The Gallagher Chiefs have procured 90 Super Rugby caps of experience for their forward pack in the form of All Blacks XV and Crusaders hooker Brodie McAlister and Brumbies loose forward Jahrome Brown.
The powerhouse duo are two of only five new additions to the Gallagher Chiefs side that is otherwise well established with my longstanding team members.
“The obvious thing is that there is a lot of consistency in the selection of the group,” said Gallagher Chiefs Head Coach Clayton McMillan.
“I’m a big believer in cohesion. So, having guys that have played together for a while and experienced the highs and lows together. They learn and then create opportunities in the new season to put those learnings into practice and go one step further.”
Familiar talents have also been offering their first full-time Super Rugby contracts for 2025: World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year nominee Leroy Carter, Taranaki and All Blacks XV first-five Josh Jacomb and New Zealand U19s and Taranaki lock Fiti Sa.
The trio are all familiar with the Gallagher Chiefs environment, with Carter and Jacomb previously part of the wider training squad, which Jacomb was promoted from last season. Meanwhile, Sa has been on a National Development Contract (NDC) with the Gallagher Chiefs for the past two years.
“I really love the team that we’ve got. I think it’s got great balance, great depth, and our collective experiences will put us in good stead to give the competition a real shake. That’s what we’ll be aiming to do,” said McMillan.
The 38-man squad will assemble later this month to begin their preparations for the coming season.
2025 Gallagher Chiefs Squad (Provincial Union, Chiefs caps):
Aidan Ross (Bay of Plenty, 88)
Anton Lienert-Brown (Waikato, 120)
Bradley Slater (Taranaki, 60)
Brodie McAlister (Canterbury, 0)
Cortez Ratima (Waikato, 42)
Damian McKenzie (Waikato, 126)
Daniel Rona (Taranaki, 23)
Emoni Narawa (Bay of Plenty, 33)
Etene Nanai-Seturo (Counties Manukau, 60)
Fiti Sa (Taranaki, 0)*
George Dyer (Waikato, 37)
Gideon Wrampling (Waikato, 3)
Jahrome Brown (Waikato, 0)
Jared Proffit (Taranaki, 15)
Jimmy Tupou (Counties Manukau, 10)
Josh Jacomb (Taranaki, 4)*
Josh Lord (Taranaki, 22)
Kaleb Trask (Bay of Plenty, 23)
Kaylum Boshier (Taranaki, 29)
Leroy Carter (Bay of Plenty, 0)*
Liam Coombes-Fabling (Waikato, 9)
Luke Jacobson (Waikato, 78) (Captain)
Malachi Wrampling (Waikato, 0)
Manaaki Selby-Rickit (Bay of Plenty, 15)
Naitoa Ah Kuoi (Bay of Plenty, 62)
Ollie Norris (Waikato, 54)
Quinn Tupaea (Waikato, 48)
Rameka Poihipi (Canterbury, 44)
Reuben O'Neill (Taranaki, 29)
Samipeni Finau (Waikato, 45)
Samisoni Taukei'aho (Waikato, 92)
Shaun Stevenson (North Harbour, 96)
Simon Parker (Northland, 22)
Sione Ahio (Auckland, 4)
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Bay of Plenty, 54)
Tupou Vaa'i (Taranaki, 58)
Wallace Sititi (North Harbour, 13)
Xavier Roe (Waikato, 31)
*denotes rookie.
2025 Super Rugby squads
All released today. My Chiefs have put together a bloody sound squad - look likely to lose in the final again I guess.
I drink and I forget things.
Looks like it's the Hurricanes year this year - again
Returning Hurricanes legends, NPC standouts and All Black debutants - Hurricanes Head Coach Clark Laidlaw has named his 39-strong squad to take on the 2025 DHL Super Rugby Pacific competition.
After making their international debuts against Japan, Ruben Love and Peter Lakai bolster the number of current All Blacks in the squad to seven, lining up alongside nine new signings and a returning Hurricane in the form of Riley Hohepa.
Game readiness and maturity has been key in building this year’s squad remarked Laidlaw.
“We’ve been really intentional in seeking out players that tie into our team model and how we want to play the game. These are men that have a great deal of maturity on and off the field. They’re coming into our environment and they’re ready to play Super Rugby.”
“Kade Banks and Lucas Cashmore are the perfect example of this. They might be young players, but they’re coming in from the Blues with experience in a Super Rugby environment. They’ve both had cracking NPC seasons, and they fit how we want to play the game.”
Arese Poliko is another NPC performer joining the ranks. The dynamic loose forward has established himself as a formidable force throughout his provincial career, firstly with the Southland Stags and more recently with the Taranaki Bulls.
“Arese is one of those players with an incredible mindset,” Laidlaw observed, “not only has he proven that he’s a high performer on the field, but he’s also shown a real sense of gratitude and a hunger to get stuck in and attack the coming season.”
“We’ve seen a bit of player movement but we’re realistic about what it means to have an open market. I’m confident with the depth that we’ve got in our squad. We’re in a good spot with guys like Peter Lakai, Ruben Love and Harry Godfrey locked in for the next two or three years. They’re going from strength to strength, and that consistency will help us continue to build our depth over the next few seasons.”
“We’re extremely fortunate that we’ve found players who can come into our environment and be ready for round one if we need them. Look at Ere Enari, a Samoan internationalist with more than forty super rugby games under his belt. He’s 27, and he’s playing some of his best rugby right now. He’s going to have an incredible few years ahead of him.”
With Brett Cameron facing a lengthy rehab for an ACL injury, Riley Hohepa returns to the Hurricanes after a season with the Crusaders. Two South Island locks also make the move north, Will Tucker from the Highlanders and Zach Gallagher from the Crusaders.
The Hurricanes open the season away against the Crusaders on the 14th of February 2025. The first home game will be at McLean Park, Napier against the Drua and kicking off at 4:05PM on the 22nd of February.
Fans can secure their seats at SKY Stadium for all Hurricanes home games now with a 2025 Hurricanes Membership, available from www.hurricanes.co.nz/membership/packages
Hurricanes 2025 Squad:
Tom Allen – Hawke’s Bay
Asafo Aumua – Wellington
Kade Banks – North Harbour
Brett Cameron – Manawatū
Lucas Cashmore – Bay of Plenty
Tjay Clarke – Wellington
Caleb Delany – Wellington
Jacob Devery – Hawke’s Bay
Ereatara Enari – Hawke’s Bay
Fehi Fineanganofo – Bay of Plenty
Devan Flanders – Hawke’s Bay
Zach Gallagher – Canterbury
Harry Godfrey – Hawke’s Bay
Riley Higgins – Wellington
Riley Hohepa – Counties Manukau
Brayden Iose – Manawatū
Du’Plessis Kirifi – Wellington
Peter Lakai – Wellington
Siale Lauaki – Wellington
Tyrel Lomax – Tasman
Ruben Love – Wellington
Tevita Mafileo – North Harbour
Kini Naholo – Taranaki
Xavier Numia – Wellington
Arese Poliko – Taranaki
Billy Proctor – Wellington
Ngatungane Punivai – Canterbury
Pouri Rakete-Stones – Hawke’s Bay
Cam Roigard – Counties Manukau
Brad Shields – Wellington
Daniel Sinkinson – Waikato
Bailyn Sullivan – Waikato
Josh Taula – Manawatū
Pasilio Tosi – Bay of Plenty
Will Tucker – Otago
Raymond Tuputupu – Manawatū
Peter Umaga-Jensen – Wellington
Jordi Viljoen – Manawatū
Isaia Walker-Leawere – Hawke’s Bay
I drink and I forget things.
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Guy Smiley
- Posts: 6810
- Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 7:52 pm
I did a search on both. No news I could find on Oli Mathis but it's worth considering that he is still a raw prospect who hasn't played that many games at NPC level yet. I'd like to see him snapped up and into that next level environment but I guess we have to wait another year and see how he progresses.Gumboot wrote: Tue Nov 12, 2024 9:07 pm Did Waikato whiz kid Oli Mathis miss out on a Supe contract?
And does anyone know what became of the young Cantab first five Alex Harford? He seems to have completely dropped off the radar.
Harford is in the Blues' development squad this year. He's 25 and yet to play a Super rugby game. I don't think he's going to feature as any sort of profile player, with some chat about him referencing other guys selected ahead of him to train at the 'Saders while Burke was out injured. (interesting side chat about Burke apparently reneging in an initial deal and leaving earlier than the 'Saders' expected, leaving them high and dry).
I think Riley Higgins will be a player to watch this year. Jordie's absence opens a large door for him.
Blues squad
An eclectic mix of young blood and hardened experience form the 38-player Blues squad looking to go back-to-back in DHL Super Rugby Pacific 2025.
Seven players land a full Blues contract for the first time, while one familiar face returns to further bolster the backline.
Over two-thirds of the 2025 Blues squad is made up of players who were developed from within the Blues region.
Four forwards pick up their first full playing contract – hooker James Mullan, lock Cameron Christie and loose-forward Che Clark. While prop Ben Ake graduates from the Blues wider squad last season to receive his first full contract.
In the backs, utility Reon Paul joins from Bay of Plenty while versatile midfielder Xavi Taele receives a full contract after training with the Blues last pre-season and impressing in the NPC for Auckland.
Fullback Payton Spencer, son of Blues legend Carlos, comes to the Blues after playing for the All Blacks Sevens side. Spencer is the latest in a growing list of next-generation Blues players, with Caleb Clarke (son of Eroni) and Hoskins Sotutu (son of Waisake) two other current Blues players following in their father’s footsteps at the club.
Familiar face, Beauden Barrett bolsters the Blues backline, returning to the club after a stint in Japan with Toyota Verblitz.
Bryce Heem is one glaring omission from the class of ’25, a wrist injury ruling him out of the entire DHL Super Rugby Pacific season.
Blues Head Coach, Vern Cotter, is happy to have a large number of the squad returning to Blues HQ.
“I think we’ll start ahead of where we were last season, we can take the results and experience gained last time round and build on it this year, ” said Cotter.
“I’m looking forward to getting in with everyone, reconnecting and getting back to work. It will be good to get to know the new squad members and see what they’re all about.”
Cotter has a simple message for those new squad members coming in for pre-season.
“I want enthusiasm and for them to put their hand up,” he said.
“I enjoyed watching NPC this season and seeing the younger guys stepping up. Now it’s their time to come into the Blues and start pushing for spots.”
Cotter noted the pre-season training block ahead of Christmas as a time to build resilience and “get the bodies right” for a gruelling DHL Super Rugby Pacific season.
“We have a very good Head of Athletic Performance in Mark Bennett, he’s a great operator with a lot of experience and I know he’ll be pushing the group along and making sure we build a strong, robust playing group,” said Cotter.
“It’s part of our Blues DNA - pushing ourselves and staying connected. The pushing is not only physical but mental too, we want to ensure our whole squad is growing to be the best version of themselves.”
Cotter summed up the sentiment around Blues HQ as the club prepares to get stuck into the new DHL Super Rugby Pacific season.
“We’re just about ready to take the handbrake off and get stuck in - a lot of preparation has already been done. As a coaching group we’ve been watching a lot of rugby, keeping an eye on our guys both here and abroad and it’s about time to open the doors and get started.”
Blues Men’s Squad 2025
Forwards
Angus Ta’avao, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Marcel Renata, Jordan Lay, Joshua Fusitu’a, PJ Sheck, Ben Ake, Kurt Eklund, Ricky Riccitelli, James Mullan, Laghlan McWhannell, Cameron Christie, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Darry, Josh Beehre, Cameron Suafoa, Adrian Choat, Dalton Papali’i, Anton Segner, Hoskins Sotutu, Che Clark
Backs
Finlay Christie, Sam Nock, Taufa Funaki, Stephen Perofeta, Harry Plummer, Beauden Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Xavi Taele, Corey Evans, Meihana Grindlay, Zarn Sullivan, Mark Tele’a, Caleb Clarke, AJ Lam, Payton Spencer, Reon Paul, Cole Forbes
Unavailable due to injury: Bryce Heem (wrist)
I drink and I forget things.
Yeah, was expecting him to kick on by now. I've only ever seen him play a couple of NPC games, but he looked to have all the skills. Never saw him tested on defence though... I guess there must be something holding him back.Guy Smiley wrote: Wed Nov 13, 2024 4:32 pmHarford is in the Blues' development squad this year. He's 25 and yet to play a Super rugby game. I don't think he's going to feature as any sort of profile player, with some chat about him referencing other guys selected ahead of him to train at the 'Saders while Burke was out injured.
Hopefully Mathis gets a chance at the Chiefs next year. He's fun to watch.