The New All Black Who Let Razor Go to Voicemail

The All Blacks have unearthed a colossal gem in Simon Parker – and the way he discovered his call-up? Comedy gold.

“I actually, funnily enough, missed his first call,” Parker told John Day on the DSPN, laughing about the moment Scott Robertson tried to ring him. “We were in a team review from the weekend’s [NPC] game, and I looked at my phone afterwards and thought strewth… I need to quickly get one back to him!

“[I was] apologising first and he just said, na mate, it's all good news. Welcome to the All Blacks.”

Parker’s naming is reward for an outstanding Super Rugby Pacific campaign for the Chiefs, where he became a mainstay in the loose forward group - one that includes Luke Jacobson, Wallace Sititi and Samipeni Finau.

Parker is one of seven loosies named for the Rugby Championship, and if you include Tupou Vaa’i and Finau, he is one of three big, bulldozing options at blindside flanker.

Regardless of his form in 2025, being named an All Black was still surreal for the 25-year-old.

“I just sort of zoned out for about 10 seconds to be honest. Didn’t really have too much to say, apart from thanks very much,” Parker said.

“I called my wife, she was stoked obviously, and then had to quickly hang the phone up and ring Mum and Dad.

“[I got] back into the team meeting and that's when the boys were doing a haka as I walked in. So it all sort of ended up being good timing.”

Like many young men who make the All Blacks, finding out you’re in the squad brings back memories from your childhood.

“Flashbacks to when you’re a kid, waking up at three in the morning to watch the All Blacks, doing the haka in the shower… really takes you back.”

Parker’s journey to this moment though was anything but smooth. After being named in the New Zealand under 20s side in 2019, his hopeful ascendancy in Kiwi rugby circles endured a few false starts thanks to Covid-19, and injuries to his foot, ankle and shoulder.

Parker said injuries “took him out of footy for about two years”, but even when he did get back on the field for an extended run, he didn’t get ahead of himself.

“It’s all behind me now… enjoying being out there again and enjoying getting consistent minutes. Sort of put the All Blacks in the back of my mind, and knew I could only play as well as I can. It’s out of my control, just really enjoyed being out on the field again.”

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