Barrett brothers to captain All Blacks

Scott Barrett has been named as the new All Blacks captain, with a 32-strong squad including five uncapped players announced for two Tests against England in Dunedin and Auckland, and one against Fiji in San Diego.

The squad is the first selected by the coaching group of All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson and his four assistant coaches Scott Hansen, Jason Holland, Leon MacDonald and Jason Ryan.

Scott Barrett will become the 81st captain of the All Blacks.

The 30-year-old has played 69 times for the All Blacks since making his debut against Ireland in 2016.

He will be assisted by vice-captains Ardie Savea and Jordie Barrett.

“When you think of the leaders who have gone before you, it’s quite humbling to be asked to captain the All Blacks, so it’s not something I took lightly,” Scott Barrett said.

“It’s a big responsibility, but I have two great leaders beside me in Ardie and Jordie, and I know we’ll have the full backing of the coaches.”

Robertson said his long-standing relationship with Scott Barrett was a factor in his choice of captain.

“There are some great leaders in our group, but having that existing connection to Scott was important. He’s tactically astute, he leads from the front, and he’s got the respect of the players and coaches.

“Leadership is a shared responsibility and Ardie, Jordie and our wider leadership group will be crucial to how we come together and connect ahead of the first Test against England.”

The five uncapped players in the squad are Crusaders hooker George Bell, Hurricanes prop Pasilio Tosi, Chiefs halfback Cortez Ratima, Hurricanes centre Billy Proctor and Chiefs loose forward Wallace Sititi, who at 21-years-old is the youngest player in the squad.

The squad will gather in Wellington for the first time on Wednesday where they’ll be joined by hundreds of junior rugby players and guests to officially launch the 2024 Test season.

Blues lock Sam Darry, Hurricanes outside back Ruben Love and the Crusaders pair of prop George Bower and midfielder David Havili will also assemble with the squad as cover.

Sam Cane, Will Jordan, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Cam Roigard were not considered due to injury.

The 32-strong squad in order of age, Super Rugby club, province, Test caps

Hookers

Asafo Aumua (27 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 6)

Codie Taylor (33 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 85)

George Bell* (22 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 0)

Props

Ethan De Groot (25 / Highlanders / Southland / 22)

Tyrel Lomax (28 / Hurricanes / Tasman / 32)

Fletcher Newell (24 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 13)

Pasilio Tosi* (25 / Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty / 0)

Ofa Tu’ungafasi (32 / Blues / Northland / 57)

Tamaiti Williams (23 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 7)

Locks

Scott Barrett (30 / Crusaders / Taranaki / 69) (Captain)

Tupou Vaa’i (24 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 25)

Patrick Tuipulotu (31 / Blues / Auckland / 43)

Loose Forwards

Ethan Blackadder (29 / Crusaders / Tasman / 10)

Samipeni Finau (25 / Chiefs / Waikato / 1)

Luke Jacobson (27 / Chiefs / Waikato / 18)

Dalton Papali’i (26 / Blues / Counties Manukau / 32)

Ardie Savea (30 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 81) (Vice Captain)

Wallace Sititi* (21 / Chiefs / North Harbour / 0)

Halfbacks

Finlay Christie (28 / Blues / Tasman / 21)

TJ Perenara (32 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 80)

Cortez Ratima* (23 / Chiefs / Waikato / 0)

First five-eighths

Beauden Barrett (33 / Blues / Taranaki / 123)

Damian McKenzie (29 / Chiefs / Waikato / 47)

Mid-fielders

Jordie Barrett (27 / Hurricanes / Taranaki / 57) (Vice Captain)

Rieko Ioane (27 / Blues / Auckland / 67)

Anton Lienert-Brown (29 / Chiefs / Waikato / 70)

Billy Proctor* (25 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 0)

Outside backs

Caleb Clarke (25 / Blues / Auckland / 20)

Emoni Narawa (24 / Chiefs / Bay of Plenty / 1)

Stephen Perofeta (27 / Blues / Taranaki / 3)

Sevu Reece (27 / Crusaders / Southland / 23)

Mark Tele’a (27 / Blues / North Harbour/ 9)