Beauden Barrett returns for Taranaki as All Blacks eye Bledisloe Cup squad spots

Beauden Barrett will line up for Taranaki against Wellington on Sunday 4 October in the final regular-season round of the Hilux NPC, his first appearance for the province since 2020, as 14 All Blacks are released to their provinces with Dave Rennie’s 34-man Bledisloe Cup squad set to be named on Tuesday.

The 145-Test first-five faces stiff competition for a playmaker berth in Rennie’s squad, with Ruben Love, Damian McKenzie, Richie Mo’unga, and Josh Jacomb all vying for the same positions. Barrett could start alongside his brother Scott, who made his first competitive appearance of 2026 last weekend against Hawke’s Bay.

Elsewhere, Highlanders prop Saula Ma’u will again represent Otago when they host Auckland in Dunedin on Thursday, while Semesi Tupou Ta’eiloa and Simon Parker feature for Southland and Northland respectively in Friday night’s clash in Invercargill.

Sam Darry makes his first appearance of the season for Canterbury as they travel to face Manawatu on Saturday, where George Bell will play his third consecutive game after returning from a calf injury. All Blacks halfback Cortez Ratima will turn out for Waikato against Tasman after coming through his comeback from a minor knee injury against Wellington on Sunday.

Tasman will retain the services of Timoci Tavatavanawai and Noah Hotham, while Bay of Plenty welcome Fehi Fineanganofo and Emoni Narawa into their squad for Sunday’s match against North Harbour, subject to selection.