Brisbane Broncos forward Xavier Willison has been rewarded for his stellar 2025 campaign with a maiden New Zealand Kiwis call-up, the only debutant in Stacey Jones’ 21-man squad for the upcoming Pacific Championships.
The 23-year-old capped off a memorable season by helping Brisbane lift the NRL Premiership on Sunday and now joins an experienced Kiwi outfit brimming with international pedigree.
Head coach Jones has opted for stability, recalling several key players who missed last year’s tournament through injury, including Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Dylan Brown, Kieran Foran, Moses Leota, Ronaldo Mulitalo, and Briton Nikora.
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Foran to play final Tests before retirement
Veteran playmaker Kieran Foran, who announced he will retire at the end of the Gold Coast Titans’ 2025 campaign, has been handed one last international appearance in the black and white jersey. Jones confirmed the 31-Test star’s inclusion, giving him the chance to bow out on home soil.
The squad blends seasoned campaigners such as James Fisher-Harris, who will again captain the side, with in-form talents Erin Clark, Casey McLean, and Naufahu Whyte, all coming off breakout NRL seasons that saw them earn Dally M Team of the Year nominations.
The Kiwis kick off their Pacific Championships campaign against Toa Samoa on 19 October at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium, before facing Tonga at Eden Park on 2 November. The tournament final will be held at Sydney’s CommBank Stadium on 8 November.