All Blacks players available for NPC

Eight players from the All Blacks Lipovitan-D July Series squad will be available for the opening round of the Bunnings Warehouse National Provincial Championship.   

The NPC kicks off this Thursday at Eden Park, when Auckland host a Waikato side that may be bolstered by All Black Anton Lienert-Brown. 

Wellington and Canterbury will have Ruben Love and Brodie McAlister, respectively, at their disposal when they face off at Porirua Park on Saturday; then Christian Lio-Willie may feature for Otago when they take on Southland at Invercargill Rugby Park later in the day. 

Sunday’s two matches will feature Emoni Narawa and Pasilio Tosi for Bay of Plenty; Timoci Tavatavanawai for Tasman; and Dalton Papali’i for Counties Manukau. 

The list of All Blacks playing for their provincial teams is as follows: 

Auckland v Waikato – Eden Park, 7:10pm Thursday 31 July 

Waikato: Anton Lienert-Brown 

Wellington v Canterbury – Porirua Park, 2:05pm Saturday 2 August 

Wellington: Ruben Love 

Canterbury: Brodie McAlister 

Southland v Otago – Invercargill Rugby Park, 4:35pm Saturday 2 August 

Otago: Christian Lio-Willie 

Bay of Plenty v Tasman – Tauranga Domain, 2:05pm Sunday 3 August 

Bay of Plenty: Emoni Narawa and Pasilio Tosi 

Tasman: Timoci Tavatavanawai 

Hawkes Bay v Counties Manukau – McLean Park, 4:35pm Sunday 3 August 

Counties Manukau: Dalton Papali’i  

INJURY UPDATE  

The following players are continuing to have injuries assessed ahead of the Rugby Championship squad assembling. Please note that the estimated return to play is as of today’s date and subject to change. 

Noah Hotham – Will need surgery for a high ankle sprain. Estimated return to play: 7 - 8 weeks. 

Tyrel Lomax – Has had surgery for hand fracture. Estimated return to play: 5 - 6 weeks. 

Caleb Clarke – High ankle injury, does not require surgery. Estimated return to play: 5 - 6 weeks. 

Luke Jacobson – Thigh injury. Estimated return to play: 5 weeks. 

Scott Barrett – Calf tear healing well. Estimated return to play: 3 weeks.

Wallace Sititi - Rehabilitating well following surgery for high ankle injury. Estimated return to play: 3 weeks.

Tamaiti Williams – Rehabilitating well following surgery for torn meniscus. Estimated return to play: 3 weeks.

Beauden Barrett – Subtle hand re-fracture but healing well. Estimated return to play: 2 weeks.

Tupou Vaa’i - Going through concussion protocols. Estimated return to play: 2 weeks.