Tongan-born loose forward Shannon Frizell (195cm, 108kg, 32) has become one of New Zealand rugby's most seasoned campaigners, with 33 Test caps for the All Blacks.

Frizell switched from football to rugby at 'Apifo'ou College in Tonga, representing Tonga at Under 20 level before relocating to Nelson in 2015 on a development contract with the Tasman Rugby Union. He also turned out for New Zealand Marist at Under 19 level and played for the Tasman sevens side, making his provincial debut for Tasman in 2016 and featuring in every match that season. A standout 2017 Mako campaign earned him a Super Rugby contract with the Highlanders.

He made his All Blacks debut in the third Test of the 2018 Steinlager Series against France in Dunedin, and scored his first Test try in a 46-24 win over Argentina in front of his provincial home crowd in Nelson during that year's Investec Rugby Championship. Frizell went on to become a mainstay of the All Blacks loose forward mix, featuring at the 2019 Rugby World Cup and starting the 2023 Rugby World Cup final in France.

Frizell spent the past three seasons with Toshiba Brave Lupus in Japan, helping the club to back-to-back Japan Rugby League One titles, before returning to New Zealand this year to rejoin Tasman for the Hilux NPC, with a return to the Highlanders to follow in Super Rugby Pacific in 2027.

His older brother Tyson plays for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League.

"Frizell has been recalled to the All Blacks for the Bledisloe Cup series against Australia, his first involvement with the side since the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Head coach Dave Rennie said: 'Shannon brings plenty of Test experience and physical impact to our loose forwards.'"