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Bunnings NPC

Eight All Blacks released to play opening round of NPC

By Ned Lester

13 days ago

HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND - JULY 19: Ruben Love of New Zealand charges forward during the Test Match between New Zealand All Blacks and France at FMG Stadium Waikato on July 19, 2025 in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Eight All Blacks have been made available for NPC duties when the season kicks off later this week, bringing more star power to the provinces.

The season kicks off on Thursday, with Auckland hosting Waikato in a contest set to feature the recently re-signed Anton Lienert Brown in the midfield for the Mooloos.

The latest All Blacks debutant, Brodie McAlister, will square off with Ruben Love in Porirua on Saturday, with the Test rookie available for the red and black of Canterbury and Love available for a return to Wellington colours.

Saturday will also see another rookie fresh off an impressive debut, Christian Lio-Willie, bring his form to Otago’s southern showdown with Southland.

Bay of Plenty can bring two doses of international class to the table, with Emoni Narawa and Pasilio Tosi both made available. It’s a timely addition for a side facing a star-studded Tasman outfit that has names like David Havili, Ethan Blackadder and Leicester Fainga’anuku to call on.

But that’s not all for the Nelson-based heavyweights, as newly capped All Blacks wrecking ball Timoci Tavatavanawai has been released to make an appearance for the Mako.

Finally, Counties Manukau will have the services of Dalton Papali’i when they travel to Napier to take on Hawke’s Bay for the final game of round one.

All Blacks available for NPC games this week

Anton Lienert-Brown, Waikato
Ruben Love, Wellington
Brodie McAlister, Canterbury
Christian Lio-Willie, Otago
Pasilio Tosi, Bay of Plenty
Emoni Narawa, Bay of plenty
Timoci Tavatavanawai, Tasman
Dalton Papali’i, Counties Manukau

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Comments

8 Comments

JW 12 days ago

Why are they blowing all the good derbies in week one? What a waste.

Like what they have tried with SR the last few years and I’m probably forgetting prev NPC seasons as well.

Sure, they want to build some hype, but slow and steady wins the race.

JH 13 days ago

They should be releasing all of them back to the NPC. Most of them seem to pick up more injuries during training than actually playing matches anyway. When did NZ become so scared of injuries that out comes the cottonwool the moment the NPC comes into view. If anything, injuries to established players have been a blessing in disguise in recent years, finally giving young players a chance to shine where veterans have been skating by on reputation and test cap numbers.

So, these 8 are the outer-fringe players who will probably hardly see any rugby in black for the rest of the season or are about to be replaced by returning players.

Meanwhile, some like Billy Proctor, if selected for the nest Test won’t have played for 5-6 weeks at all. And then if they look rusty (which they will be) it’ll be those not in the protected ‘leadership group’ that will pay the selection price if things turn pear shaped.

JW 12 days ago

Worse, Billy wont even play these next tests, so it’ll be 7 or 8 weeks!

YeowNotEven 12 days ago

Brand protection comes before picking up our sacks and putting faith in our systems to produce the players to step up if there were injuries.

Or is NZR scared of the lack of depth being exposed?

Maybe the effect of dwindling player numbers is starting to show itself.

Less people playing the game means the players rising to the top aren’t as good as the equivalents 10-15 years ago.

We don’t have the cattle in NZ anymore.

GP 13 days ago

Good to see all these guys back in NPC. Good to see Brodie McAlister back for my Canterbury team. Just after recently debuting for the AB’s getting a great forwards try.

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