Billy Proctor of New Zealand. New Zealand All Blacks v Fiji, International Rugby Union Test match at Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, USA on Friday 19 July 2024. 2024 Steinlager Ultra Low Carb Test Series. Photo credit: Evan Denworth / www.photosport.nz Photo: www.photosport.nz
With no Rugby Championship games this weekend, twelve All Blacks will play NPC rugby, with Wellington getting some stars back for their Ranfurly Shield challenge.
Midfielder Billy Proctor and fullback come first-five Ruben Love join the Lions ahead of Sunday's challenge for the Log o'Wood against Tasman in Blenheim, while the hosts are boosted by the return of David Havili.
Ruben Love of the Hurricanes is tackled by Laghlan McWhannell of the Blues. Photo: Hagen Hopkins
Wellington pipped Otago 32-28 in Dunedin on Wednesday night to remain unbeaten this NPC season and at the top of the standings with six wins from six games.
Tasman, who sit third on the ladder behind second placed Hawke's Bay, are also unbeaten in 2024 with five wins from five matches.
Hawke's Bay have had five wins from six games.
Hooker George Bell and prop Ethan de Groot will bolster the Canterbury and Southland front rows respectively when the sides meet in Invercargill on Friday.
Ethan De Groot of New Zealand. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Canterbury are seventh in the standings with Southland 11th.
On Saturday, loose forwards Samipeni Finau and Luke Jacobson will join Waikato when they take on Hawke's Bay in Hamilton, while Tauranga's fixture will feature prop Pasilio Tosi for fourth placed Bay of Plenty and lock Josh Lord for fifth placed Taranaki.
Also on Sunday, prop George Bower will play for eighth placed Otago against ninth placed Counties Manukau and back Harry Plummer and veteran lock Patrick Tuipulotu will line up for Auckland against Northland in the battle of the teams sitting 12th and 13th respectively.
Due to long haul travel and recovery protocols, the first attendance with their respective teams for players involved in Friday or Saturday games will be Captains Run, while those playing on Sunday will join their teams for training from Friday.
The list of All Blacks playing for their provincial teams is as follows:
Friday 13 September
Southland (Ethan de Groot) v Canterbury (George Bell) - Rugby Park, Invercargill, 7.05pm
Saturday 14 September
Bay of Plenty (Pasilio Tosi) v Taranaki (Josh Lord) - Tauranga Domain, 2.05pm
Waikato (Samipeni Finau and Luke Jacobson) v Hawke's Bay - FMG Stadium, Hamilton, 7.05pm
Sunday 15 September
Counties Manukau v Otago (George Bower) - Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe, 2.05pm
Tasman (David Havili) v Wellington (Billy Proctor and Ruben Love) - Lansdowne Park, Blenheim, 2.05pm
Northland v Auckland (Harry Plummer and Patrick Tuipulotu)- Semenoff Stadium, Whangarei, 4.35pm