Scott Barrett, a former captain of the All Blacks with 89 selections, is set to return to competition this weekend wearing the Taranaki jersey in the NPC (National Provincial Championship) after more than ten months away from the game. The 32-year-old player, who previously played 19 matches with Canterbury between 2014 and 2016, will make his second match with Taranaki since his debut in 2021. He will play alongside Josh Lord, an international player, in the second row. Barrett had been expected to return with the Crusaders a year ago following a sabbatical year, but a disc herniation that compressed a nerve prevented this. He had already undergone surgery on the ankle and Achilles tendon during the same sabbatical year. Upon returning to training, he experienced a sensation of blockage in the hip, with spasms and pain down to the calf preventing him from running. Successfully operated on his back, Barrett has been training with Taranaki for several weeks. Under the new coach Dave Rennie, the captaincy of the All Blacks has passed to Ardie Savea. The wing flanker is not expected to play this season after shoulder surgery. Codie Taylor wore the captaincy during the fourth and last test of the tour against the Springboks. Barrett hopes to first play against Wellington on October 4 in New Plymouth before considering a possible return to the national team and the captaincy. His selection for the first test of the Bledisloe Cup against the Wallabies on October 10 at Eden Park seems unlikely.