NZR Names Mo'unga As Replacement For Injured Billy Proctor

All Blacks recall Mo'unga

Mo'unga Back In Black: Flyhalf joins All Blacks squad in South Africa. Richie Mo'unga cleared and called into All Blacks as Proctor injury cover.

“Richie is the obvious choice as a replacement...”

Flyhalf Richie Mo'unga will link up with the All Blacks in South Africa after getting the green light from New Zealand Rugby.

The playmaker has been playing in Japan for the past three years. He missed the original tour squad because NZR’s strict rule blocks overseas-based players from selection.

The 56-test All Black qualified again after heading back to New Zealand and turning out for his home province, Canterbury.

NZR confirmed Mo'unga comes in for midfielder Billy Proctor, who picked up a shoulder injury and is flying home.

“We really feel for Billy. He has had a great season so this is frustrating for him. It is the harsh reality of our game,” All Blacks coach Dave Rennie said in a NZR statement.

“Richie is the obvious choice as a replacement. His job now is to get in ‌and learn our systems, get his head around the detail and earn the right to play.”

Mo'unga didn’t waste time after coming home, slotting the winning points against Auckland and then steering Canterbury to a 19-15 victory over Otago. That result handed Canterbury a record 18th Ranfurly Shield over the weekend.

All this Richie Mo’unga situation still doesn’t make sense to me. 

He wasn’t selected in the original 44-man squad because he was ineligible, then plays around 80–100 minutes of NPC rugby and looked rusty and suddenly qualifies and flies to South Africa to replace a midfielder?… pic.twitter.com/2f5VSlYi02

— Chalyn.Rugby (@ChalynRugby) August 13, 2026

Damian McKenzie is one of four flyhalves already in the squad, but he rolled his ankle during the 54-0 thrashing of the Sharks in Durban on Tuesday.

Rennie did offer some reassurance though, saying McKenzie should be ready for the first test against the Springboks at Ellis Park on August 22.