Crusaders / Canterbury)
Pouri Rakete-Stones (25, Hurricanes / Hawke's Bay)
Aidan Ross (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty)
Tamaiti Williams (22, Crusaders / Canterbury)
Tevita Mafileo (24, Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty)
Hookers
Brodie McAlister (25, Crusaders / Canterbury)
Tyrone Thompson (22, Chiefs / Hawke's Bay)
Locks
Josh Dickson (27, Highlanders / Otago)
Zach Gallagher (21, Crusaders / Canterbury)
Loose Forwards
Dominic Gardiner (21, Crusaders / Canterbury)
Billy Harmon (27, Highlanders / Canterbury)
Luke Jacobson (25, Chiefs / Waikato)
Christian Lio-Willie (24, Crusaders / Otago)
Marino Mikaele-Tu'u (24, Highlanders / Hawke's Bay)
Backs:
Halfbacks
TJ Perenara (30, Hurricanes / Wellington)
Cortez Ratima (21, Chiefs / Waikato)
Cam Roigard (21, Hurricanes / Counties Manukau)
First five-eighths
Josh Ioane (27, Chiefs / Otago)
Midfielders
Levi Aumua (28, Moana Pasifika / Tasman)
Bryce Heem (33, Blues / Auckland)
Alex Nankivell (26, Chiefs / Tasman)
Bailyn Sullivan (24, Hurricanes / Waikato)
Outside backs
AJ Lam (24, Blues / Auckland)
Ruben Love (21, Hurricanes / Wellington)
Shaun Stevenson (25, Chiefs / North Harbour)
Unavailable due to injury: George Bell, Bryn Gatland, Oli Jager and Angus Ta’avao
Asafo Aumua, Damian McKenzie, Mark Telea, Patrick Tuipulotu and Brad Weber have been called up from the All Blacks XV to join the All Blacks as a result of forced personnel changes. These players may re-join the All Blacks XV squad in Ireland, any updates to the squad will be worked through following All Blacks v Japan match this weekend.
The All Blacks XV was launched as New Zealand Rugby’s next senior national representative team after the All Blacks, as a critical high-performance pathway to the All Blacks. As the next senior national representative side, the All Blacks XV will have the same high expectations as the other Teams in Black.
The All Blacks XV follows in the footsteps of similar teams which have assembled throughout New Zealand rugby's history, including the Junior All Blacks, New Zealand A and Emerging Players.
