New Coach Tamati Ellison Names Māori All Blacks Squad for 2026 Season

AUKLAND — New Māori All Blacks Head Coach Tamati Ellison (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Whakaue) has ushered in a new era for the team, naming his first squad at Ōrākei Marae in Auckland on Monday, 22 June 2026. The 26-strong selection features a deliberate mix of veteran talent and six fresh faces who are set to represent their whakapapa on the international stage during the 2026 season. Among the uncapped players joining the ranks are Torian Barnes (Ngāti Whātua) and Payton Spencer (Ngāti Kahungunu, Muaūpoko), both of whom caught the selectors' eyes during the Super Rugby Pacific season with the Blues. They are joined by Highlanders halfback Adam Lennox (Ngāti Kūia, Ngāti Raukawa), alongside JJ Pokai, Tahlor Cahill, Kyle Brown, and Reon Paul, who all stand to make their debuts. Ellison, a former All Blacks assistant coach, described the selection process as a privilege, noting the deep responsibility inherent in maintaining the legacy of the Māori All Blacks jersey. The squad balances this new energy with the return of experienced campaigners such as Marcel Renata (Ngāti Whānaunga) and halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi. These returning players are expected to anchor the team's culture as they depart for Nagoya to face a Japan XV this Saturday. Assisting Ellison in the coaching box are Greg Feek (Kahungunu) and Marty Bourke (Tainui). Arran Pene, Chair of the Māori Rugby Board’s Rugby Subcommittee, emphasized that the team represents more than sport. Speaking at the announcement, Pene said the side embodies whānau and communities, operating under the whakataukī 'Ara mai he tētēkura'. The focus remains on celebrating Māori identity while contributing to the global game. As the team prepares for their flight to Japan, they carry the aspirations of their iwi and the wider Māori rugby community into the 2026 campaign.