Savea to miss start of Greatest Rivalry tour for All Blacks
ESPN Rugby • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 27, 2026, 12:42 AM
Last updated Jul 27, 2026
All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has announced that Savea will be unavailable at the beginning of the Greatest Rivalry tour. Rennie has added 10 players from the Nations Championship group to strengthen the squad ahead of the challenging six-week tour. The tour is expected to feature intense matchups against traditional rivals. Further details about Savea's absence and the lineup adjustments will likely emerge as the tour approaches.
- •Savea is confirmed to miss the start of the tour
- •Dave Rennie announces 10 additional players
- •The Greatest Rivalry tour spans six weeks
- •Tour features matchups against traditional rivals
- 1:22 AMESPN Rugby — Savea to miss start of Greatest Rivalry tour
- 1:07 AMYahoo Sports — All Blacks add three new caps for 'greatest rivalry' rugby tour to South Africa
"All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has selected three uncapped players among 10 additions to his current squad for a four-test series against the Rugby World Cup champion Springboks starting next month. Rennie has increased his Nations Championship squad of 34 players to 44 players for the tour which comprises three tests and four other matches in South Africa and one test in the United States. All 34 players who were part of New Zealand's Nations Championship squad — which won tests against France, Italy and Ireland — have been retained.
"Dave Rennie has bolstered his All Blacks squad for the upcoming Greatest Rivalry tour, naming an additional 10 players from the Nations Championship group ahead of the gruelling six-week tour.
Sources
External links- ESPN RugbyJul 27, 2026, 1:22 AMSavea to miss start of Greatest Rivalry tour
Dave Rennie has bolstered his All Blacks squad for the upcoming Greatest Rivalry tour, naming an additional 10 players from the Nations Championship group ahead of the gruelling six-week tour.
- Yahoo SportsJul 27, 2026, 1:07 AMAll Blacks add three new caps for 'greatest rivalry' rugby tour to South Africa
All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has selected three uncapped players among 10 additions to his current squad for a four-test series against the Rugby World Cup champion Springboks starting next month. Rennie has increased his Nations Championship squad of 34 players to 44 players for the tour which comprises three tests and four other matches in South Africa and one test in the United States. All 34 players who were part of New Zealand's Nations Championship squad — which won tests against France, Italy and Ireland — have been retained.
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