All Blacks release 12 players after SA tour

SQUAD UPDATE: Twelve members of the All Blacks' Rugby Championship squad will represent their provincial unions this weekend during Round Six of the NPC.

George Bell and Ethan de Groot will bolster the Canterbury and Southland front rows respectively when the sides meet in Invercargill this Friday.

On Saturday, loose forwards Samipeni Finau and Luke Jacobson will join Waikato when they take on Hawkes Bay in Hamilton, while Tauranga’s fixture will feature prop Pasilio Tosi for Bay of Plenty and lock Josh Lord for Taranaki.

A further six players will feature in Sunday’s provincial clashes, including George Bower for Otago against Counties Manakau; Harry Plummer and Patrick Tuipulotu for Auckland against Northland; and David Havili will help Tasman in its Ranfurly Shield defence at Lansdowne Park, while Billy Proctor and Ruben Love join Wellington.

Due to long-haul travel and recovery protocols, the first attendance with their respective teams for players involved in Friday or Saturday games will be captain's run, while those playing on Sunday will join their teams for training from Friday.

The list of All Blacks playing for their provincial teams is as follows.

Friday, September 13:

Southland v Canterbury - Rugby Park, Invercargill

Southland: Ethan de Groot

Canterbury: George Bell

Saturday, September 14:

Bay of Plenty v Taranaki – Tauranga Domain

Bay of Plenty: Pasilio Tosi

Taranaki: Josh Lord

Waikato v Hawkes Bay – Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

Waikato: Samipeni Finau and Luke Jacobson

Sunday, September 15:

Counties Manakau v Otago – Pukekohe

Otago: George Bower

Tasman v Wellington – Lansdowne Park, Blenheim

Tasman: David Havili

Wellington: Billy Proctor and Ruben Love

Northland v Auckland – Semenoff Stadium, Whangarei

Auckland: Harry Plummer and Patrick Tuipulotu