All Blacks add three uncapped players to 44‑man South Africa and US tour squad
All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie announced a 44‑player squad for the upcoming tour of South Africa and the United States. The roster retains the 34 players from the recent Nations Championship and adds ten newcomers, including three uncapped players – Hurricanes prop Siale Lauaki, Moana Pasifika back‑rower Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa and Chiefs fly‑half Josh Jacomb. The squad also welcomes back players such as Ollie Norris, George Bell, Fabian Holland, Ethan Blackadder, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Rieko Ioane and Emoni Narawa.
The tour will feature four test matches against the Springboks and one test in Baltimore, plus provincial fixtures: Stormers (Cape Town, Aug 8), Sharks (Durban, Aug 12), Bulls (Pretoria, Aug 16) and Lions (Johannesburg, Aug 26). Tests are scheduled for Johannesburg (Aug 23), Cape Town (Aug 30), Johannesburg (Sept 6) and Baltimore (Sept 13). Rennie described the program – eight matches in six weeks – as the toughest the team has faced and a key preparation for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Entities: All Blacks · Dave Rennie · Josh Jacomb · Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa · Siale Lauaki
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The All Blacks squad consists of 44 players, up from 34 retained from the Nations Championship. (Three new players in All Blacks tour squad)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Coach Dave Rennie selected three uncapped players to join the All Blacks squad. (All Blacks add three new caps for 'greatest rivalry' rugby tour to South Africa)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The tour is intended as preparation for the Rugby World Cup 2027. (Three new players in All Blacks tour squad)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Rennie described the tour – eight matches in six weeks – as the toughest the team has faced. (Three new players in All Blacks tour squad)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The tour includes four test matches against the Springboks and one test in the United States. (All Blacks add three new caps for 'greatest rivalry' rugby tour to South Africa)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Matches are scheduled: Stormers at Cape Town (Aug 8), Sharks at Durban (Aug 12), Bulls at Pretoria (Aug 16), Lions at Johannesburg (Aug 26), Tests at Johannesburg (Aug 23), Cape Town (Aug 30), Johanes (All Blacks add three new caps for 'greatest rivalry' rugby tour to South Africa)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The uncapped players are Hurricanes prop Siale Lauaki, Moana Pasifika back‑rower Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, and Chiefs fly‑half Josh Jacomb. (All Blacks add three new caps for 'greatest rivalry' rugby tour to South Africa)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The All Blacks have won a test series in South Africa only once, in 1996. (All Blacks add three new caps for 'greatest rivalry' rugby tour to South Africa)