All Blacks release 12 players to Mitre 10 Cup teams

Cape Town - With the All Blacks not back in Rugby Championship action until September 10, 12 players have been released back to their Mitre 10 Cup teams this weekend.

Auckland will have Patrick Tuipulotu, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Charlie Faumuina and Rieko Ioane available for selection for Friday's clash in Invercargill against Southland who will be able to call on the services of Lima Sopoaga.

Meanwhile Seta Tamanivalu is set to boost Taranaki for their trip to Nelson where they face Tasman on Saturday while North Harbour will have James Parsons in their set-up for their clash at Wellington.

Elsewhere, Luke Romano, Ryan Crotty and Codie Taylor return to the Canterbury squad for their match against Northland in Whangarei on Saturday and Damian McKenzie is set to feature for Waikato's clash with Manawatu in Hamilton on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Liam Coltman, Tamanivalu and McKenzie will reassemble with the All Blacks squad next weekend as injury replacement players, while Parsons and Ioane will be released to their Mitre 10 Cup teams.  

The All Blacks squad reassembles on Sunday, September 4 in Hamilton to prepare for the Test match against Argentina in the Rugby Championship.