Former captain Cane and Perenara have been retained in the All Blacks squad for their northern tour

All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson has included former captain Sam Cane and veteran scrum-half TJ Perenara in his 36-man squad for the upcoming season-ending tour of the northern hemisphere.

Speculation in New Zealand media suggested that Robertson might release Cane and Perenara to make way for emerging players, especially since both seasoned athletes are set to join teams in Japan on multi-year contracts following the current season.

Nevertheless, Robertson has chosen to maintain stability in his first northern tour after the team lost the Rugby Championship title to the reigning world champions, South Africa.

The squad features only one alteration from the lineup that achieved home-and-away victories against Australia in the Rugby Championship, with scrum-half Cam Roigard making a return after a lengthy recovery from a significant knee injury.

Roigard scored two tries for his provincial team, Counties Manukau, over the weekend, marking a successful comeback to competitive rugby. He joins Perenara and Cortez Ratima as the three scrum-halves in the squad.

Noah Hotham, the Crusaders half-back who made his test debut against Fiji in San Diego, has not been included.

"It was wonderful to see Cam performing well for Counties over the weekend, and we are thrilled to have him back in the fold," Robertson stated on Monday.

"Both Cortez Ratima and TJ Perenara demonstrated during the Rugby Championship that they have earned their places in the squad."

Cane remains part of a loose forward group that also includes Dalton Papali'i, Wallace Sititi, and Ethan Blackadder.

The All Blacks will commence their tour against Eddie Jones's Japan in Yokohama on October 26, followed by a match against England at Twickenham on November 2.

Subsequently, they will face Ireland, France, and Italy in consecutive weeks throughout November.

"This Northern Tour presents an exciting challenge that will enable us to further develop our game and establish a style of rugby that creates opportunities against formidable opponents," Robertson remarked.

"We have assembled a squad that emphasizes consistency and continuity while also striking the right balance to allow newer talent to grow."

Squad:
Forwards: Asafo Aumua, Codie Taylor, George Bell, Ethan De Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Tamaiti Williams, Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaa'i, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Darry, Ethan Blackadder, Sam Cane, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papali'i, Ardie Savea, Wallace Sititi.

Backs: Cam Roigard, TJ Perenara, Cortez Ratima, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Jordie Barrett, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Billy Proctor, Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan, Ruben Love, Stephen Perofeta, Sevu Reece, Mark Tele'a.