3 Jul 2009

All Blacks back playing club rugby

6:49 am on 3 July 2009

Thirteen All Blacks will be pulling on their club jerseys and playing club rugby up and down the country this weekend ahead of the Tri Nations.

Luke McAlister, John Afoa and Lelia Masaga will be playing in North Harbour, Auckland and Counties Manukau competitions respectively.... winger Sitiveni Sivivatu is expected to return from injury and play the Waikato competition along with Brendan Leonard, Liam Messam and Aled de Malmanche.

Bryn Evans in Hawkes Bay, Cory Jane in Wellington, Wyatt Crockett, Owen Franks, George Whitelock in Christchurch and Andrew Hore in Central Otago are also down to play for their respective clubs.

The 30-man squad for the tri-nations will be named tomorrow morning.