Fainga'anuku embraces All Blacks hybrid role after returning from broken leg

Leicester Fainga’anuku is back in the All Blacks fold for their end-of-year Nations Championship Tests in the UK, returning from a broken leg that kept him sidelined while his teammates played on without him. The 27-year-old was named as a loose forward in the squad — a placement that caught even him off guard.

“It’s been a lonely couple of months,” Fainga’anuku told reporters at Auckland Airport on Thursday, describing the frustration of watching both All Blacks and Tasman matches from the sidelines during his rehabilitation. Now fit and available, he is embracing what coach Dave Rennie has described as a “definitely hybrid” role, with the expectation that he can cover wing, second five-eighth and flanker across the upcoming Tests.

Fainga’anuku’s journey to this unusual position is not without precedent. He began his career as a loose forward before a coach redirected him to the backline after spotting his pace. That forward instinct resurfaced during his time in France, and former Crusaders coach Rob Penney gradually warmed to the idea during the recent Super Rugby Pacific season, eventually starting him at openside flanker for the final six games.

“Personally, it’s something I truly take pride in,” Fainga’anuku said of the hybrid tag. “I don’t really see myself as a midfielder or a loosie or anywhere there. Hybrid is definitely the title and something I take pride in. But at the same time, it’s something I do demand of myself each week — to be able to cover those roles and make sure that the tools they require are polished and ready to go.”

Preparing for multiple positions in a single training week is no small ask. Fainga’anuku described a process of splitting his mental focus — absorbing lineout detail while simultaneously tracking what the midfield unit is trying to achieve. He credited the coaching staff and his teammates for making that dual preparation manageable.

“It takes a lot to prepare for multiple positions,” he acknowledged. “But it makes it easy when you have quality coaches who help you nail that job, and even better when you have quality teammates who make that job quite simple.”

The positional ambiguity extended beyond the All Blacks selection. Just 28 hours after Fainga’anuku was named as a loose forward for the national side, the Crusaders released their 2027 squad listing him in the midfield. He said he received no advance notice from either camp about where he would be classified.

“I think coaches, at this stage, can sort of just name you wherever,” he said with a grin, suggesting the label matters far less to him than the opportunity to contribute.