Hautapu Sports Club’s Laghlan McWhannell has been selected for the Māori All Blacks to meet Japan XV and Scotland.
McWhannell (26) first won selection to the squad in 2024, and returns for the matches in Tokyo (June 28) and Whangarei (July 5).
Main photo: Laghlan McWhannell … named in the 29-player Māori All Blacks squad.
Cambridge-born McWhannell is one of many players to emerge from St Peter’s, Cambridge, playing his club rugby for Hautapu.
In 2018, he won selection to the New Zealand U-20 team, and won selection for Waikato’s provincial rugby squad.
In 2019, McWhannell won the country’s top award for personal development, awarded by the New Zealand Rugby Players Association (NZRPA).
The lock made his Chiefs debut in 2022 after injuries in 2020 and 2021 sidelined him. He has played for the Auckland Blues since 2024 and is contracted to the franchise till 2026.
READ MORE: Hautapu duo named in All Blacks squad to face France in three-game series >>>>
Māori All Blacks squad
Props
Benet Kumeroa (Te Atihaunui a Paparangi/Bay of Plenty/Chiefs)
Jared Proffit* (Ngati Porou/Taranaki/Chiefs)
Pouri Rakete-Stones (Ngapuhi/Hawke’s Bay/Hurricanes)
Kershawl Sykes-Martin* (Ngati Porou/Tasman/Crusaders)
Mason Tupaea* (Ngaati Tiipa, Ngaati Amaru/Waikato/Blues)
Hookers
Jacob Devery* (Te Aitanga a Mahaki/Hawke’s Bay/Hurricanes)
Kurt Eklund (Ngati Kahu/Bay of Plenty/Blues)
Locks
Zach Gallagher* (Te Atiawa/Canterbury/Hurricanes)
Laghlan McWhannell (Ngati Kahungunu/Waikato/Blues)
Antonio Shalfoon* (Whakatohea/Tasman/Crusaders)
Isaia Walker-Leawere (Ngati Porou/Hawke’s Bay/Hurricanes)
Loose forwards
Nikora Broughton (Ngarauru, Ngati Ruanui/Bay of Plenty/Highlanders)
Jahrome Brown* (Ngati Porou/Waikato/Chiefs)
Caleb Delany (Ngati Tuwharetoa/Wellington/Hurricanes)
Cullen Grace (Ngati Whakaue/Canterbury/Crusaders)
Te Kamaka Howden (Tuhoe/Manawatu/Highlanders)
Half backs
Kemara Hauiti-Parapara* (Ngai Tai, Ngati Porou/Auckland)
Sam Nock (Ngapuhi/Northland/Blues)
First five-eighths
Rivez Reihana (Ngapuhi, Ngai Tahu, Ngati Hine/Northland/Crusaders)
Kaleb Trask (Ngapuhi/Bay of Plenty/Chiefs)
Midfield
Corey Evans (Te Aupouri, Ngati Kahu/Northland/Blues)
Bailyn Sullivan (Ngati Kahungunu/Waikato/Hurricanes)
Daniel Rona (Te Atiawa/Taranaki/Chiefs)
Xavi Taele* (Ngai Tahu/Auckland/Blues)
Gideon Wrampling* (Ngapuhi, Ngati Hine/Waikato/Chiefs)
Outside backs
Cole Forbes (Ngati Awa/Bay of Plenty/Blues)
Jonah Lowe (Ngati Pikiao/Hawke’s Bay/Highlanders)
Zarn Sullivan (Ngati Kahungunu/Hawke’s Bay/Blues)
* Denotes new cap
Injury Cover – Kade Banks* (Ngapuhi, Ngati Whatua/North Harbour/Hurricanes) has joined the squad as temporary injury cover for Daniel Rona.
The following players were not considered due to injury:
Rameka Poihipi (Ngati Whakaue)
Cameron Suafoa (Ngapuhi)
Taha Kemara (Te Whanau a Apanui, Te Whakatohea)
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Ngati Rangitihi, Ngati Pikiao, Tuhourangi, Ngati Whakaue, Ngati Awa)
Marcel Renata (Ngati Whanaunga)
Manaaki Selby-Rickit (Ngati Raukawa)
Fixtures
Game to be played on Saturday June 28, 2025
Japan XV v Māori All Blacks
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo, 9.05pm (NZT)
Game to be played on Saturday July 5, 2025
Māori All Blacks v Scotland
Semenoff Stadium, Whangarei, 3.35pm (NZT)
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