Meet the Players
- 3240
The All Blacks named a 32-man squad including 6 uncapped players to take on Wales in the June international series:
Damian McKenzie:
Contracted to the Chiefs, McKenzie represented New Zealand Under-20 during the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship scoring 1 try, 7 conversions and 2 penalties in 5 games.
Seta Tamanivalu:
The Fiji-born centre was a member of the Fiji Secondary Schools under-18 rugby league squad that toured Australia in 2010. His impressive displays saw him win the 2014 ITM Cup Player of the Year.
Ardie Savea:
Younger brother of All Black winger Julian Savea, the loose forward represented New Zealand on the international sevens circuit. In November 2013, Savea travelled with the All Blacks to Europe, along with his older brother Julian.
Elliot Dixon:
Dixon was a key member of the squad that won the Under-20 World Cup in 2009. Following his solid season for Southland in 2010, Dixon was included in the Highlanders squad for the 2011 Super Rugby season.
Liam Squire:
Squire started his career with Tasman ahead of 2011 season's ITM Cup and currently represents the team at the number 8 position.
Ofa Tu’ungafasi:
Tu'ungafasi represented New Zealand Under 20 in the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship in South Africa, making 5 appearances and scoring 1 try. His father, Mofuike, played as a lock and represented Tonga at the 1987 Rugby World Cup, and his brother, Isileli, plays for Auckland provincial team.
Australia coach Michael Cheika revealed 10 uncapped players in his 39-man training squad for the next month's three-test series against England:
Nick Frisby:
Frisby was one of the 2014 National Rugby Championship standout players, leading Brisbane City to a victory. He currently has 52 caps for Reds in Super Rugby.
Karmichael Hunt:
Hunt was part of the Broncos' competition-winning team in 2006 and has represented the Queensland Maroons in the State of Origin series and the Australian Kangaroos at international level. He currently plays for the Queensland Red.
Eto Nabuli:
Nabuli was a regular player for the Windsor Wolves of the New South Wales Cup during the 2013 season, finishing as the competition's leading try-scorer, with 30 tries. He currently stunts for the Reds as of September 2015.
Samu Kerevi:
Kerevi was selected alongside his brother, Josua, in the Fiji Under-20 team for the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship in South Africa. His father, Nimilote Kerevi, is a former Fiji international soccer player.
Dane Haylett-Petty:
The South African-born full-back represented Australia Under 20 in the 2008 and 2009 IRB Junior World Championships and he joints holds the record for the most tries scored by a single player in a JWC match.
Adam Coleman:
Coleman was called up to the Waratahs squad during the 2013 Super Rugby season and debut on the 70th minute as a substitute. He is the son of former Tongan rugby captain Pau'u Afeaki and first cousin of Inoke Afeaki whom also captained Tonga.
Joe Powell:
Powell is a member of the Brumbies extended playing squad who made his first appearances during the 2015 Super Rugby season. He was part of the Australia under-20 side which competed in the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship in New Zealand.
Allan Ala’alatoa:
Alaalatoa was named in the Brumbies extended playing squad head of the 2014 Super Rugby season. He hails from a rugby family with father Vili playing for Samoa in the 1991 Rugby World Cup and brother Michael, also going on to play professionally with the New South Wales Waratahs.
Rory Arnold:
Arnold made his debut in the Brumbies season-opening match, starting their victory in Canberra and so becoming the joint-tallest player in the history of the competition. He currently has 15 caps for the Brumbies.
Leroy Houston:
Houston signed with the Reds for the 2008 Super 14 season, receiving the Rookie of the Year Award. He currently plays for Bath Rugby in the Premiership.
Allister Coetzee’s Springbok squad contains 9 players who are uncapped in the Test series level, the most of any other previous Springbok squad:
Garth April:
April was included in the Golden Lions' squad for the 2012 Vodacom Cup and made his first class debut in their match against the Leopards. He currently has 9 caps with the Sharks since his signing in April 2015. The full-back has earned 22 Super Rugby caps in total.
Ruan Combrink:
Having played rugby for the U19 Natal Sharks and Western Province, Combrinck represented the University of Stellenbosch (Maties) in the Varsity Cup. He has acquired 41 Super Rugby caps under the Lions.
Faf De Klerk:
De Klerk was included in the Lions squad for the 2014 Super Rugby season for which he made his debut. He played Super Rugby for the Lions through loan agreements until he was signed by the club for a year and was involved in both the 2016 Super Rugby and Currie Cup campaigns. The scrum-half has 32 Super Rugby caps.
Nic Groom:
Groom won the Varsity Cup with UCT 2011. He made Western Province appearances that saw him being a Currie Cup winner in 2012. He currently holds 43 Super Rugby caps with his Stormers appearances.
Steven Kitshoff:
Kitshoff was part of the South Africa Under 20 squad that won the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship. Having played for the Western Province in the Currie Cup, he has 60 Super Rugby caps with the Stormers.
Jaco Kriel:
Kriel has represented the University of Johannesburg in the Varsity Cup. He joined Super Rugby’s the Lions in 2011 and has earned 40 caps with the side.
Bongi Mbonambi:
Bongi was a member of the South Africa Under 20 team that competed in the 2011 IRB Junior World Championship. He currently represents the Stormers, and has 59 caps in Super Rugby.
Sikhumbuzo Notshe:
Notshe was included in a South African Under-18 High Performance squad at the end of the 2010 Craven Week Competition. He was included in the Stormers pre-season training squad before the 2014 Super Rugby season and has made 7 appearances for the side.
Scarra Ntubeni:
Ntubeni debuted for both Western Province and the Stormers in 2011 and was featured in all of Province's 12 games during that campaign. He has made 31 appearances for the Stormers.
