Eight Auckland players have been selected in the All Blacks squad for the Vista All Blacks Northern Tour.

It is the most national representatives for Auckland in recent times and is second only to Canterbury, with nine.

The squad features the selection of 19-year-old Rieko Ioane, who spent time in the All Blacks wider training group this year. Ioane starred in this year’s Mitre 10 Cup, topping the regular season records for try-scoring (10), clean breaks, defenders beaten and metres run.

It also sees the return to the All Blacks squad of teammate, 25-year-old loose forward Steven Luatua, who played 14 Tests in 2013-2014. 

“Firstly, the selectors would like to congratulate all players selected for this Vista 2016 All Blacks Northern Tour. It’s always particularly exciting being named in a touring All Blacks squad. We welcome in Rieko who has been picked for the first time. He has shown tremendous abilities and deserves his opportunity,” said All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.

“We stated at the beginning of the season that this was a year of re-establishment. We are only three quarters of the way through the season, so one of our big goals for this Tour is to continue that re-establishment,” he added.

“The Tour gives our leaders and the team the opportunity to continue to grow, in what will be different environments and against opposition that will bring a different style of game and skillsets. This will ask questions of us and, in doing so, challenge us.

“Younger players will get more experience within the All Blacks environment, and it'll allow the selectors and coaching group to keep working on blending the mixture of young talent with the more experienced players in our group. This will allow our game to continue to improve and will help ensure the team is future-proofed.

“As always, coaches, players and management will also need to continue to grow their skillsets and challenge themselves to improve their core roles.”

Ioane joins Malakai Fekitoa and George Moala in the backline, while Luatua is in the forwards alongside Auckland players Charlie Faumuina, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Patrick Tuipulotu and Jerome Kaino.

The Vista 2016 All Blacks Northern Tour

1. vs IRELAND, Sat 5 Nov, 3.00PM US CDT (Sun 6 Nov, 9.00AM NZT), Soldier Field, CHICAGO
2. vs. ITALY, Sat 12 Nov, 3.00PM CET (Sun 13 Nov, 3.00AM NZT), Stadio Olimpico, ROME
3. vs. IRELAND, Sat 19 Nov, 5.30PM GMT (Sun 20 Nov, 6.30AM NZT), Aviva Stadium, DUBLIN
4. vs. FRANCE, Sat 26 Nov, 9.00PM CET (Sun 27 Nov, 9.00AM NZT), Stade de France, PARIS