World Cup hero Piri Weepu has been dumped from the All Blacks for the looming Rugby Championship.

Uncapped Hurricanes player TJ Perenara’s selection alongside fellow halfbacks Aaron Smith and Tawera Kerr-Barlow meant there was no room for Weepu in the 28-man squad named on Sunday ahead of New Zealand’s opening match against the Wallabies in Sydney on August 17.

It could spell the end of a great international career for 71-Test veteran Weepu, who became something of a folk hero in New Zealand as he also took on the goalkicking duties late in their victorious 2011 World Cup campaign when injuries struck.

The other omissions from the squad that swept the three-match June series against France are loose forwards Victor Vito and Matt Todd, prop Ben Afeaki and outside back Rene Ranger.

Ranger, who is heading to French club Montpellier at the end of the year, made himself unavailable for family reasons, opting to skipper Northland in the ITM Cup instead.

As expected, skipper Richie McCaw makes his return after his six-month sabbatical from the game.

The all time great openside flanker is back in place of Todd after missing all of the Super Rugby championship apart from playing a total of 25 minutes off the bench for the Crusaders in the play-off rounds.

Also back is Blues tighthead prop Charlie Faumuina from a calf injury that ruled him out of the France series.

Meanwhile, uncapped loosehead prop Joe Moody had been brought in as injury cover for Crusaders teammate Wyatt Crocket, who will miss the start of the tournament with a knee injury.

All Blacks squad:

Forwards – Dane Coles, Andrew Hore, Keven Mealamu, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Tony Woodcock, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Sam Whitelock, Sam Cane, Steven Luatua, Richie McCaw (captain), Liam Messam, Kieran Read;

Backs – Tawera Kerr-Barlow, TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett, Daniel Carter, Aaron Cruden, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Israel Dagg, Charles Piutau, Julian Savea, Ben Smith.