Josh Jacomb: the Aucklander who became Taranaki's record-breaking No 10, still waiting for a Test

Josh Jacomb has not played a Test. He is one of only two uncapped players in the All Blacks' 36-man squad for the northern tour, the other being prop Saula Ma'u, and he was not named in the 23 for Scotland. But he is already an All Black: No 1239, from three tour games in South Africa in August. Behind that number is a first five-eighth from Auckland who made his name in Taranaki, won an NPC title there, scored a provincial record 30 points in one match at Eden Park and was named the NPC's player of the year for 2025.

Where he comes from

Jacomb was born in Auckland on 23 June 2001 and grew up on the city's North Shore. He went to Sacred Heart College. A 2023 Stuff headline summed up the unlikely shape of what came next: his journey "from a Crusaders supporting Aucklander to Taranaki playmaker".

RUGBE could not find a published record of his junior club rugby in Auckland, his First XV years at Sacred Heart or any age-grade honours, or of exactly why he moved to Taranaki. What is on record is that by 2021 he was playing provincial rugby there, and that New Zealand Rugby lists Inglewood as the club he was selected from as an All Black.

Taranaki

Jacomb first played for Taranaki in 2021, and scored a try in a 47-35 win over Manawatu that October, in the season Taranaki won the second-tier Championship. In 2023 he was named in the full squad.

That year Taranaki won three knockout games at Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth with Jacomb kicking the goals. He kicked 12 points in the 34-18 quarter-final win over Tasman and four penalties in the 23-16 semi-final win over Canterbury. In the final against Hawke's Bay on 21 October 2023, his penalty just before half-time put Taranaki 15-14 ahead, and early in the second half he took a gap and fed fullback Stephen Perofeta in the move that ended with Adam Lennox scoring. Taranaki won 22-19 for their first title since 2014.

"Josh really lit the 2023 NPC season alight when given his opportunity at Taranaki," Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan said a few months later.

The Chiefs

That form earned Jacomb a place in the Chiefs' wider training group for 2024. He was not in the initial Super Rugby squad, but he was called in and made his debut in round three against the Reds, the same night as Wallace Sititi. During that first season the Chiefs re-signed him for two more years. "He is courageous, tough and a great communicator," McMillan said. "We are excited by where we think Josh can get to in his career."

Opportunities were limited, though. The Chiefs' first five-eighth was Damian McKenzie, and in 2024 and 2025 combined Jacomb made just nine starts, according to the Highlanders. He came off the bench in two Super Rugby finals, the 16-12 loss to the Crusaders in Christchurch in 2025 and the 60-5 loss to the Hurricanes in Wellington in 2026.

The Shield, and a record

In Taranaki he was the main man. On 6 October 2024 Taranaki took the Ranfurly Shield from Tasman at Trafalgar Park in Nelson, winning 42-29, with Jacomb kicking four conversions and three penalties. They lost a quarter-final to Waikato 15-14 a week later.

The 2025 NPC brought him the Duane Monkley Medal. After defending the Shield against Northland, Taranaki went to Eden Park on 16 August and beat Auckland 50-8. Jacomb scored three tries and kicked six conversions and a penalty, 30 points in all, which the NZ Rugby Museum records as a Taranaki individual record. Wikipedia, citing The Post, notes that it beat the 29 that Beauden Barrett once scored for the province. Taranaki lost the Shield a week later, 23-22 to Waikato in New Plymouth, and went out in the quarter-finals to Hawke's Bay, but Jacomb finished the season with 133 points, second only to Otago's Cam Millar. He was named a finalist for the Duane Monkley Medal, the NPC Player of the Year award, alongside Sam Darry and Folau Fakatava, and won it.

Barbarians and the All Blacks XV

In 2024 he played for the All Blacks XV against Georgia, and in June 2025 he was the Barbarians' first five-eighth against the world champion Springboks in Cape Town. It was a wet, difficult night: South Africa won 54-7 in front of 45,000 people. Later that year he toured Europe with the All Blacks XV.

In October 2025 the Highlanders announced they had signed him for the 2027 and 2028 seasons. "I've learned a lot at the Chiefs, especially working alongside someone like D-Mac," he said, "but I feel I'm ready to take the next step in my career." Highlanders head coach Jamie Joseph said: "He's hungry, driven, and ready to lead." Jacomb stayed with the Chiefs for 2026, the last year of his contract there.

All Black No 1239

When Dave Rennie named his 44-man squad for the four-Test tour of South Africa in July 2026, Jacomb was one of three uncapped players in it, alongside Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa and Siale Lauaki. Reuters noted that he joined Ruben Love, Beauden Barrett and McKenzie as the first five-eighth options "after a strong final season" at the Chiefs.

He became All Black No 1239 off the bench against the Stormers at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on 7 August, kicking a conversion in a 38-21 win. A week later he started at No 10 against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld, with Codie Taylor captaining the side for the first time, and kicked four conversions in a 50-19 win. He came off the bench again against the Lions in Johannesburg on 25 August, a 41-35 win. He was not selected for any of the four Tests against the Springboks.

Back home he returned to Taranaki for the end of the NPC. In October he was in the squad that travelled to Sydney for the second Bledisloe Cup Test but missed selection for the match, and the All Blacks sent him and Canterbury lock Jamie Hannah home straight after the warm-up so they could play in the NPC semi-finals the next day. Jacomb went straight into the No 10 jersey in Christchurch and kicked four conversions, but Canterbury won 38-28.

On 27 October he was named in the 36 for the northern tour, still uncapped.

Style and standing

The NZ Rugby Museum's profile calls him "a proven points-scoring machine with both the boot and tries", with a composure and game management beyond his years. McMillan valued his toughness and communication, and Joseph, who will coach him from next year, believes there is "untapped potential" still to come.

Where he is now

Jacomb is with the All Blacks in Edinburgh. He was not named in the 23 for Scotland on Sunday 8 November (NZ time), with Damian McKenzie at first five and Beauden Barrett at fullback, and Richie Mo'unga expected to return from a calf injury for Wales. Wales and England follow, and then the Nations Championship finals weekend at Twickenham. In 2027 he moves to Dunedin to join the Highlanders.

Career at a glance

Test figures are from RUGBE's match-by-match All Blacks data to 17 October 2026; tour-game figures are from New Zealand Rugby.