All Black squad members not expected to play in the first rugby test against France will be drafted into the New Zealand A match against the French Barbarians in Lens on November 7.
The A side will be in France for a couple of games while the All Blacks are touring there for two tests, on November 11 and 18.
The New Zealand Rugby Union announced the A team's four-match tour to Europe yesterday, but said nothing could be scheduled for the New Zealand Maori side, who were hoping to play in Europe as well.
New Zealand A's other games are against Wales A in Cardiff on November 10, France A in Bayonne on November 15 and Romania in Bucharest on November 25.
Canterbury combination Robbie Deans (coach), Steve Hansen (assistant coach) and Darren Shand (manager) will manage the team.
All Blacks team manager Andrew Martin, who returned from Europe at the weekend after confirming the tours, said the A squad would be supplemented with players from the All Blacks side for the Barbarians match.
"In recognition of the association between New Zealand and northern France from the First World War, the team to play in Lens will be named the New Zealand Commemorative XV and will include some members from the touring All Blacks squad not required for the first test against France," Martin said yesterday.
"A special match jersey with a Flanders poppy embroidered on it will be worn by the Commemorative XV."
It will be the first time a national rugby side has played in Romania since the All Blacks match there in 1981, which they won 14-6.
Romania toured New Zealand in 1975 and 1991.
The All Blacks and New Zealand A touring squads will be announced after the NPC final on October 22.
Martin said an end-of-year tour for the Maori team could not be arranged, but options were being considered for the 2001 season.
He said the Maori team would play at least one international match a year against a team touring New Zealand.
- NZPA
Rugby: All Blacks to bolster A team on tour
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