"Olympic Sevens" - Who are the 4 uncapped All Blacks in the 2025 Rugby Championship squad?

The All Blacks impressed in their Summer series against Les Bleus, with a trio of triumphs across Dunedin, Wellington and Auckland. New Zealand were bolstered with the return of Jordie Barrett, who comes back into the fold after a season’s sabbatical with Leinster in the United Rugby Championship.

The All Blacks’ Rugby Championship squad features four potential debutants. Loose forward Simon Parker (Chiefs) has been named in the squad, while prop Tevita Mafileo (Hurricanes), halfback Kyle Preston (Crusaders) and utility back Leroy Carter (Chiefs) are listed as injury cover. In this article, we take a closer look at the quartet of talents all gunning for their first senior run-out in the famous black jersey.

Simon Parker is a powerful loose forward with a ruthlessly direct, physical style of play. A standout from St Peter’s School, Cambridge, Parker quickly rose through the national age-grade ranks, representing the NZ Barbarians Schools in 2017, NZ Schools in 2018, and earning selection for the New Zealand U20 side in 2019, in what was only his first year out of school.

Parker made his Super Rugby debut for the Gallagher Chiefs in 2020 against the Crusaders. An injury sidelined him throughout the majority of 2021, but he returned stronger. Parker established himself as a regular in the back row, playing both blindside flanker and No. 8 for the Hamilton side. A high work-rate player, he is known for strong ball-carries, defensive intensity, and effectiveness at the breakdown when running out for Northland or the Chiefs.

At the provincial level, he represented Waikato before shifting north to play for Northland in the NPC. In 2025, he enjoyed a breakout Super Rugby Pacific season, delivering key performances with double-digit tackle counts, powerful carries, and crucial contributions on attack. Parker quickly earned ample praise for his growth, having been patiently biding his time behind the more senior players.

This August, Parker was named in the All Blacks Rugby Championship squad, in what is his first national team call-up. He is the only uncapped player selected for the playing group, with the three additional names coming into the injury covering squad and training contingency. Head coach Scott Robertson called him “intimidating,” citing his consistency and physicality. Upon hearing the news, a stunned Parker was celebrated with a haka by his Northland teammates, a powerful moment for the local talent now poised to wear the black jersey again at the highest level.

Born in Auckland, Tevita Mafileo is a dynamic tighthead prop known for his impactful blend of scrummaging power and mobility around the park. Shifting around 124 kilos with each bruising carry, Mafileo developed his skills through Tauranga Sports and North Shore Rugby clubs before joining the Bay of Plenty Academy. He represented New Zealand at the Under-20 World Championship in 2018, earning seven caps and scoring five points throughtout the tournament.

Mafileo made an unusual career leap in 2019, debuting for the Chiefs in Super Rugby before he ever appeared in NPC provincial rugby. He played for Bay of Plenty from 2019 to 2022, making 33 appearances, before transferring to North Harbour in 2023.

In 2020, he debuted for the Hurricanes against the Stormers in Cape Town and secured a full contract with the Wellington side for the 2021 season. As of early 2025, he has played over 50 Super Rugby games, having becoming a regular starter through the 2024 and 2025 Super Rugby Pacific seasons.

Known by teammates as “Vita,” Mafileo combines strong scrummaging technique with a high work-rate in open play, making him a modern front-row asset. Despite a three-week suspension in 2023 following a red card, he has maintained discipline and continued to impress at club and provincial levels. In 2022, Mafileo earned a cap for the All Blacks XV and was called into the All Blacks squad as injury cover for the 2023 Rugby Championship opener. He hopes to go one step further this season with a full Test debut.

Kyle Preston is an up and coming Test level halfback for the Crusaders in Super Rugby Pacific and with Wellington in the National Provincial Championship (NPC). Born in 1999 in Wellington, Preston attended Tawa College, where he played for the school's 1st XV rugby team for three years and was selected for the U18 Hurricanes training camp in 2017.

After high school, Preston became a roofer by trade as he earned reps for Old Boys University in the Wellington Premier Club Rugby competition. Preston dominated the division, as he racked up an impressive strike rate of 21 tries in 20 games, which turned the heads of the provincial selectors. In 2023, he debuted for the Wellington provincial team and played every game in the 2024 season, as the capital city side won the NPC final against Bay of Plenty.

In 2025, Preston made his Super Rugby debut for the Crusaders against the Hurricanes, with an immediate impact as he bagged a a hat-trick. The nine finished the Super Rugby season with 14 appearances, starting four of those, and was on the field to help the Crusaders defeat the Chiefs 16-12 in the Grand Final.

Preston extended his Super Rugby stay in Christchurch, as he has signed with the Crusaders through to 2027. The halfback expressed how the team's rich history and strong forward pack are factors which have helped his development, where he has honed a stunning kicking game. Preston can clear danger and find touch off both feet, and he has this coupled with exceptional fitness, having set a Crusaders bronco record of 4 minutes and 13 seconds.

Tauranga-born Leroy Carter has carved a unique path through New Zealand rugby, transitioning from a world-class Sevens specialist to a breakout Super Rugby star. A former MVP of the 2017 Condor Sevens while at Tauranga Boys’ College, Carter was always earmarked for higher honours and a future in the black jersey. He represented New Zealand at U20 level and debuted for Bay of Plenty in the 2019 NPC, quickly becoming a key attacking threat in the back-line.

Best known for his electric form with the All Blacks Sevens, Carter played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s World Series triumph in 2023 and earned a nomination for World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year. He picked up hardware at the 2022 Commonwealth Games (bronze) before finishing fifth at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Carter has the potential for a long and decorated career with the All Blacks, much like his New Zealand namesake Dan (no relation).

In 2024, Carter signed a two-year deal with the Gallagher Chiefs, where his transition to 15s exceeded expectations. In his debut Super Rugby Pacific season in 2025, he scored nine tries, including decisive trips across the whitewash in wins over the Blues and Crusaders, as the Chiefs reached the final. His attacking flair, positional versatility (covering both wings and scrum half), and competitive edge earned plaudits from fans and coaches alike.

At 176 cm and 86 kg, Carter blends agility and aggression, making him a constant threat in open play. As he continues to thrive at the elite level, Carter’s dual-format success marks him as one of the most exciting and complete backs in New Zealand rugby.