{"id":489832,"date":"2026-06-22T12:15:15","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T12:15:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/489832\/"},"modified":"2026-06-22T12:15:15","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T12:15:15","slug":"maori-all-blacks-squad-coach-tamati-ellison-announces-team-six-uncapped-players","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/489832\/","title":{"rendered":"M\u0101ori All Blacks squad: Coach Tamati Ellison announces team, six uncapped players"},"content":{"rendered":"

New M\u0101ori All Blacks Head Coach Tamati Ellison (Ng\u0101i Tahu, Ng\u0101ti Mutunga, Ng\u0101ti Whakaue) has named his first squad in charge of the team, selecting a blend of experienced campaigners along with six uncapped players for the 2026 season<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The 26-strong squad was announced at \u014cr\u0101kei Marae in Auckland on Monday, ahead of the team flying to Japan where they will take on a Japan XV side in Nagoya on Saturday.<\/p>\n

The six uncapped players, include Torian Barnes (Ng\u0101ti Wh\u0101tua) and Payton Spencer (Ng\u0101ti Kahungunu, Mua\u016bpoko), who have impressed throughout the DHL Super Rugby Pacific season for the Blues, alongside Highlanders halfback Adam Lennox (Ng\u0101ti K\u016bia, Ng\u0101ti Raukawa).<\/p>\n

Ellison, who previously served as an Assistant Coach with the All Blacks, said selecting his first M\u0101ori All Blacks squad was a privilege and there was a responsibility to continue the legacy of the jersey.<\/p>\n

“This is a special team with a unique purpose. The M\u0101ori All Blacks jersey carries a lot of history, and every player who puts it on becomes part of that story.<\/p>\n

“We wanted to recognise the players who have represented this team before and understand what it means to wear this jersey, while also creating opportunities for the next group coming through.”<\/p>\n

The squad includes a number of players returning to the M\u0101ori All Blacks environment, including 2024 representatives Marcel Renata (Ng\u0101ti Wh\u0101naunga), Taha Kemara (Te Wh\u0101nau a Apanui, Te Whakat\u014dhea) and Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Ng\u0101ti Rangitihi, Ng\u0101ti Pikiao, T\u016bhourangi, Ng\u0101ti Whakaue, Ng\u0101ti Awa).<\/p>\n

Ellison said the connection created by representing the M\u0101ori All Blacks lasts beyond the final whistle.<\/p>\n

“Once you have worn this jersey, you are always part of this team. That connection stays with you, and having players return who understand the expectations, the culture and the responsibility of representing M\u0101ori rugby is really special.”<\/p>\n

The six uncapped players were an exciting addition to the 2026 campaign, he said.<\/p>\n

“These players have earned their opportunity. They have shown the qualities we look for in M\u0101ori All Blacks players, not just through their rugby, but through who they are and what they represent.<\/p>\n

“They are joining a group with a strong foundation and we are excited to see them bring their own energy and identity into the team.”<\/p>\n

Ellison is joined by assistant coaches Greg Feek (Kahungunu) and Marty Bourke (Tainui).<\/p>\n

M\u0101ori Rugby Board (MRB) member and Chair of the Rugby Subcommittee Arran Pene (Ng\u0101ti Wairere, Ng\u0101ti Apakura, Ng\u0101ti P\u0101keh\u0101) said the M\u0101ori All Blacks represent more than just rugby, they represent whakapapa, wh\u0101nau, communities and the generations of M\u0101ori players who have worn the jersey.<\/p>\n

“As we look to the future under the whakatauk\u012b ‘Ara mai he t\u0113t\u0113kura’, we are focused on nurturing the growth and potential of M\u0101ori rugby, creating opportunities for our players, celebrating who they are as M\u0101ori, and continuing to make a meaningful contribution to rugby here in Aotearoa and around the world.<\/p>\n

“The M\u0101ori All Blacks jersey comes with a great responsibility. It is a privilege to represent your wh\u0101nau, your iwi and the wider M\u0101ori rugby community. On behalf of the M\u0101ori Rugby Board, I want to congratulate all the players selected and acknowledge the support of everyone who has helped them reach this point.”<\/p>\n

The 2026 M\u0101ori All Blacks squad<\/p>\n

Benet Kumeroa (Te Atihaunui a P\u0101p\u0101rangi\/Bay of Plenty\/Chiefs)<\/p>\n

Ollie Norris (Ng\u0101puhi\/Waikato\/Chiefs)<\/p>\n

Jared Proffit (Ng\u0101ti Porou\/Taranaki\/Chiefs)<\/p>\n

Pouri Rakete-Stones (Ng\u0101puhi\/Hawke’s Bay\/Hurricanes)<\/p>\n

Marcel Renata (Ng\u0101ti Wh\u0101naunga\/Northland\/Blues)<\/p>\n

Jacob Devery (Te Aitanga a Mahaki\/Hawke’s Bay\/Hurricanes)<\/p>\n

JJ Pokai* (Ng\u0101ti T\u016bwharetoa\/Taranaki\/Chiefs)<\/p>\n

Tyrone Thompson (Ng\u0101i T\u0101manuhiri and Ng\u0101ti Rangiwewehi\/Hawke’s Bay\/Chiefs)<\/p>\n

Tahlor Cahill* (Ng\u0101puhi\/Canterbury\/Crusaders)<\/p>\n

Caleb Delany (Ng\u0101ti T\u016bwharetoa\/Wellington\/Hurricanes)<\/p>\n

Laghlan McWhannell (Ng\u0101ti Kahungunu\/Waikato\/Blues)<\/p>\n

Torian Barnes* (Ng\u0101ti Wh\u0101tua\/Canterbury\/Blues)<\/p>\n

Jahrome Brown (Ng\u0101ti Porou\/Waikato\/Chiefs)<\/p>\n

Nikora Broughton (Ng\u0101rauru, Ng\u0101ti Ruanui\/Bay of Plenty\/Highlanders)<\/p>\n

Te Kamaka Howden (T\u016bhoe\/Manawat\u016b\/Highlanders)<\/p>\n

Sam Nock (Ng\u0101puhi, Northland, Blues)<\/p>\n

Adam Lennox* (Ng\u0101ti K\u016bia, Ng\u0101ti Raukawa\/Taranaki\/Highlanders)<\/p>\n

Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Ng\u0101ti Rangitihi, Ng\u0101ti Pikiao, T\u016bhourangi, Ng\u0101ti Whakaue, Ng\u0101ti Awa\/Bay of Plenty\/Chiefs)<\/p>\n

Taha Kemara (Te Wh\u0101nau a Apanui, Te Whakat\u014dhea\/Waikato\/Crusaders)<\/p>\n

Rivez Reihana (Ng\u0101puhi, Ng\u0101i Tahu, Ng\u0101ti Hine\/Northland\/Crusaders)<\/p>\n

Kyle Brown* (Waikato\/Manawat\u016b\/Chiefs)<\/p>\n

Bailyn Sullivan (Ng\u0101ti Kahungunu\/Hawke’s Bay\/Hurricanes)<\/p>\n

Xavi Taele (Ng\u0101i Tahu\/Auckland\/Blues)<\/p>\n

Cole Forbes (Ng\u0101ti Awa\/Bay of Plenty\/Blues)<\/p>\n

Reon Paul* (Ng\u0101puhi, Ng\u0101ti Porou\/Bay of Plenty\/Chiefs)<\/p>\n

Payton Spencer* (Ng\u0101ti Kahungunu, Mua\u016bpoko\/Auckland\/Blues)<\/p>\n

*denotes potential debut in 2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"New M\u0101ori All Blacks Head Coach Tamati Ellison (Ng\u0101i Tahu, Ng\u0101ti Mutunga, Ng\u0101ti Whakaue) has named his first…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":489833,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[111,139,69,213],"class_list":["post-489832","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/489832","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=489832"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/489832\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/489833"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=489832"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=489832"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=489832"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}