An early childhood teacher, a farm manager and an accountant turned influencer… meet the All Blacks wives and partners cheering on their side as New Zealand and South Africa battle for the Rugby World Cup

• New Zealand and South Africa will both do battle for a fourth World Cup title 
• The Springboks are the reigning champions and beat England in the semi-finals 
• The All Blacks have grown into the tournament after an opening loss to France 
• Latest Rugby World Cup 2023 news, including fixtures, live scores and results

With the biggest game in world rugby fast approaching, New Zealand coach Ian Foster has already named his side to take on the reigning champions South Africa at the Stade de France. 

The All-Blacks’ exhilarating, enthralling and flamboyant attacking game will collide with the resolute, robust and stalwart defensive prowess of the reigning champions in what promises to be a fantastic culture clash. 

South Africa of course knocked out a valiant England side last time out, with Handre Pollard knocking over a late penalty, just 157 seconds before time to break Steve Borthwick’s sides’ hearts, while New Zealand bested Argentina. 

Although Foster’s side enter the fray with the mythic aura of the mighty All-Blacks behind them – and are on their day among the best in the world – they will surely need all the support they can get in Saturday’s crunch tie. 

Here, Mail Sport takes you through the wives, partners and girlfriends of those All-Blacks stars starting the game in Paris, who will be sure to be getting fully behind those on the field.  

New Zealand beat Argentina in dominant fashion to put themselves in touch of a record fourth Rugby World Cup 

South Africa broke English hearts in their own semi-final victory after scoring the decisive penalty two and a half minutes from time

Sam and Harriet Cane

There is perhaps no better place to start than with the captain and leader of this All Blacks outfit, Sam Cane. Cane has made 94 appearances and took over the honour from legendary No 8 Kieran Read in 2020. 

The couple met back in 2015 in a Hamilton pub, with Harriet – a schoolteacher – reportedly going straight up to the flanker and asking if he was single, and they have been together ever since. 

They got engaged in 2018 – the same year Sam suffered a neck injury that threatened to end his rugby career – and finally tied the knot a year later. But Harriet won’t be the only one cheering on the skipper. 

In 2022 the couple welcomed their first child into the world. Hudson George Cane, who has been snapped by Harriet with his very own ‘Cane 7’ shirt getting behind his father from home. 

Sam and Harriet Cane got engaged in 2018 before tying the knot officially a year later

The happy couple met back in 2015 when teacher Harriet went right up to Sam in a pub in Hamilton

Cane’s son Hudson George Cane was snapped by Harriet in a heart-warming moment cheering on his father

Ethan de Groot and Claudia Hutton

Loosehead Ethan de Groot might have been born in Australia, but since 2021 he has made 17 appearances for arch rivals the All Blacks. He has been a mainstay when available in the current starting XV, too, although he did pick up the unwanted record of becoming the first ever New Zealand player to be sent off at a World Cup. 

De Groot may not be married just yet, but he is engaged to Claudia Hutton, who said yes back in December 2022, with the couple announcing the news on Instagram. 

Hutton has been in France with De Groot and his team-mates, with the soon-to-be married couple posing for pics in front of the Eiffel Tower, and seen whizzing around Paris and Lyon on electric scooters as they enjoy their time around the games.

Loosehead Ethan de Groot has been joined in France by his fiancee Claudia Hutton throughout the tournament

Hutton and De Groot got engaged in December 2022 and have been spotted around Paris and France over the last two months

A post shared by Claudia Hutton (@claudia_hutton)

Codie and Lucy Taylor

Hooker Codie Taylor will be the man with ball in hand form the lineout, and has represented his country on no fewer than 79 occasions in the last eight years, scoring an impressive 20 tries in the process.

Codie met his now-wife and former Canterbury rugby star Lucy back in 2015 – the year of his first cap for his country – when both were playing at the Sydenham Rugby Club, Christchurch. 

The No 2 made it a Christmas to remember in 2017 when he asked Lucy to marry him.

‘It was the last present under the tree,’ Lucy said. ‘I’m very lucky.’

Two years later they tied the knot at a ceremony in Wanaka, with children Ayla and Luca in attendance. They would later welcome a third child and fifth member of the family, Lilly. 

Codie Taylor met his now-wife and former Canterbury rugby player Lucy back in 2015

The Taylors have three children and became engaged back in 2017, before tying the knot in 2019

Tyrel Lomax and Ainsley McGrath

Having represented Australia at U20s level, Tyrel Lomax became All Black No 1180 when he made his debut against Japan in 2018. Despite a wait of over 12 months for his second ever cap, Lomax has gone on to be a feature of Ian Foster’s side at tighthead, racking up 31 caps. 

Lomax first posted a picture with his partner Ainsley on Instagram back in 2015 when he was representing the Wallabies youth side, and the pair have been together now for at least eight years. 

They took their relationship to the next level in late 2021 when Lomax proposed, with the pair announcing the news at the same time as telling their loved ones they were expecting. 

Their daughter Winnie arrived in April 2022, and she has been accompanying Ainsley in France as they cheer on her father – including a trip to Disneyland! 

Tyrel Lomax and Ainsley McGrath got engaged in late 2021 after a long-term relationship

McGrath and the couple’s daughter Winnie have been with Lomax in Paris and even got to visit Disneyland

McGrath and the All Blacks star welcomed their daughter into the world back in April 2022

Brodie and Niki Retallick 

As stalwarts go, there aren’t many better examples than All Blacks’ ever-present Brodie Retallick – aside from perhaps Sam Whitelock. 

The veteran second row has been part of the set-up with New Zealand for 11 years now, and is still going strong despite the weight of his 108 caps. 

The lock has been in a long-term relationship with Niki, a nurse, with the pair tying the knot in 2015.

The Retallicks have welcomed two daughters into the world, Sienna and Frankie May, but suffered the tragic heartbreak of losing their son prematurely in 2017. 

Brodie and Niki Retallick were married back in 2015 and have since welcomed two daughters into the world

Scott and Hannah Barrett 

The first of three Barrett brothers in the matchday XV to take on the Boks, Scott has emerged as the successor to Whitelock’s long-held throne in the engine room of the All Blacks’ scrum.

In the last seven years he has racked up an impressive 68 caps, and has featured in every game at the current World Cup.

Barrett is married to Hannah (nee McCulloch), who has a Bachelor of Commerce in agriculture, majoring in farm management, after they made it official in an intimate ceremony in 2022 following a one-year engagement. 

The couple have been since joined by Dougal Ross, who was born on November 22 2021, and will be joining his mother in supporting Scott as he looks to win a first ever World Cup. 

Scott and Hannah Barrett have a son together, Dougal Ross, who was born in November 2021

The Barretts finally got married in an intimate ceremony in 2022 after a one-year engagement

Scott is one of three Barrett brothers in the team, joined by Beauden (second left) and Jordie (second right)

Shannon Frizell and Hanna Gallaher

New Zealand blindside Shannon Frizell has 32 caps to his name in the last five years, which he has converted into eight tries in his All Blacks career. 

Frizell was a member of the squad that finished third at the last competition four years ago, but has solidified his place in the side to make the No 6 jersey his own. 

Frizell is in a relationship with Hanna Gallaher, with whom he has a child, Maika, who was born in early 2022. 

Shannon Frizell and Hanna Gallaher are in a long-term relationship and have a child Maika

Ardie and Saskia Savea

The No 8 may be shorter than you might expect for one so talented in his position, but Ardie Savea more than packs a punch. Much like his older brother Julian, Savea boasts a prolific try-scoring record for a forward, crossing over 22 times in his 78 appearances for his country, becoming the natural successor to Kieran Read’s shirt. 

Savea is married to Saskia, his childhood sweetheart, with whom he said ‘I do’ four years ago now after close to a decade of dating. 

Saskia is a businesswoman, and alongside their day jobs, the pair have set up a clothing brand Asav, specialising in relaxed leisurewear.

They also have three children together – Kobe, Keeon and Kove – who have been taking in some of the sights across Europe with their mother while Savea takes part in the World Cup.  

Ardie Savea is joined in France by wife of four years Saskia (right) as he bids for World Cup glory

The Saveas have three children together, who have been in France with their mother over the tournament

Aaron and Teagan Smith

No back has played more games for the All-Blacks than Aaron Smith, who has been there, done that and worn the t-shirt in his 11-year stint with New Zealand, and became the first player of Maori descent to notch his century in 2021. 

Smith is looking to win a second world title having been part of the squad that went all the way in 2015, and has been joined in France by his wife and children in what is set to be his final international tournament before a move to Japan next season. 

Teagan and Aaron got engaged in March 2019, before getting married 22 months later in a beautiful outdoor ceremony at Hot Water Beach, Coromandel, with first son Luka joining the couple on the day. 

They’ve since welcomed another son, Leo, a few months after tying the knot, with both youngsters appearing on Teagan’s Instagram over the course of the tournament, cheering on their Dad and enjoying the wonders of Disneyland Paris. 

Aaron Smith married Teagan in 2021 after a two-year engagement and have two sons together

Smith is looking to win a second World Cup title having gone all the way with the All Blacks in 2019

The Smiths have two sons, and have been taking in the European sights during down time from training

Richie and Sophie Mo’unga 

Richie Mo’unga is another who is making the move to Japan from next season, but will be hoping to sign off in style with a first Rugby World Cup trophy on Saturday against the mighty Boks. 

In his six-year, 55-cap All Blacks career, Mo’unga has made the No 10 jersey his own, with the versatile Beauden Barrett dropping in at 15 to provide even more play-making heft to the back line, fully deserving his title as one of the best-paid players in the game. 

Mo’unga and wife Sophie got married in December 2019 after Richie proposed while they were out horse riding a year earlier, and have two children together; daughter Billie, and son Marley, who have both been spotted out in the crowd backing their dad as he goes for World Cup glory.  

Richie and Sophie Mo’unga got married in December 2019 after the fly-half proposed while they were horse riding

Sophie and the couple’s two children have been out supporting Richie in France for the last six weeks

Mo’unga will be moving to Japan next season where he will reportedly become one of the game’s best-paid stars

Will Jordan and Mackenzie Webb

A relatively new addition to the All Blacks roster, Will Jordan has more than made his mark at the current World Cup – he’s leading the running with eight tries in five games so far. 

That’s taken his caps tally up to 30 with a staggering 31 tries in that time and is surely the man to watch for the Springboks – although that being said, they’ll probably be somewhat preoccupied with the other 14. 

At just 25-years-old, Jordan is not yet married, but is in a long-term relationship with Mackenzie Webb – a an applied sciences graduate – for at least eight years since he was in his teens. 

Along with the other family members and loved ones of the team, Webb has been snapped travelling around Europe, as well as backing her partner as he goes for gold in Paris. 

Mackenzie Webb and Will Jordan are in a long-term relationship dating back to at least 2015

Rieko Ioane and Dione Iustini

After the retirements of legends of the game Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith, a gulf was left in the centres – one which Rieko Ioane and his partner Jordie Barrett have leapt into. 

Since his debut in 2016 Ioane has scored an impressive 36 tries in 65 games for his country, and since 2013 he has been cheered on by long-term partner Dione Iustini. 

The pair have spent a decade together, with Iustini following Ioane around the world as he represents New Zealand, and she has been busy taking in the sights around Paris, such as the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, where she and Reiko posed for some cute snaps while he was off training. 

Dione Iustini and Rieko Ioane have been together since they were teens having first started dating around a decade ago

Iustini has followed Ioane around the world as he represents the All Blacks and will be cheering him on from the sidelines in Paris

Jordie Barrett and Alice Marshall

Barrett brother No 2 for the matchday XV, Jordie Barrett is the youngest member of the brood in the side, but has staked a strong claim to his centre berth alongside Ioane in recent years. 

He’s racked together 51 appearances and 22 tries in his six years as part of the greatest rugby-playing nation in history, and he’s had his partner Alice Marshall by his side the whole way through his professional career. 

The pair have spent at least nine years together, with Jordie first appearing on Alice’s Instagram, and they have since been snapped all over her Instagram across the world with Barrett on international duty. 

Marshall is a farm manager in Taranaki, and has previously expressed her support for the farming community of New Zealand, and has been snapped alongside Barrett maintaining their own property, which includes several head of cattle and sheep. 

Alice Marshall has been by Jordie Barrett’s side throughout the tournament in France

Marshall is a farm manager and has spoken out in support for New Zealand’s agrarian community in the past

Mark Telea 

Winger Mark Telea only has eight caps to his name – three of which have come in France – but he has already dotted down six times for Ian Foster.

It has been a competition of contrast for the 26-year-old; one the one hand there is the pride of representing your nation on the biggest stage of all, but on the other he has been fined and dropped from the side by Foster for disciplinary reasons. 

Little is known about Telea’s personal life, and the winger does not even have any social media accounts, which he freely admits he enjoys.

‘I’m a real private person, I’d like to keep it that way,’ Telea told 1News this year.

‘I have no social media, I like it like that!’

Mark Telea is starting out on the wing against South Africa after being dropped earlier in the tournament

All Blacks star Telea has no social media profile and keeps his personal life out of the spotlight 

Beauden and Hanna Barrett

Beauden Barrett might just go down as one of the great All Blacks in their long and proud rugby history; 42 tries, 122 games, a World Cup winners medal already and a crucial part of several iterations of New Zealand’s national side. 

Barrett has long been the man for New Zealand, but will be moving to Japan at the end of the season, which could spell the end of his All Blacks career at the age of 32, so the versatile No 15 will be looking to score for a third successive World Cup and sign off in style.

Off the field, Barrett is married to Hanna Barrett (nee Laity), who he met in 2014 before the two became engaged in 2018. 

In 2019, along with a number of his team-mates, Beauden and Hanna got married at an intimate ceremony on Rakino Island in the Hauraki Gulf.

The couple have two children together, Coco and Billie, who have been in France with their accountant and influencer mum, who has also been spending time in Italy and Corsica.

Hannah Laity is an accountant and influencer, and is married to All Blacks star back Beauden Barrett

The couple have been married for four years and have two children together, Coco and Billie

The pair met back in 2014 before their wedding on Rakino Island in the Hauraki Gulf back in 2019

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