‘He gives us genuine flexibility’: Fainga’anuku returns to All Blacks

Nuku’alofa-born Leicester Fainga’anuku’s versatility earns him a return to the All Blacks ahead of their upcoming Northern Tour.

Following the announcement of head coach Dave Rennie’s 36-man squad on Tuesday morning, Rennie praised the “genuine flexibility” the 27-year-old can bring to the team.

With 12-Test caps, Fainga’anuku has featured for the All Blacks as a winger or in the midfield, but has now been named as one of six loose-forwards, with Rennie viewing Fainga’anuku as a “hybrid” player.

He displayed that exact versatility throughout the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season, starting several games at No.7 for the Crusaders while also covering multiple positions across the backline.

“I like he’s played a lot of wing for the All Blacks… I think he’s very comfortable at 12, and he’s played a fair bit of seven this year.

“Obviously, we’ve named five locks, six loose-forwards but if you consider Toops [Tupou Vaai] can play loose, and then Leicester can play midfield and wing, and that sort of thing, we got a lot of flexibility there.

Leicester Fainga’anuku last featured for the All Blacks against Wales during the 2025 end-of-year tour. Photo/Andrew Cornaga/Photosport.

Fainga’anuku joins a cohort of Pacific teammates in the loose-forwards, including Vaa’i, Peter Lakai, Wallace Sititi and returning All Black Christian Lio-Willie.

Rennie is not overly concerned about Fainga’anuku’s limited game time, with the utility last featuring in the black jersey in 2025, coming off the bench against Wales during the end-of-year tour.

Injuries have also caused a disrupted season.

Fainga’anuku sustained a leg injury towards the end of the Super Rugby campaign before suffering a concussion during the NPC Championship, which he is cleared from.

“Yeah, it’s limited [his game time]. It’s less than we would have liked, but I still think rather than not take him, it’s better to have him in the group for the next four or five weeks.

“It’s been a frustrating few months for him. Obviously came back from injury, then the concussion with Tasman.

“He’s in reasonable nick now. It’s whether he’s game-ready; that is the test. But yeah, he will definitely feature in it.”

The squad will leave for the United Kingdom on Thursday, with the tour featuring three matches against Scotland, Wales and England.

Rennie says the Northern Hemisphere tour will be pivotal to the squad’s development.

“Playing Scotland, Wales, and England on consecutive weekends is a tough assignment. These are all proud rugby nations with passionate home crowds.

“We will embrace the challenge and the opportunity to build on our Bledisloe Cup performances.”

All Blacks squad:

Forwards: Codie Taylor, Asafo Aumua, George Bell, Ethan de Groot, George Bower, Xavier Numia, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi, Saula Ma’u, Scott Barrett, Josh Lord, Fabian Holland, Tupou Vaa’i, Anton Segner, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Ethan Blackadder, Christian Lio-Willie, Peter Lakai, Wallace Sititi.

Backs: Cam Roigard, Kyle Preston, Cortez Ratima, Richie Mo’unga, Damian McKenzie, Josh Jacomb, Jordie Barrett, Quinn Tupaea, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Anton Lienert-Brown, Rieko Ioane, Chay Fihaki, Josh Moorby, Will Jordan, Beauden Barrett.