Ardie Savea, a veteran with 106 Test caps, has been named the new captain of the All Blacks by head coach Dave Rennie. Savea, 32, assumes the leadership role from Scott Barrett, who is currently recovering from back surgery. Expressing his vision for the squad, Savea emphasized his desire to foster an environment where all staff and players are empowered to perform at their best.
The squad for the upcoming Nations Championship features uncapped winger Fehi Fineanganofo. The 23-year-old earned his spot after a prolific Super Rugby season where he matched the league’s single-season try-scoring record. His future remains a point of discussion as his potential transfer to the Newcastle Red Bulls conflicts with New Zealand’s policy of selecting only locally-contracted players. Rennie noted that Fineanganofo is still under contract locally until November and will resolve his situation independently.
While Rieko Ioane was left out of the initial squad following his sabbatical with Leinster, Rennie hinted that he might rejoin the team for the tour of South Africa. The All Blacks are set to begin their Nations Championship series on July 4 against France in Christchurch, followed by fixtures against Italy and Ireland. Reports indicate that the French side intends to bring a high-strength squad to New Zealand this year, including key players like Antoine Dupont.