All Blacks coach Tana Umaga admits that they are “not too sure” how best to utilise Leicester Fainga’anuku after he showed his remarkable versatility in 2026.

The 27-year-old has played the majority of his career at either centre or wing but, after being trialled in the back-row while playing in France, he started a number of games at openside flanker in Super Rugby Pacific last season.

Fainga’anuku missed the southern leg of the Nations Championship and Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry through injury, but he has now recovered from his leg issue and has been selected in the national squad to tour Britain.

The Crusaders star has been named as a loose forward despite his experience in the backline, but it is unlikely that he will start in the All Blacks seven jersey.

Follow the Springboks’ lead?

Instead, New Zealand could use him off the bench in a similar role to the Springboks’ Andre Esterhuizen but, at the moment, Umaga states they are still working it out.

“If you talk to different coaches, they will have a different view on it but, to be honest, he is a hybrid. He gives us that ability; sometimes you think you can go 6-2 or 5-3 in terms of that bench, but he’s an out-and-out hybrid player,” he told Sport Nation.

“He’s played Super Rugby at both outside centre and wing, but also at seven and he’s done all jobs with great skill.

“It’s going to be interesting to see how we go about that. I don’t know how he does it myself, to be honest; you have to learn lineouts, all the things.

“The forwards do a lot more learning than the backs do. We do the same moves, you know how it is, but they change their lineout every week because that’s just what they have to do.

“He’s got to learn backs moves and all that kind of thing as well, so I think it’s an interesting era that we’re in right now and it’s going to be exciting to see how we go.

“To be honest, I’m not too sure because I think he does both well.”

Big All Blacks selection calls

Fainga’anuku was one of a few interesting selection calls with the powerhouse being joined by Crusaders team-mate Jamie Hannah in the squad for the November games.

Hannah was picked ahead of Sam Darry, who has drifted down the second-row pecking order despite a positive start to the Test season.

“There’s not much between them to be honest. I think there are areas that Sam knows that he has to work on and he’s been spoken to about those from the forwards coach’s perspective,” Umaga said.

“We just feel that Jamie, every opportunity that he’s got, he’s taken. He came in at the last minute in his debut Test in our first Test of the year against France.

“He came in off the plane, played five or six days later in South Africa and played very, very well.

“Every time he’s had an opportunity, he’s made the most of it and I think that’s what we’ve enjoyed about him. He’s taken every opportunity and he’s the one that’s got his nose through on this tour… but there’s not much in it.”