Halfback Folau Fakatava back in favour after making All Blacks XV squad
Tuesday, 14 October 2025
Buckle up for the howls from aggrieved Otago fans when they lay eyes on the All Blacks XV squad.
Gun halfback Dylan Pledger has been left out of the Jamie Joseph-coached squad for their three-match tour of England next month.
Instead, Folau Fakatava, one of a bunch of players to return to the All Blacks fray, Crusader Kyle Preston and Chief Xavier Roe are the three halfbacks named in the 30-man squad.
Pledger has been outstanding for Otago, prompting some to believe he should have been picked in the All Blacks squad for their attempted Grand Slam tour, if not the All Blacks XV.
However, the contracted Highlander hasn’t yet played Super Rugby, and clearly selectors aren’t willing to pick him on the back of the NPC alone.
Not even the fact Highlanders head coach Joseph is leading the All Blacks XV did Pledger a favour.
Assisted by Jamie Mackintosh, David Hill and Cory Jane, the squad was selected in collaboration with All Blacks selectors, led by head coach Scott Robertson.
The good news for southerners is Highlander Fakatava, who has two test caps to his name, and played two matches for the All Blacks XV in 2023, is back and pushing for the national squad on the back of excellent Super Rugby and NPC campaigns this year.
“It’s a squad with a good mix of experience and emerging talent and reflects the depth that’s building in the NPC and Super Rugby Pacific,” Joseph said.
“There were a number of players who have put their hands up during the NPC and that made for some tight calls, but we think we’ve got the balance right.”
Fakatava is joined by seven other capped test players, including Crusaders midfielders David Havili, Braydon Ennor and Dallas McLeod, and loose forwards Christian Lio-Willie and Dalton Papali’i.
Hooker Brodie McAlister, left out of the All Blacks on Monday for provincial teammate George Bell, and Preston are the others.
All Blacks XV players will be available for the NPC semifinals and final, with non-finalists assembling on 24 October before heading to England.
The team will play the Barbarians in Brentford on November 2, before facing England A in Bath on November 9, and Uruguay (venue TBC) on November 16.
“A core purpose of this team is to develop and promote players through to the next level and the effectiveness of the pathway was highlighted in the All Blacks northern tour squad, which included seven members of the 2024 All Blacks XV squad,” Joseph said.
“No doubt some of these players will progress on to the All Blacks in future years and if that’s the case we will have done our job. The core focus in the short term will be heading north to represent the black jersey and win three games in Europe.”
Talented pivot Josh Jacomb, who will relocate from the Chiefs and play for Joseph’s Highlanders in 2027, is one of just two playmakers named in the squad. Crusader Rivez Reihana is the other.
The team features a dynamite outside backs group of Caleb Tangitau, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Etene Nanai-Seturo and Chay Fihaki.
ALL BLACKS XV SQUAD
Hookers: Brodie McAlister, Jack Taylor, Bradley Slater
Props: George Dyer, Josh Fusitua, Benet Kumeroa, Siale Lauaki, Xavier Numia
Locks: Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Josh Beehre, Isaia Walker-Leawere
Loose forwards: Kaylum Boshier, Devan Flanders, Te Kamaka Howden, Christian Lio-Willie, Dalton Papali’i, Sean Withy
Halfbacks: Folau Fakatava, Kyle Preston, Xavier Roe.
First five-eighths: Josh Jacomb, Rivez Reihana
Midfielders: Braydon Ennor, David Havili, Dallas McLeod, Daniel Rona.
Outside backs: Chay Fihaki, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Caleb Tangitau