All Blacks coach Ian Foster named his 36-man Rugby Championship squad on Sunday with six new faces in the squad.
Emoni Narawa
Position: Outside back
Born: 13/7/1999
Weight: 98kg
All Blacks squad naming: Meet the six new players in Ian Foster’s squad
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Height: 1.84m
Province: Bay of Plenty
Super Rugby Pacific: Chiefs
Fijian-born wing Emoni Narawa thrived in the Chiefs’ Super Rugby Pacific environment in 2023. The side’s attacking approach allowed him many opportunities to use his speed, and he shared in some great tries during the campaign.
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He has had to wait his time. Coming out of Hamilton Boys’ High School, he made his first-class debut for Bay of Plenty when Chiefs’ coach Clayton McMillan was involved, and in 37 appearances for the union, he has scored 24 tries. His first Super Rugby home was with the Blues in 2020-21, but he made only seven appearances. Transferring to the Chiefs in 2022, he hasn’t looked back. Playing either at fullback or on the wing, he scored five tries in nine games.
In 2023, his game blossomed due to work put in during the off-season and he was a regular starter. One of the fastest players with the ball in hand, he has complemented the skills of the players inside him.
Cam Roigard
Position: Halfback
Born: 16/11/2000
Weight: 88kg
Height: 1.83m
Province: Counties Manukau
Super Rugby Pacific: Hurricanes
Cameron Roigard began his association with the Hurricanes as a replacement player during their 2020 pre-season programme. But such was the work ethic and dedication he showed his contract was extended for the 2020 campaign. He didn’t play but took his experience training with the side back to Pukekohe, where he debuted for Counties Manukau in the 2020 National Provincial Championship. He returned to Wellington for Super Rugby Pacific and debuted against the Crusaders.
While his opportunities were restricted as he played in the shadows of All Black TJ Perenara and the experienced Jamie Booth, Roigard showed enough to be named a member of the All Blacks XV in 2022, substituting for Perenara against Ireland A. With Perenara suffering an Achilles’ tendon injury when called into the All Blacks to play England, Roigard found himself with the chance for more starts with the Hurricanes, something he achieved with significant effect with some outstanding play in Super Rugby Pacific 2023.
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Tamaiti Williams
Position: Prop
Born 10/8/2000
Weight: 140kg
Height: 1.96m
Province: Canterbury
Super Rugby Pacific: Crusaders
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Whangarei-born Tamaiti Williams burst onto the national scene when debuting for Canterbury in the National Provincial Championship in 2020. A year after he represented New Zealand Under-20 at the Junior World Championships, the Crusaders soon secured him, where he became part of a solid scrummaging unit including several All Blacks.
After debuting for Canterbury in 2020, his strong displays resulted in his selection for the Māori All Blacks. In 2022 he was included in the All Blacks XV, playing against the Ireland XV and the Barbarians on their tour.
A product of St Kentigern College in Auckland, he had an outstanding season for the Crusaders during their 2023 campaign. A strong scrummager, he has sound skills with the ball in hand and is dangerous close to the line.
Dallas McLeod
Position: Midfield/outside back
Born: 30/04/1999
Weight: 101kg
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Height: 190cm
Province: Canterbury
Super Rugby Pacific: Crusaders
Centre Dallas McLeod was selected in the Crusaders for the 2020 season after an impressive debut season with Canterbury in the Mitre 10 Cup.
McLeod was a key member of the Canterbury Under 19 squad and was Vice Captain for the New Zealand side in the 2019 Under 20 World Championship in Argentina.
His skill and versatility are what has grabbed the selectors attention, as he can play outside or mid-field back positions.
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Samipeni Finau
Position: Loose forward
Born: 10/05/1999
Weight: 115kg
Height: 1.93m
Province: Waikato
Super Rugby Pacific: Chiefs
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Born in Tonga, dynamic young loose forward Samipeni Finau played much of his rugby at fullback before switching to the loose forwards.
Finau was selected for the 2017 New Zealand Secondary Barbarians team in 2017 after an impressive season at St Peters School in Cambridge.
After playing for Waikato in the 2020 NPC, Finau made his Super Rugby debut for the Chiefs in 2021 starting alongside Sam Cane and Luke Jacobson.
His speed and power off the side of the scrum made him a formidable player and he’s impressed his Chiefs team-mates with his versatility and his talent.
Shaun Stevenson
Position: Outside back
Born: 14/11/1996
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Weight: 100kg
Height: 1.9m
Province: North Harbour
Super Rugby Pacific Chiefs
Named as injury cover
Shaun Stevenson had an outstanding season for the Chiefs, one of the leading try scorers in Super Rugby Pacific in 2023. He played for the 2016 New Zealand Under-20s after being an NZ Secondary Schools selection in 2014. Around the first-class scene since making his provincial debut for Waikato in 2015, Stevenson has matured into a consistently high-performing player, whether at fullback or on the wing.
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While he returned to his home region of North Harbour in 2017, the impression he made with Waikato saw the Chiefs sign him for Super Rugby, and he has remained with them. By 2022, he started to reap the benefits of his persistence when playing outstanding games for the Māori All Blacks, for whom he has played 12 games since 2017, and being selected for the All Blacks’ XV that toured in Ireland and England in 2022.
Coming into the 2023 season, he played from the outset with a high degree of confidence and in partnership with the Chiefs’ high-quality backline, he scored some outstanding tries and featured at the top of the tryscoring lists.
