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Ruben Love called into the All Blacks squad for The Rugby Championship

By Ben Smith
Ruben Love looks on during a New Zealand All Blacks training session at NZCIS on July 02, 2024 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Hurricanes fullback Ruben Love has officially been named in the 36-man All Blacks squad for the Rugby Championship as the only uncapped player.

The 23-year-old was drafted in to train with the All Blacks during the July series as one of eight extra players, but has now been named as one of six outside backs in the squad.

Joining Love in the outside backs is returning Crusader and All Black wing Will Jordan, who has made a full recovery from shoulder surgery.

In the midfield group, David Havili brings his versatility to the squad as one of five named, along with standout rookie Billy Proctor, established duo Jordie Barrett and Rieko, and veteran Anton Lienert-Brown.

After suffering a knee injury in the first Test against England, TJ Perenara is one of three halfbacks along with rookie pair Noah Hotham and Cortez Ratima. Blues halfback Finlay Christie has been dropped from the squad.

Former captain Sam Cane returns to the squad after training with the group throughout July as one of seven loose forwards picked.

Sam Darry is one of four locks, while Chiefs lock Josh Lord has been named as injury cover with captain Scott Barrett expected to miss the opening matches after undergoing surgery.

All Blacks 36-man squad for the Rugby Championship:

Forwards (20)

Hookers

Asafo Aumua (27 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 9)

Codie Taylor (33 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 87)

George Bell (22 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 1)

Props

Ethan De Groot (26 / Highlanders / Southland / 25)

Tyrel Lomax (28 / Hurricanes / Tasman / 34)

Fletcher Newell (24 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 16)

Pasilio Tosi (26 / Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty / 1)

Ofa Tu’ungafasi (32 / Blues / Northland / 59)

Tamaiti Williams (23 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 8)

Locks

Scott Barrett (30 / Crusaders / Taranaki / 72) (Captain)

Tupou Vaa’i (24 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 28)

Patrick Tuipulotu (31 / Blues / Auckland / 45)

Sam Darry (24 / Blues / Canterbury / 1)

Loose Forwards

Ethan Blackadder (29 / Crusaders / Tasman / 11)

Sam Cane (32 / Chiefs / Bay of Plenty / 95)

Samipeni Finau (25 / Chiefs / Waikato / 3)

Luke Jacobson (27 / Chiefs / Waikato / 21)

Dalton Papali’i (26 / Blues / Counties Manukau / 34)

Ardie Savea (30 / Moana Pasifika / Wellington / 84) (Vice Captain)

Wallace Sititi (21 / Chiefs / North Harbour / 1)

Backs (16)

Halfbacks

Noah Hotham (21 / Crusaders / Tasman / 1)

TJ Perenara (32 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 81)

Cortez Ratima (23 / Chiefs / Waikato / 2)

First five-eighths

Beauden Barrett (33 / Blues / Taranaki / 126)

Damian McKenzie (29 / Chiefs / Waikato / 50)

Mid-fielders

Jordie Barrett (27 / Hurricanes / Taranaki / 60) (Vice Captain)

David Havili (29 / Crusaders / Tasman / 27)

Rieko Ioane (27 / Blues / Auckland / 71)

Anton Lienert-Brown (29 / Chiefs / Waikato / 73)

Billy Proctor (25 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 1)

Outside backs

Caleb Clarke (25 / Blues / Auckland / 21)

Will Jordan (26 / Crusaders / Tasman / 31)

Ruben Love (23 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 0)*

Stephen Perofeta (27 / Blues / Taranaki / 5)

Sevu Reece (27 / Crusaders / Southland / 26)

Mark Tele’a (27 / Blues / North Harbour/ 11)

INJURY COVER: Josh Lord (23 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 4)