All Blacks assistant coach John Plumtree has no qualms calling up Chiefs hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho, despite potentially ending any chance to represent his native Tonga in the future.
After an impressive Super Rugby season with the Chiefs, Taukei'aho has been called into All Blacks camp as injury back-up.
The 23-year-old is covering for hooker Asafo Aumua, who has concussion symptoms after the All Blacks' 102-0 victory over Tonga at Mt Smart Stadium last Saturday.
He joins Codie Taylor and Dane Coles as the All Blacks hookers leading into Saturday's first test against Fiji in Dunedin.
Tongan-born Taukei'aho was scouted when touring New Zealand with Tonga's U15 side - which he captained - and was snapped up on a scholarship by Hamilton's St Paul's Collegiate. He went on to represent New Zealand at schoolboy level.
Since 2017, Taukei'aho has played 49 Super Rugby games for the Chiefs and turned down the chance to represent Tonga at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
But despite suggestions that Taukei'aho's selection could be motivated by ensuring his international prospects lie with New Zealand over Tonga, Plumtree insists the All Blacks see the young hooker as a player for the future.
"Right now, I think he's signed a new contract with the Chiefs," Plumtree says. "His future's in New Zealand.
"Certainly he's a player that we've been watching. Ultimately, at the end of the day, he'll get to choose what country he plays for."
World Rugby's current eligibility laws mean Taukei'aho could play a single minute for the All Blacks and lose eligibility for Tonga, unless he serves a three-year stand down from test rugby, holds a Tongan passport and represents Tonga in an Olympic sevens qualifying tournament.
Former All Blacks midfielder Malakai Fekitoa has recently completed that process, but former test winger Charles Piutau considered a similar switch, before withdrawing through English club commitments.
Plumtree adds that Taukei'aho has been a welcome fit into the All Blacks side, despite only joining the squad on Monday.
"He's going good,” he says. “He only came in yesterday.
"[I've] seen him in his book, he's been doing a lot of learning in the last 12-24 hours. It's good to have him here."
"We're pretty excited [with] the way he played for the Chiefs consistently through the year.
"His throwing's improved and just his set piece skills... [he's] definitely a guy we're going to keep an eye on. One for the future."
Taukei'aho could be in line for his All Blacks debut, with coach Ian Foster to name his 23-man squad on Thursday.
Join Newshub for live updates of the first test between the All Blacks and Fiji from 7pm Saturday.
