All Blacks: Picking a New Zealand XV of ineligible, overseas players – Alex Powell

Dairy might be New Zealand’s largest export, but rugby players can’t be too far behind.

With Shannon Frizell joining Richie Mo’unga in returning to New Zealand, the All Blacks’ incredible potential playing stocks overseas are again in the spotlight.

The pair will both trade Japan for Aotearoa at the end of their current contracts, but won’t be eligible for the All Blacks until taking part at domestic level back home.

However, while the pair are expected to walk back into the national side as soon as possible, the question must be raised: who else could push for a test spot, if the eligibility policy was relaxed altogether?

1. Aidan Ross

Currently with: Queensland Reds (Australia)

After making his one test appearance for New Zealand in 2022, the former Chiefs and Bay of Plenty prop has found a new home in Brisbane.

Born in Sydney, Ross qualified for Australia last year, and made his test debut for Joe Schmidt against the British and Irish Lions.

Ross was still a more than serviceable front-rower during his time in New Zealand, notching over 100 Super Rugby appearances, but ultimately couldn’t earn a regular test place under Ian Foster.

Would, theoretically, have to serve a stand-down period if he was to commit to the All Blacks from here, but the chances of that are almost non-existent.

2. Ricky Riccitelli

Currently with: Montpellier (France)

After failing to break into the All Blacks following a career-best season for the Blues in 2024, Riccitelli has made the French Top 14 his home, having previously been around the New Zealand test squad.

All up, though, you have to question why he never earned a single cap for his country.

When Scott Robertson named his maiden All Blacks squad, Riccitelli was one of a number of Blues players questionably missing, as the spot instead went to young Crusader George Bell.

At 31, Riccitelli still has plenty to give and is rightfully cashing in on his value as a quality hooker.

3. Nepo Laulala

Currently with: Gloucester (England)

While he played the last of his 53 tests at the 2023 World Cup in France, Laulala is still 34 and playing in the English Premiership.

Never an out-and-out first-team All Black, Laulala’s value as a front-rower came in his ability to provide impact off the bench.

With two World Cup campaigns under his belt, Laulala would still be a brilliant role-player for the All Blacks as they build forward stocks for next year’s World Cup.

4. Brodie Retallick

Currently with: Kobe Steelers (Japan)

Namechecked by Dave Rennie in his first media opportunity as All Blacks coach as a player he’d want back from overseas.

At times, Retallick laid claim to being the best player on the planet during his 109-test career, forming the greatest locking partnership in New Zealand, and arguably in the game’s history, with Sam Whitelock.

Now leading the Kobe Steelers and topping the try-scoring charts in Japan’s Rugby League One, Retallick would probably have a very good claim to still being good enough for an All Blacks starting spot.

5. Josh Dickson

Currently with: Toyota Verblitz (Japan)

As a former New Zealand Under-20, Māori All Blacks and All Blacks XV lock, Josh Dickson should count himself unlucky to have played in the same era as Retallick and Whitelock.

Still only 31, Dickson was always spoken about as a player on the periphery of test selection, but was ultimately overtaken by the likes of Scott Barrett, Luke Romano, Patrick Tuipulotu and others in his bid to earn the black jersey.

Is currently cashing in on his value in Japan, playing for Foster’s Toyota.

6. Shannon Frizell

Currently with: Toshiba Brave Lupus (Japan)

Make no mistake, Frizell will be back in black as soon as possible.

After signing for Japanese side Toshiba at the end of 2022, Frizell was unlocked at the highest level in 2023 and became the second coming of Jerome Kaino.

What’s more, it’s telling that in the two years he’s been in Japan, no player has outright claimed that No 6 jersey as their own.

Now, with another World Cup in sight, Frizell has re-signed to come back later this year, with eyes on whether New Zealand Rugby will make any kind of exemption to get him back into the All Blacks as soon as possible.

7. Sam Cane

Currently with: Tokyo Sungoliath (Japan)

There are few players who reach 100 tests and 150 Super Rugby games. Cane is one of them.

While many expected his career to fade once he stood down from the All Blacks captaincy, Cane found a new lease on life in 2024 and proved to be a valuable member of Robertson’s plans in his first year.

Cane’s All Blacks resurgence started with two brutal tests away to South Africa two years ago. With an even busier schedule against the Springboks on the horizon, Rennie could more than make use of Cane’s services.

8. Hoskins Sotutu

Currently with: Newcastle Red Bulls (England)

Another case of “what could have been?”, Sotutu took Super Rugby Pacific by storm in the Blues’ drought-breaking 2024 win.

While the decision to overlook him for the All Blacks in favour of the then-uncapped Wallace Sititi has aged particularly well, you do wonder why Sotutu’s best couldn’t come in a black jersey.

Still only 27, Sotutu has traded the Blues for English outfit Newcastle – now bankrolled by Red Bull.

And with the ability to represent England or Fiji are cards up Sotutu’s sleeve, you do wonder whether he’ll be able to kick on and become the player that Kiwi fans know he arguably should have been by now.

9. Aaron Smith

Currently with: Toyota Verblitz (Japan)

At 37, Smith’s future is currently unknown after the expiration of his Toyota contract. However, if he intends to play on, he shouldn’t have too much trouble finding another club.

Admittedly, the veteran of 124 tests would no longer command a starting spot with the All Blacks – that now belongs to Cam Roigard, with the rest of the pack playing to be his back-up.

But with Noah Hotham, Cortez Ratima, Finlay Christie and Kyle Preston among those used in the past two years, having a player of Smith’s calibre on the bench, or even as the third halfback, would be a resource few coaches could turn down.

10. Richie Mo’unga

Currently with: Toshiba Brave Lupus (Japan)

The player around whom the eligibility debate of the past two years has revolved.

Robertson made no secret of his desire to bring Mo’unga back from Japan, only to be rebuffed every time.

But with his Japanese commitments coming to an end, Mo’unga will rejoin Canterbury later this year before he’s eligible to wear the black jersey again.

With less than 18 months until the World Cup, time will tell if Rennie sees Mo’unga in the same light as his predecessor, as the All Blacks’ new coaching set-up get their collective feet under the desk in time.

11. Fehi Fineanganofo

Currently with: Hurricanes (joining Newcastle Red Bulls)

In the ever-competitive world of European club rugby, Newcastle’s shrewdest acquisition could just be the Hurricanes winger.

Fineanganofo has proven to be an out-and-out try scorer for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby Pacific this year, topping the charts with 10, three clear of Caleb Clarke as the next-best Kiwi.

With test rugby now demanding wingers be powerful ball-carriers as much as they are scorers, Fineanganofo’s form at Super level won’t be able to be seen at test level for a few years at least.

12. Ma’a Nonu

Currently with: Toulon (France)

In all honesty, Nonu belongs in a laboratory more than a rugby field.

At 43, Nonu hasn’t played a test since the end of 2015, but still looks every bit the player who earned over 100 test caps during his time as an All Black.

Even in his 40s, Nonu isn’t exactly having the odd kickabout with his friends in the park – he’s playing in the French Top 14, regarded by many as the best club competition in the world.

Would he still be up to playing test rugby? Who knows, but you’d definitely be able to find people who wouldn’t bet against it.

13. Joey Manu

Currently with: Racing 92 (France)

While his experience in rugby union might be limited, Manu’s displays in close to a decade of NRL show a player of genuine quality.

Close to 200 games, and two premierships with the Sydney Roosters, go a long way to highlighting how good Manu could be, given his union background and how ex-NRL teammate Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i has been since his code switch.

Midfield has been a worrying area for the All Blacks over the last two seasons. And while the stocks do appear to be strong since the returns of Quinn Tupaea and Leicester Fainga’anuku, you can never have too many options.

However, at 29, time is running out if Manu is to break into the All Blacks – which he’s always said was his ultimate ambition.

14. Mark Tele’a

Currently with: Toyota Verblitz (Japan)

It feels like as quick as Tele’a became the All Blacks’ first choice in the No 11 jersey, he was off overseas after falling out of favour.

At his best, Tele’a was fast, elusive and deceptively powerful, and used that to his advantage to become Foster’s go-to for a World Cup campaign that fell at the final hurdle.

And after a stop-start All Blacks career under Robertson, Toyota wasted no time in snapping him up to head to Japan.

Now 29, you can argue Tele’a’s best days might be behind him, for a winger at least. But there are still plenty of test nations that wouldn’t want to come up against him any time soon.

15. Charles Piutau

Currently with: Shizuoka Blue Revs (Japan)

For everything Piutau has achieved since leaving New Zealand, there was plenty he could have done as an All Black.

After breaking through in 2013, Piutau played 17 tests, only to be cast aside for the 2015 World Cup when he signed with English club side Wasps.

In the decade since then, Piutau has played in England, Ireland and Japan, and even successfully switched his allegiance to represent Tonga after World Rugby’s eligibility laws were relaxed.

Now in Japan, he remains a test-level player, albeit with a different nation.

Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.