More new faces in All Blacks squad
Simon Parker is the big inclusion in the All Blacks' Rugby Championship squad, with the 120kg loose forward set to make his test debut.
Parker has been rewarded for an excellent Super Rugby Pacific season, with an untimely injury possibly delaying his call-up till after the recent series win over France.
Head coach Scott Robertson this afternoon announced the squad for test matches against Argentina, South Africa and Australia which begin with the Pumas on August 16 in Cordoba.
Robertson has included three Highlanders: veteran prop Ethan de Groot, and new All Blacks lock Fabian Holland and midfielder Timoci Tavatavanawai.
Parker's ascension is in line with his career path. He was a member of the New Zealand Secondary Schools squad before being selected to the New Zealand Under 20 team in 2019, RNZ reports.
A Chiefs representative since 2020, he has played for Waikato and, most recently, the Northland Taniwha in the Bunnings NPC and was a member of the All Blacks XV in 2024.
Crusaders halfback Kyle Preston is in the frame for selection too, named as injury cover alongside Hurricanes prop Tevita Mafileo and Chiefs wing Leroy Carter. Experienced All Blacks Josh Lord, George Bower and Finlay Christie round out the injury cover selections.
Tamaiti Williams and Wallace Sititi have also returned from injury after missing the tests against France.
Tyrel Lomax, Luke Jacobson, Cam Roigard, Noah Hotham and Caleb Clarke will not travel to Argentina while they recover from injury.
"Simon Parker had an impressive Super Rugby season with the Chiefs and brings a valuable skill set and physicality that we are looking forward to working with," Robertson said today.
"He has the ability to play blindside or No 8 and has gained experience in a number of New Zealand representative teams, so we believe he is ready for the step up.
"While we are clearly disappointed for our men who are currently recovering from injuries, that has also created opportunities for a number of deserving players… these players have earned the opportunity through consistent performance, and we know that they will take this chance.
"We are excited about what they will bring to the squad.
'We have some massively exciting and challenging games ahead of us and we are looking forward to reassembling and getting to work, starting with two tests against a very strong Los Pumas side.'
- additional reporting Allied Media
All Blacks squad
The squad is as follows: (age, Super Rugby club, province, Test caps)
* denotes new caps
Hookers
Codie Taylor (34, Crusaders / Canterbury, 98)
Samisoni Taukei'aho (27, Chiefs / Waikato, 33)
Brodie McAlister (28, Chiefs / Canterbury, 1)
Props
Ethan de Groot (27, Highlanders / Southland, 32)
Tamaiti Williams (24, Crusaders / Canterbury, 18)
Ollie Norris (25, Chiefs / Waikato, 2)
Tyrel Lomax (29, Hurricanes / Tasman, 45)
Fletcher Newell (25, Crusaders / Canterbury, 25)
Pasilio Tosi (27, Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty, 9)
Locks
Scott Barrett (31, Crusaders / Taranaki, 81) (Captain)
Patrick Tuipulotu (32, Blues / Auckland, 55)
Tupou Vaa'i (25, Chiefs / Taranaki, 40)
Fabian Holland (22, Highlanders / Otago, 3)
Loose forwards
Samipeni Finau (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 11)
Simon Parker (25, Chiefs / Northland, *)
Ardie Savea (31, Moana Pasifika / Wellington, 97) (Vice-Captain)
Du'Plessis Kirifi (28, Hurricanes / Wellington, 3)
Wallace Sititi (22, Chiefs / North Harbour, 10)
Peter Lakai (22, Hurricanes / Wellington, 3)
Luke Jacobson (28, Chiefs / Waikato, 24)
Halfbacks
Cortez Ratima (24, Chiefs / Waikato, 14)
Cameron Roigard (24, Hurricanes / Counties Manukau, 12)
Noah Hotham (22, Crusaders / Tasman, 2)
First-five eighths
Beauden Barrett (34, Blues / Taranaki, 136)
Damian McKenzie (30, Chiefs / Waikato, 64)
Midfielders
Anton Lienert-Brown (30, Chiefs / Waikato, 85)
Jordie Barrett (28, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 71) (Vice-Captain)
Quinn Tupaea (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 16)
Billy Proctor (26, Hurricanes / Wellington, 4)
Timoci Tavatavanawai (27, Highlanders / Tasman, 2)
Outside backs
Rieko Ioane (28, Blues / Auckland, 83)
Caleb Clarke (26, Blues / Auckland, 29)
Sevu Reece (28, Crusaders / Southland, 34)
Emoni Narawa (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 3)
Will Jordan (27, Crusaders / Tasman, 44)
Ruben Love (24, Hurricanes / Wellington, 2)
INJURY COVER
The following players have been named as injury cover for the start of the Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship.
George Bower (33, Crusaders / Otago, 23) for Tamaiti Williams
Tevita Mafileo (27, Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty, *) for Tyrel Lomax
Josh Lord (24, Chiefs / Taranaki, 7) for Luke Jacobson
Finlay Christie (29, Blues / Tasman, 23) for Cameron Roigard/Noah Hotham
Kyle Preston (25, Crusaders / Wellington, *) for Cameron Roigard/Noah Hotham
Leroy Carter (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, *) for Caleb Clarke
UNAVAILABLE DUE TO INJURY
Ofa Tu'ungafasi; Asafo Aumua and Stephen Perofeta.
Rugby Championship test matches
(all times listed are NZST):
• Sunday, August 16 at 9.10am - All Blacks v Argentina, Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium, Córdoba
• Sunday, August 23 at 9.10am - All Blacks v Argentina, Vélez Sarsfield Stadium, Buenos Aires
• Saturday, September 6 at 7.05pm - All Blacks v South Africa, Eden Park, Auckland
• Saturday, September 13 at 7.05pm - All Blacks v South Africa, Sky Stadium, Wellington
• Saturday, September 27 at 5.05pm - All Blacks v Australia, Eden Park, Auckland
• Saturday, October 4 at 10.45pm -All Blacks v Australia, Optus Stadium, Perth
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