New Zealand Rugby Squad confirm for Ireland Series 2022

Ian Foster has included six uncapped players in his 36-man squad for New Zealand’s three-Test series against Ireland in July.

Prop Aidan Ross, back-rower Pita Gus Sowakula, scrum-half Folau Fakatava, fly-half Stephen Perofeta, centre Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and wing Leicester Fainga’anuku are the half-dozen new faces included in the squad. NZ v Irish Rugby

Sam Cane has been named All Blacks captain for the series, which features Tests in Auckland, Dunedin and Wellington. However, there is no room for experienced half-backs TJ Perenara and Brad Weber or Crusaders wing George Bridge.

Joe Moody, Anton Lienert-Brown and Ethan Blackadder have also been ruled out by injury while Damian McKenzie and Patrick Tuipulotu are currently considered ineligible for selection after stints in Japan.

New Zealand Rugby [NZR] has confirmed this year’s home test schedule for the All Blacks and the Black Ferns.

The All Blacks will kick their 2022 test campaign off with a three-test series against Ireland in July, and NZR announced on Tuesday that the tour will begin at Eden Park in Auckland on July 2.

The two sides will then do battle at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on July 9, before rounding out the series at Sky Stadium in Wellington on July 16.

All Blacks coach Ian Foster is relishing the three-test Steinlager series against Ireland and the two Rugby Championship Tests in South Africa to start their 2022 campaign.

Foster said on the All Blacks Podcast powered by SAP that he’s looking forward to the Ireland series because the All Blacks were still hurting from their last two Tests in 2021.

"The Irish series is going to be vital. We're still hurting from the last two (Tests) last year," he said.

"Those last two hurt, and so we've got to take those lessons. We can go straight into it.

"We know we've got an Irish team that is largely based around Leinster. They've got a lot of cohesion in that team, and they'll be coming really prepared.