Ardie Savea to captain new coach Dave Rennie’s All Blacks, including record-breaking wing Fehi Fineanganofo

Monday, 22 June 2026

New cxoach Dave Rennie has named Ardie Savea as his captain, selecting a 34-man squad heavily dominated by Hurricanes and Chiefs players (11 from each team).

The squad features four uncapped rookies—including record-breaking try-scorers Fehi Fineanganofo and Josh Moorby, and Anton Segner (who is set to be the first German-born All Black)—alongside returning midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown after his Japanese sabbatical.

While injured stars like Will Jordan and Tupou Vaa’i (with Jamie Hannah providing cover) made the cut, former captain Scott Barrett is out with a back injury, and high-profile players Rieko Ioane and Noah Hotham were left out of the squad entirely.

Ardie Savea will captain new coach Dave Rennie’s All Blacks, which will begin preparations for the test year with four uncapped players.

Named in Feilding on Monday afternoon, Rennie’s 34-man squad for the Nations Championship features rookies Fehi Fineanganofo, Josh Moorby, Xavier Numia and Anton Segner.

Winger Fineanganofo, who earlier this year signed with Newcastle, and fellow Hurricane Moorby broke the Super Rugby try-scoring record for a season at the weekend, both scoring in the final against the Chiefs to extend their tallies to 17.

It is yet to be determined if New Zealand Rugby has helped Fineanganofo out of his Newcastle deal, ensuring his availability in the long-term.

Loosehead prop Numia was also dynamite for the Hurricanes en route to their first title in a decade, while Blues loose forward Segner is set to become the first German-born All Black.

Segner made it at the expense of Hurricanes stand-out Du’Plessis Kirifi, a surprise omission on the back of an immense Super Rugby campaign.

Fresh from helping Rennie’s Kobe Steelers win the Japanese league, Savea was widely favoured to be the incoming coach’s captain of choice,

Speaking in Feilding on Monday, Rennie said Savea edged out hooker Codie Taylor for the job.

Lock Scott Barrett (back), who captained the All Blacks during Scott Robertson’s two-year tenure, prop Tamaiti Williams (back infection), lock Fabian Holland (shoulder), and utility Leicester Fainga’anuku (leg and ankle) were unavailable for selection.

Crusaders fullback Will Jordan has been named for the three July tests, despite suffering a second calf injury on May 22.

Having suffered a nasty concussion during his team’s embarrassing defeat to the Hurricanes last weekend, Chiefs lock Tupou Vaa’i has also been named in the squad.

However, Crusaders and Canterbury lock Jamie Hannah will provide injury cover until Vaa’i clears concussion protocol.

Savea isn’t the only player to feature after helping Kobe win the Japanese league.

Midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown, 31, has also made the cut after skipping the 2026 Super Rugby season to take up a sabbatical.

Rieko Ioane, who scored a try and helped Irish side Leinster win the United Rugby Championship last weekend, has not been included in the squad.

Nor has Crusaders first-choice halfback Noah Hotham, who was tipped by some pundits to deputise for Hurricanes ace Cam Roigard.

However, Rennie has instead opted for Cortez Ratima and Kyle Preston, Hotham’s Crusaders teammate who didn’t start a single game for the red and blacks this year.

Preston played one test for the All Blacks last year and was excellent for the Crusaders during his 11 appearances off the bench this year.

However, despite his snappy passing game, ability to kick well off both feet, and a sneaky good running game, head coach Rob Penney didn’t give him a start ahead of Hotham.

Fresh from leading the Hurricanes to glory, Ruben Love has been named alongside Damian McKenzie and Beauden Barrett as the team’s first five-eighths.

Now, all eyes will turn to who gets the nod against France in Christchurch Saturday week, particularly after McKenzie self-destructed in the Super Rugby final.

Hurricanes and Chiefs players dominate the squad, with Rennie picking 11 players from each squad.

The Crusaders and Blues each have five representatives, although the Crusaders would have more if WIlliams, Barretta and Fainga’anuku were fit.

Loosehead prop Ethan de Groot is the lone Highlander.

ALL BLACKS SQUAD

Hookers: Asafo Aumua, Codie Taylor, Samisoni Taukei’aho

Props: Ethan de Groot, George Bower, Xavier Numia*, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi

Locks: Tupou Vaa’i, Patrick Tuipulotu, Josh Lord, Sam Darry

Loose forwards: Peter Lakai, Simon Parker, Ardie Savea (captain), Wallace Sititi, Luke Jacobson, Anton Segner*

Halfbacks: Cam Roigard, Cortez Ratima, Kyle Preston

First five-eighths: Ruben Love, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie

Midfielders: Jordie Barrett, Quinn Tupaea, Billy Proctor, Anton Lienert-Brown

Outside backs: Caleb Clarke, Fehi Fineanganofo*, Leroy Carter, Josh Moorby*, Will Jordan

Injury cover: Jamie Hannah*

Unavailable due to injury: Tamaiti Williams, Scott Barrett, Fabian Holland, Leicester Fainga’anuku

* = uncapped

PLAYERS BY SUPER RUGBY TEAM

Hurricanes: 11

Chiefs: 11

Crusaders: 5

Blues: 5

Highlanders: 1

Moana Pasifika: 1