Codie Taylor will captain a 34-strong All Blacks squad for the Bledisloe Cup series against the Wallabies. 

All Blacks Head Coach Dave Rennie and fellow selectors, Sir Graham Henry and Neil Barnes, have retained 31 of the players who were named in the original 44-man squad for Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, as well as Richie Mo’unga, who joined the squad in South Africa as an injury replacement. Scott Barrett returns from injury to join the squad, and Shannon Frizell will re-join the squad after returning from Japan and re-signing with New Zealand Rugby earlier this year.

Codie Taylor will captain the All Blacks for the Bledisloe Cup series, having led the side in a Test for the first time in the fourth Test against South Africa in Baltimore.

Scott Barrett returns after a long stretch on the sidelines that included a sabbatical and back surgery, following his return to the Hilux NPC with Taranaki. Shannon Frizell makes his return for the first time since 2023, having returned to New Zealand this year and appearing for Tasman in the Hilux NPC.

First five-eighth Josh Jacomb, who played two franchise games during Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour, is the only member of the squad yet to earn a Test cap.

Fellow first five-eighth Ruben Love and lock Patrick Tuipulotu have joined the list of players unavailable due to injury; Love due to an ankle ligament injury and Tuipulotu with a calf strain.

Rennie said the three Nations Championship Tests at home and Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour had given a large number of players valuable experience that would be vital for upcoming the Bledisloe Cup challenge. 

"Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour was great for us. We’ve learnt a lot about our game and about ourselves, and it gave a lot of guys valuable time in the jersey. Plenty of them put their hands up, and every player selected fully deserves their place.

"It's great to welcome back Scott Barrett and Shannon Frizell. Scott has had a challenging stretch on the sidelines, and we're thrilled to have his experience and leadership back in the group. Shannon brings plenty of Test experience and physical impact to our loose forwards.

"Congratulations also to Codie Taylor on the captaincy. Codie is a top man who has huge mana. His leadership as Tour Captain was important for us during Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, so we know he will do an outstanding job in Ardie’s absence.

"The Bledisloe Cup means a huge amount to this team. We've held it since 2003 and we don't take that for granted. Australia will be a real challenge. It’s now a very experienced Wallabies side who have played a lot of Test footy together. After eight games on the road, we’re excited to start this series in front of our home crowd at Eden Park," Rennie said.

Taylor said he was humbled to be asked to captain the All Blacks for the Bledisloe Cup.

"To lead this team is a massive honour, and I know I'm lucky to have a lot of good leaders around me who make that job easier. A special thank you also to my whānau for their support, none of this would be possible without them.

"Ardie has done an outstanding job for us this year and we're all gutted he's not with us. We'll be doing everything we can to make him proud.

"This group is hungry to show what we've learned so far this year. The Bledisloe Cup means a lot to every player in this squad, and there's nothing better than running out at Eden Park in front of a home crowd,” Taylor said.

The 34-man All Black squad
(age, Super Rugby Club, province, Test caps):

Forwards (19)

Hookers
Codie Taylor (35 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 112) (Captain)
Asafo Aumua (29 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 26)
Samisoni Taukei'aho (29 / Chiefs / Waikato / 45)

Props
Ethan de Groot (28 / Highlanders / Southland / 45)
George Bower (34 / Crusaders / Otago / 29)
Xavier Numia (27 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 5)
Tyrel Lomax (30 / Hurricanes / Tasman / 55)
Fletcher Newell (26 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 41)
Pasilio Tosi (28 / Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty / 17)

Locks
Scott Barrett (32 / Crusaders / Taranaki / 89)
Josh Lord (25 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 17)
Fabian Holland (23 / Highlanders / Otago / 15)
Tupou Vaa'i (26 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 51)

Loose Forwards
Simon Parker (26 / Chiefs / Northland / 10)
Shannon Frizell (32 / Highlanders / Tasman / 33)
Anton Segner (25 / Blues / Auckland / 2)
Ethan Blackadder (31 / Crusaders / Tasman / 15)
Peter Lakai (23 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 14)
Wallace Sititi (24 / Chiefs / North Harbour / 23)

Backs (15)

Halfbacks
Cam Roigard (25 / Hurricanes / Counties Manukau / 24)
Cortez Ratima (25 / Chiefs / Waikato / 24)
Kyle Preston (27 / Crusaders / Wellington / 5)

First Five-Eighths
Richie Mo'unga (32 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 57)
Josh Jacomb (25 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 0)

Midfielders
Jordie Barrett (29 / Hurricanes / Taranaki / 85)
Quinn Tupaea (27 / Chiefs / Waikato / 29)
Timoci Tavatavanawai (28 / Highlanders / Tasman / 2)
Rieko Ioane (29 / Blues / Auckland / 89)

Outside Backs
Fehi Fineanganofo (24 / Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty / 1)
Leroy Carter (27 / Chiefs / Bay of Plenty / 10)
Josh Moorby (28 / Hurricanes / Waikato / 5)
Will Jordan (28 / Crusaders / Tasman / 61)
Beauden Barrett (35 / Blues / Taranaki / 145)
Damian McKenzie (31 / Chiefs / Waikato / 81)

Unavailable due to injury:
Ruben Love (ankle); Patrick Tuipulotu (calf); Ardie Savea (shoulder); Luke Jacobson (elbow); Anton Lienert-Brown (knee); Billy Proctor (shoulder); Caleb Clarke (shoulder); Ollie Norris (knee).


2026 Bledisloe Cup Fixtures 

  • All Blacks v Wallabies, 10 October 2026 at Eden Park, Auckland
  • Wallabies v All Blacks, 17 October 2026 at Accor Stadium, Sydney