Brad Weber will captain the Māori All Blacks in the first of two matches against Ireland, with coach Clayton McMillan naming an exciting side to take the field on Wednesday.
Overlooked by All Blacks coach Ian Foster, Weber will lead the Māori All Blacks alongside co-captain TJ Perenara, both left out of the squad for the three test series against Ireland in favour of Finlay Christie and Folau Fakatava.
McMillan has named 10 players to make their first Māori All Blacks appearances to face Ireland at Hamilton, with Perenara joined by fellow All Black Cullen Grace at No.8 in his debut.
Lock Cameron Suafoa, winger Connor Garden-Bachop and fullback Zarn Sullivan are the other debutants in the starting side, with Perenara, Tyrone Thompson, Jermaine Ainsley, TK Howden, Ruben Love and Bailyn Sullivan coming off the bench.
Meanwhile, All Blacks Tyrel Lomax and Josh Ioane start at prop and first-five respectively.
Blues hooker Kurt Eklund starts in the No.2 jersey, after an outstanding Super Rugby season, joining Lomax and Ollie Norris in the front row, as Josh Dickson and Isaia Walker-Leawere complete the tight five.
Cameron Suafoa and Billy Harmon join Grace in the loose forward trio, as Rameke Poihipi and Billy Proctor combine in midfield.
Zarn Sullivan of the Blues takes the No.15 jersey, while brother Bailyn of the Hurricanes rounds out the 23, named on the bench.
The Māori All Blacks will on Wednesday meet Ireland for the first time since 2010, where they defeated the tourists 31-28 in Rotorua.
Māori All Blacks: 1-Ollie Norris, 2-Kurt Eklund, 3-Tyrel Lomax, 4-Josh Dickson, 5-Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6-Cameron Suafoa, 7-Billy Harmon, 8-Cullen Grace, 9-Brad Weber (cc), 10-Josh Ioane, 11-Connor Garden-Bachop, 12-Rameka Pohipi, 13-Billy Proctor, 14-Shaun Stevenson, 15-Zarn Sullivan
Reserves: 16-Tyrone Thompson, 17-Tamaiti Williams, 18-Jermaine Ainsley, 19-Maanaki Selby-Rickit, 20-TK Howden, 21-TJ Perenara (cc), 22-Ruben Love, 23-Bailyn Sullivan
Join Newshub for live updates of the Māori All Blacks v Ireland from 7pm Wednesday
