NZR unveils ‘All Blacks XV’ for tour
New Zealand Rugby has announced a rebranding of its second-tier men’s national team and a planned northern hemisphere tour later this year.
The team, once known as New Zealand A and also, slightly confusingly, the Junior All Blacks, has been renamed ‘‘the All Blacks XV’’.
Essentially it will be the national men’s selection that sits just below the All Blacks on the pecking order, with three matches scheduled later this year in the last weekend of October and first two of Novem- ber.
NZR chief rugby officer Nigel Cass said the team was designed as a career stepping-stone towards the All Blacks for New Zealand’s top players.
‘‘The All Blacks XV will be our second-tier team below the All Blacks,’’ he said. ‘‘This is a fantastic opportunity for players to experience a national team environment and prove themselves on the international stage, or for those who have already worn the All Blacks jersey to get more game-time at this level.
‘‘The high-performance benefits of this team will be significant. It will help to develop the next group of players, many of whom will likely become our future All Blacks, as well as give further opportunities for our coaches and other team personnel.
‘‘We also believe that this will aid with retention of players and personnel in New Zealand.’’
Cass said the intention was for the All Blacks XV to become a regular national team playing second-tier overseas opposition.
‘‘Teams such as the New Zealand A team and the Junior All Blacks . . . have been sporadic in the past, and we believe there is great value in making this a regular national team going forward.’’
Cass said the team would have commercial value for NZ Rugby, ‘‘allowing us to showcase and grow New Zealand’s brand of rugby in many more parts of the world’’.
New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association CEO Rob Nichol said the concept had the support of his constituency.
‘‘If [players] don’t quite make the All Blacks touring squad, being able to push their case through Super Rugby and Mitre 10 Cup for selection to the All Blacks XV will be a strong motivator for many.
‘‘It will provide an opportunity for quality players to tour and represent their country against some tough international opposition, to play alongside players and work with coaches they respect and a platform to continue that push for higher honours.’’
NZ Rugby has formed an exclusive partnership with sports promotion company Left Field Live to arrange, promote and deliver the All Blacks XV matches in 2020 and 2021.
LFL has worked previously on the two All Blacks clashes in Chicago and the UK Barbarians match in 2017.
Details of the the All Blacks XV matches will be announced soon.