Adam Blair and Issac Luke handed new zealand co-captaincy for england tour

Adam Blair and Issac Luke have been appointed co-captains of New Zealand for their tour to England.

Brisbane forward Blair and South Sydney's Auckland-bound hooker Luke take on the role jointly from Simon Mannering, who is ruled out the trip with of a lingering gastric complaint.

Blair, who made his debut for the Kiwis in the 2006 Tri-Nations Series and scored the final try in their 2008 World Cup final victory over Australia, returned to the national side last year after a three-year absence and enjoyed a superb season in 2015 for the Broncos, where Stephen Kearney is assistant coach.

"I think in big games he has delivered for us before," Kearney said. "He's been in the programme for quite some time and knows what's expected - I see it as a natural choice."

Luke has won 33 caps, two more than Blair, having made his debut in 2008, and was a driving force in South Sydney's 2014 premiership-winning campaign.

"Issac is very highly respected within the group and, again, has been part of the programme for a long time," added Kearney. "He's definitely one that's grown over the course of his Kiwis career, both as a footballer and a leader."

In addition to Mannering, Kearney is denied the services of experienced campaigners Kieran Foran, Manu Vatuvei, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Shaun Johnson and Thomas Leuluai through injury and has included six rookies in his 23-man squad.

The uncapped players utility backs Jordan Kahu and Tuimoala Lolohea, winger Curtis Rona, hooker or half-back Kodi Nikorima and forwards Isaac Liu and Sio Siua Taukeiaho.

The Kiwis will be missing almost one-third of the squad that beat Australia 26-12 in this year's Anzac Test. More importantly, the absentees create an experience vacuum. That afternoon in Brisbane, New Zealand had eight players who had won 20 caps or more. Now only four remain.

"There's nothing we can do about the players that are unavailable," Kearney said. "They're all injuries that we have no control over but they give opportunities to some younger guys, who perhaps only need that opportunity to rise to the next level."

New Zealand meet Leeds at Headingley on Friday, October 23, before the first Test against England at Hull on Sunday, November 1.

The Kiwis 23-man squad is: G Beale (Cronulla), A Blair (Brisbane), J Bromwich (Melbourne), L Brown (Penrith), A Glenn (Brisbane), T Harris (Melbourne), P Hiku (Manly), J Kahu (Brisbane), S Kenny-Dowall (Sydney Roosters), T Lolohea (NZ Warriors), I Liu (Sydney Roosters), I Luke (South Sydney ), B Matulino (NZ Warriors), S Moa (Sydney Roosters), J Nightingale (St George Illawarra), Ki Nikorima (Brisbane), K Proctor (Melbourne), C Rona (Canterbury Bulldogs), S Siua Taukeiaho (Sydney Roosters), J Taumalolo (North Queensland), M Taupau (Wests Tigers), R Tuivasa-Sheck (Sydney Roosters), D Whare (Penrith).