12 All Blacks released to play NPC

Twelve members of the All Blacks Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship squad will represent their Provincial Unions this weekend during Round 6 of the Bunnings Warehouse NPC.

George Bell and Ethan de Groot will bolster the Canterbury and Southland front rows respectively when the sides meet in Invercargill this Friday. On Saturday, loose forwards Samipeni Finau and Luke Jacobson will join Waikato when they take on Hawkes Bay in Hamilton, while Tauranga’s fixture will feature prop Pasilio Tosi for Bay of Plenty and lock Josh Lord for Taranaki.

A further six players will feature in Sunday’s provincial clashes, including George Bower for Otago against Counties Manakau; Harry Plummer and Patrick Tuipulotu for Auckland against Northland; and David Havili will help Tasman in its Ranfurly Shield defence at Lansdowne Park, while Billy Proctor and Ruben Love join Wellington.

Due to long haul travel and recovery protocols, the first attendance with their respective teams for players involved in Friday or Saturday games will be Captains Run, while those playing on Sunday will join their teams for training from Friday.

The list of All Blacks playing for their provincial teams is as follows. All matches live and exclusive on Sky Sport.

Friday 13 September

Southland v Canterbury - Rugby Park, Invercargill, 7.05pm
Southland: Ethan de Groot
Canterbury: George Bell

Saturday 14 September

Bay of Plenty v Taranaki – Tauranga Domain, 2.05pm
Bay of Plenty: Pasilio Tosi
Taranaki: Josh Lord

Waikato v Hawkes Bay – FMG Stadium, Hamilton, 7.05pm
Waikato: Samipeni Finau and Luke Jacobson

Sunday 15 September

Counties Manakau v Otago – Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe, 2.05pm
Otago: George Bower

Tasman v Wellington – Lansdowne Park, Blenheim, 2.05pm
Tasman: David Havili
Wellington: Billy Proctor and Ruben Love

Northland v Auckland – Semenoff Stadium, Whangarei, 4.35pm
Auckland: Harry Plummer and Patrick Tuipulotu