The NZ based franchises & Moana Pasifika are all announcing their squads for the 2025 season today. On the hour, in NZDT:
- Hurricanes 10am
- Crusaders 11am
- Chiefs 12pm
- Moana Pasifika 1pm
- Highlanders 2pm
- Blues 3pm
Chiefs Squad for 2025
Props: Sione Ahio, George Dyer, Ollie Norris, Reuben O’Neill, Jared Proffit, Aidan Ross
Hookers: Brodie McAlister, Bradley Slater, Samisoni Taukei’aho
Locks: Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Josh Lord, Fiti Sa, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Jimmy Tupou, Tupou Vaa’i
Loose forwards: Kaylum Boshier, Jahrome Brown, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson (c ), Simon Parker, Wallace Sititi, Malachi Wrampling
Halfbacks: Cortez Ratima, Xavier Roe, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
First five-eighths: Josh Jacomb, Damian McKenzie, Kaleb Trask
Midfielders: Anton Lienert-Brown, Rameka Poihipi, Daniel Rona, Quinn Tupaea, Gideon Wrampling
Outside backs: Leroy Carter,Liam Coombes-Fabling, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Emoni Narawa, Shaun Stevenson
In: Brodie McAlister, Fiti Sa, Jahrome Brown, Leroy Carter
Out: Kauvaka Kaivelata, Tyrone Thompson, Tom Florence, Josh Ioane, Peniasi Malimali
Not where I expected Brodie McAlister to pop up, filling the spot of Tyrone Thompson who after all the rumours is heading over to join his brother and play some League. Hard to see how he’ll get much game time once Samisoni is back from injury but more power to him.
Not a huge amount of change otherwise for the Chiefs, really strong looking squad particularly at lock, the loose forwards are very good as well, and then the 9, 10, midfield and outside back are all really strong.
The Chief’s only obvious weakness is at Prop, but its good enough for Super Rugby and with all the strength in the rest of the squad they should be looking for playoffs for sure.
