Canterbury skipper Reuben Thorne was named captain of the All Blacks for the 2002 international season when the squad was announced this today.
Thorne, who led the Canterbury Crusaders to a 31-13 win in the Super 12 final over the ACT Brumbies on Saturday, replaces New Zealand's injured Anton Oliver.
Oliver will miss the home series against Italy, Ireland and Fiji, and the Tri-Nations home and away clashes against Australia and South Africa.
The All Blacks squad will attend a training camp at the North Island beach resort of Whangamata next week before the first match against Italy in Hamilton.
Squad:Leon MacDonald (Canterbury), Christian Cullen (Wellington), Doug Howlett (Auckland), Tana Umaga (Wellington), Caleb Ralph (Canterbury), Mark Robinson (Canterbury), Daryl Gibson (Canterbury), Aaron Mauger (Canterbury), Jonah Lomu (Wellington), Andrew Mehrtens (Canterbury), Justin Marshall (Canterbury), Byron Kelleher (Otago), Scott Robertson (Canterbury), Taine Randell (Otago), Marty Holah (Waikato), Richie McCaw (Canterbury), Reuben Thorne (Canterbury, captain), Norm Maxwell (Canterbury), Chris Jack (Canterbury), Simon Maling (Otago), Greg Somerville (Canterbury), Kees Meeuws (Auckland), David Hewett (Canterbury), Joe McDonnell (Otago), Tom Willis (Otago), Mark Hammett (Canterbury).