Sotutu is one of 10 All Blacks selected in the second-row touring squad as he faces calls to switch allegiance.

Ten players representing the All Blacks are included in the 29-man squad for the ABies XV’s two-match Northern Tour against Munster and Georgia next month.

Hoskins Sotutu, Who were overlooked for the full All Blacks squad named on MondayThe selection comes amid calls for him to reconsider his eligibility and take up the opportunity to play for England and Fiji.

Former All Black Akira Ioane posted a photo on Instagram of Sotutu standing with his coach Steve Borthwick in an England jersey, captioning it “It wasn’t supposed to happen but all things happen for a reason” When Sotutu in full All Blacks Missed selection. Squad. Ione later deleted the post.

Having not represented the All Blacks since 2022, Sotutu will be available to play for England from next year if he is signed by the English Premiership team.

Meanwhile, former Fiji coach Simon Raiwalui posted on X: “Congratulations to Wallace City, but seriously, not Hoskins Sotutu. Come and play for Fiji!”

The Blues’ Hoskins Sotutu forward during the fifth round Super Rugby Pacific match between the Blues and Crusaders at Eden Park on March 23, 2024 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

There were call ups for Chiefs backs Shaun Stevenson and Emoni Narawa, while Noah Hotham has been included after being the only player left out of the All Blacks Rugby Championship squad.

The squad was jointly selected by the All Blacks and All Blacks XV coaching groups, with the process led by Scott Robertson and Abbeys XV head coach Clayton McMillan.

McMillan will be assisted by Corey Zane, Jamie McIntosh and David Hill.

“Congratulations to those selected, this is a special moment for the players and their country to represent them,” McMillan said in a statement.

“Every player will want to be at their best in two intense matches in the North in front of passionate fans. With players rewarded for solid Super Rugby Pacific and provincial seasons, it’s great to have a mix of experience and emerging talent.

Robertson said: “I’m really happy with the mix of this team, it’s important to have players with All Black experience alongside emerging talent.

“As an All Black coaching group, we are excited to see these players perform in a Northern Hemisphere environment, testing themselves against different playing styles and quickly building cohesion within the team.

“With both teams in the Northern Hemisphere at the same time, this is a great opportunity for the talent who has worked so hard to gain experience and express themselves on the international stage.”

Prior to joining the All Blacks XV team, some players from the All Blacks

All Blacks XV squad

Forward (17)

props
Xavier Numia (25/Hurricanes/Wellington)
George Dyer (24/Chiefs/Waikato)
Saul Mau (24/Highlanders/Otago)
Marcel Renata (30/Blues/Auckland)
George Bower (32/Crusaders/Otago)*

Prostitutes
Brodie McAllister (27/Crusaders/Canterbury)
Kurt Eklund (32 / Blues / Bay of Plenty)
Bradley Slater (26/Chiefs/Taranaki)

locks
Josh Lord (23/Chiefs/Taranaki)*
Fabian Holland (21/Highlanders/Otago)
Isaiah Walker-Leavere (27/Hurricanes/Hawkes Bay)
Naitoa Ah Kuoi (25 / Chiefs / Bay of Plenty)

loose forward
Duplessis Kirifi (27/Hurricanes/Wellington)
Peter Lakai (21/Hurricanes/Wellington)
Hoskins Sotutu (26/Blues/Counties Manukau)*
Oliver Haig (22/Highlanders/Otago)
Christian Leo-Willey (26/Crusaders/Otago)

back (12)

halfback
Noah Hotham (21/Crusaders/Tasman)*
Finlay Christie (29/Blues/Tasman)*

first five-eighths
Harry Plummer (26/Blues/Auckland)*
Josh Jacombe (23/Chiefs/Taranaki)

midfielders
Quinn Tupeia (25/Chiefs/Waikato)*
Riley Higgins (22/Hurricane/Wellington)
AJ Lam (26/Blues/Auckland)
Dallas McLeod (25/Crusaders/Canterbury)*

outer back
Kiniwiliame Naholo (25/Storms/Taranaki)
Imoni Narawa (25/Chiefs/Bay of Plenty)*
Chai Fihaki (23/Crusaders/Canterbury)
Shaun Stevenson (27/Chiefs/North Harbour)*