BLUES SET FOR ALL BLACKS NORTHERN TOUR
All Blacks selectors have named their squad for the 2025 Grand Slam tour, which kicks off with ‘The Gallagher Cup – The Rematch’ against Ireland in Chicago, followed by matches against Scotland, England and Wales.
Blues Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Finlay Christie and Rieko Ioane have all been selected, while Sam Darry also joins the squad in place of injured teammate Patrick Tuipulotu who will undergo shoulder surgery.
The All Blacks will kick off their 2025 Grand Slam campaign with a highly anticipated clash against Ireland at Soldier Field Stadium in Chicago. The fixture is a rematch of the unforgettable 2016 showdown between the two sides at the same venue.
The team will then travel to the United Kingdom for consecutive matches against Scotland, England, and Wales. It will mark the first time in fifteen years that the All Blacks have embarked on a Grand Slam tour, defined as a touring Southern Hemisphere team defeating all four Home Nations.
It is 100 years since the All Blacks’ first Grand Slam attempt, the 1905 northern tour by the team that would become known as ‘The Originals’. The All Blacks have since achieved a Grand Slam four times - in 1978, 2005, 2008, and 2010.
FORWARDS
Sam Darry (lock, 25, Blues / Canterbury, 6)
Codie Taylor (hooker, 34, Crusaders / Canterbury, 103)
Samisoni Taukei’aho (hooker, 28, Chiefs / Waikato, 39)
George Bell (hooker, 23, Crusaders / Canterbury, 3)
Ethan de Groot (prop, 27, Highlanders / Southland, 37)
Tamaiti Williams (prop, 25, Crusaders / Canterbury, 23)
George Bower (prop, 33, Crusaders / Otago, 24)
Fletcher Newell (prop, 25, Crusaders / Canterbury, 31)
Pasilio Tosi (prop, 27, Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty, 12)
Tevita Mafileo (prop, 27, Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty, *)
Scott Barrett (lock, 31, Crusaders / Taranaki, 86) (Captain)
Fabian Holland (lock, 23, Highlanders / Otago, 9)
Josh Lord (lock, 24, Chiefs / Taranaki, 8)
Samipeni Finau (lock/loose forward, 26, Chiefs / Waikato, 12)
Simon Parker (loose forward, 25, Chiefs / Northland, 5)
Ardie Savea (loose forward, 31, Moana Pasifika / Wellington, 103) (Vice-Captain)
Du’Plessis Kirifi (loose forward, 28, Hurricanes / Wellington, 6)
Wallace Sititi (loose forward, 23, Chiefs / North Harbour, 15)
Peter Lakai (loose forward, 22, Hurricanes / Wellington, 5)
Luke Jacobson (loose forward, 28, Chiefs / Waikato, 25)
BACKS
Beauden Barrett (first-five eighth/fullback, 34, Blues / Taranaki, 141)
Finlay Christie (halfback, 30, Blues / Tasman, 27)
Caleb Clarke (outside back, 26, Blues / Auckland, 30)
Rieko Ioane (midfield/outside back, 28, Blues / Auckland, 87)
Cortez Ratima (halfback, 24, Chiefs / Waikato, 18)
Cameron Roigard (halfback, 24, Hurricanes / Counties Manukau, 14)
Damian McKenzie (first-five eighth/fullback, 30, Chiefs / Waikato, 70)
Anton Lienert-Brown (midfield, 30, Chiefs / Waikato, 86)
Jordie Barrett (midfield, 28, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 77) (Vice-Captain)
Quinn Tupaea (midfield, 26, Chiefs / Waikato, 21)
Billy Proctor (midfield, 26, Hurricanes / Wellington, 9)
Leicester Fainga’anuku (midfield/outside back, 26, Crusaders / Tasman, 8)
Sevu Reece (outside back, 28, Crusaders / Southland, 36)
Leroy Carter (outside back, 26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 3)
Will Jordan (outside back, 27, Crusaders / Tasman, 50)
Ruben Love (outside back/first-five eighth, 24, Hurricanes / Wellington, 4)
Unavailable due to injury:
Patrick Tuipulotu (ruled out after initially being named in the squad), Tyrel Lomax; Tupou Vaa’i; Noah Hotham; Emoni Narawa; Ollie Norris; Ofa Tu’ungafasi; Asafo Aumua; Stephen Perofeta; Timoci Tavatavanawai
Northern Tour Fixtures (all times listed are NZST):
Sunday 02 November, 9.00am
The Gallagher Cup - The Rematch, All Blacks v Ireland
Soldier Field Stadium, Chicago
Sunday 09 November, 4.10am
All Blacks v Scotland
Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Sunday 16 November, 4:10am
All Blacks v England
Allianz Stadium Twickenham, London
Sunday 23 November, 4:10am
All Blacks v Wales
Principality (Millenium) Stadium, Cardiff