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Māori All Blacks name team to face Japan XV

Māori All Blacks
By: All Blacks
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Te kapa Māori ka tuki ki a Hapani XV ki Nagoya

Māori All Blacks ready to bring their trademark brand of rugby to Nagoya

The Māori All Blacks are ready to bring their trademark brand of rugby to Nagoya on Saturday, with Head Coach Tamati Ellison (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Whakaue) naming a match-day 23 eager to play with physicality, flair and purpose against the Japan XV.

Find out where to watch Māori All Blacks v Japan XV here

Te Reo translation:

Kua rite te kapa Māori ki te whakatairanga i tōna taera whutupōro ki Nagoya a te Hatarei i te whakaingoatia o te aro ā-kapa 23 e te kaiako matua a Tamati Ellison (Ngāi Tahi, Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Whakaue), e whakakanohi nei i tētahi hunga pakari, waewae parahutihuti, manawa tītī anō hoki ka whakataetae atu ki a Hapani XV.

Five players to debut for Māori All Blacks:

Five players will make their Māori All Blacks debut in the starting 15, with Adam Lennox, Reon Paul, Tahlor Cahill, Torian Barnes and Payton Spencer all set to earn their first caps, while experienced midfielder Bailyn Sullivan will captain the side.

Te Reo translation:

Tokorima ngā tauhou kua tohua ki te 15 tuatahi. Ko Adam Lennox (Ngāti Kūia, Ngāti Raukawa), ko Reon Paul (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou), ko Tahlor Cahill (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Raukawa), ko Torian Barnes (Ngāti Whātua) rātou ko Payton Spencer (Mūaupoko, Ngāti Kahungunu) e rikarika ana ki te whakakanohi i tō rātou iwi Māori mō te wā tuatahi. Me te aha, ko te whakaingoatia te tautōhito a Bailyn Sullivan (Ngāti Kahungunu) hei kāpene mō te kapa.

Hei tā Ellison, ko Sullivan te tangata.

Bailyn
is
a
player
who
leads
through
his
actions
on
the
field.
He
represents
the
style
of
rugby
we
want
to
play
as
the
Māori
All
Blacks,
fast,
physical
and
built
around
the
way
we
want
to
express
ourselves.
He
made
his
debut
for
the
Māori
All
Blacks
in
2022
and
has
grown
into
an
experienced
member
of
this
group.
He
has
been
able
to
learn
from
the
leaders
who
have
come
before
him,
and
now
it's
his
time
to
step
forward
Māori All Blacks Head Coach Tamati Ellison said Sullivan was the right choice to lead.

Ellison also acknowledged the five debutants named in the 15.

I whakamānawa hoki a Ellison i ngā tauhou kua whakaingoatia ki te 15 mō te wā tuatahi.

Pulling
on
the
Māori
All
Blacks
jersey
for
the
first
time
is
a
special
moment
and
one
that
Adam,
Reon,
Tahlor,
Torian
and
Payton
have
earned
through
their
performances
and
commitment.
They’ve
embraced
everything
that
this
environment
stands
for
and
we’re
excited
to
see
them
take
their
opportunity
on
Saturday.
Māori All Blacks Head Coach, Tamati Ellison

Ka whakatakoto tūāpapa ngā poumua ki ngā whakataunga nekehanga, me ngā pou a Ollie Norris (Ngāpuhi), a Tyrone Thompson (Ngāi Tāmanuhiri, Ngāti Rangiwewehi) rātou ko Marcel Renata (Ngāti Whanaunga) hei punga ki mua. Mā te tauhou a Tahlor Cahill (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Raukawa) rāua ko Laghlan McWannell ngā poumua e whītiki, waiho mai ko Te Kamaka Howden (Tūhoe), Jahrome Brown (Ngāti Porou) rātou ko Torian Barnes (Ngāti Whātua) ngā pari o ngā pou e manaaki.

The forward pack will look to lay a strong platform through the set piece, with Ollie Norris, Tyrone Thompson and Marcel Renata packing down in the front row. Debutant Tahlor Cahill joins Laghlan McWhannell in the second row, while Te Kamaka Howden, Jahrome Brown and Torian Barnes complete the loose forward trio.

Ko tūhono te tauhou a Adam Lennox (Ngāti Kūia, Ngāti Raukawa) rāua ko te topatahi a Rivez Reihana (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāi Tahu) ki te tohutohu i te kapa. Mā Sullivan (Ngāti Kahungunu) rāua ko Xavi Taele (Ngāi Tahu) ngā topawaenga, ko Reon Paul, Cole Forbes rātou ko Peyton Spencer, te tama a te tuahangata whutupōro a Carlos Spencer ki muri.

Debutant Adam Lennox links with first five-eighth Rivez Reihana in the key playmaking roles, while Sullivan partners Xavi Taele in midfield. Debutant Reon Paul and Cole Forbes provide power and pace on the wings, with debutant Payton Spencer, son of former NZ Māori and All Black Carlos Spencer, named at fullback.

Māori All Blacks 2026 squad naming

Māori All Blacks looking forward to representing the black jersey

There’s
been
great
energy
throughout
the
week.
The
players
have
embraced
the
challenge,
connected
strongly
as
a
group
and
prepared
well
for
what
we
know
will
be
a
committed
Japan
XV
side.
When
people
watch
the
Māori
All
Blacks,
they
expect
us
to
play
with
intent.
We
want
to
be
fast,
physical,
move
the
ball,
back
our
skills
and
play
an
exciting
brand
of
rugby
that
reflects
who
we
are.
We
want
play
with
the
flair
and
ambition
that
people
expect
from
the
Māori
All
Blacks
and
the
opportunity
to
represent
our
people
and
our
culture
is
something
this
group
is
incredibly
proud
of.
Māori All Blacks Head Coach, Tamati Ellison

Māori All Blacks name an experienced bench

Kua kapi hoki te paehihiri ki a wheako rau mā e rite ana ki te hāpai ake i ngā mahi o mua, o muri anō hoki me te whakatutuki i tā ngā kaiako i whakatau ai me tā te tīma i whakaū ai.

The bench features experienced impact across the forwards and backs, giving the coaching group plenty of options to maintain pressure and finish strongly.

The Māori All Blacks team v Japan XV

Te Kapa Māori v Hapani XV

  1. Ollie Norris (Ngāpuhi)
  2. Tyrone Thompson (Ngaii Tāmanuhiri, Ngāti Rangiwewehi)
  3. Marcel Renata (Ngāti Whanaunga)
  4. Laghlan McWhannell (Ngāti Kahungunu)
  5. Tahlor Cahill* (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Pikiao and Ngāti Raukawa)
  6. Te Kamaka Howden (Tūhoe)
  7. Jahrome Brown (Ngāti Porou)
  8. Torian Barnes* (Ngāti Whātua)
  9. Adam Lennox* (Ngāti Kūia, Ngāti Raukawa)
  10. Rivez Reihana (Ngāpuhi, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Hine)
  11. Reon Paul* (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou)
  12. Xavi Taele (Ngāi Tahu)
  13. Bailyn Sullivan (Ngāti Kahungunu) - captain
  14. Payton Spencer* (Ngāti Kahungunu, Mūaupoko)
  15. Cole Forbes (Ngāti Awa)

IMPACT

  1. Jacob Devery (Te Aitanga a Mahaki)
  2. Pouri Rakete-Stones (Ngāpuhi)
  3. Benet Kumeroa (Te Atihaunui a Pāpārangi)
  4. Caleb Delany (Ngāti Tūwharetoa)
  5. Nikora Broughton (Ngārauru, Ngāti Ruanui)
  6. Sam Nock (Ngāpuhi)
  7. Taha Kemara (Te Whānau a Apanui, Te Whakatōhea)
  8. Kyle Brown* (Waikato)

*Denotes Māori All Blacks debut

*Hei tohu i ngā tauhou o te kapa

Match details

Paloma Mizuho Stadium
Nagoya, Japan
Saturday 27 June, kick-off 7.05pm JST (10.05pm NZT)

Key Māori All Blacks team facts

  • Five debutants have been named in the Māori All Blacks starting 15.
  • Bailyn Sullivan will captain the Māori All Blacks against the Japan XV.
  • The match will be played in Nagoya on Saturday, in the newly rebuilt Paloma Mizuho Stadium.
  • The Māori All Blacks have won 3 of the last 4 matches against the Japan XV

Pārongo hihiri

  • Tokorima ngā tauhou kua whakaingoatia ki te 15 tuatahi
  • Ko Bailyn Sullivan (Ngāti Kahungunu) te kāpene o te kapa
  • Ka tū te whakataetae ki Nagoya a te Hatarei ki te taiwhanga hou o Paloma Mizuho
  • Kua toa i a te kapa Māori ngā kēmu e 3 o ngā kēmu e 4 ki a Hapani XV.

Where to watch Māori All Blacks v Japan XV

Fans in New Zealand can watch the match live on Sky Sport, while viewers in Japan can tune in via J Sport.

For fans outside New Zealand and Japan, the match will be available live at here  LIVE | Māori All Blacks v Japan XV | 2026, Nagoya

Highlights: Māori All Blacks v Japan XV 2025

Bailyn Sullivan
japan-xv
Māori All Blacks v Japan XV 2026
Māori All Blacks

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