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
Moana Pasifika Squad for 2025
Props: Chris Apoua, Pone Fa’amausili, James Lay, Sione Mafileo, Abraham Pole, Tito Tuipulotu
Hookers: Tomasi Maka, Sama Malolo, Samiuela Moli
Locks: Allan Craig, Michael Curry, Samuel Slade, Tom Savage, Ofa Tauatevalu, Ola Tauelangi
Loose forwards: Miracle Faiilagi, Sione Havili Talitui, Lotu Inisi, Alamanda Motuga, Semisi Paea, Irie Papuni, Ardie Savea
Halfbacks: Aisea Halo, Melani Matavao, Jonathan Taumateine
First five-eighths: Jackson Garden-Bachop, William Havili, Patrick Pellegrini
Midfielders: Solomon Alaimalo, Fine Inisi, Laomilo Laomilo, Julian Savea
Outside backs: Losi Filipo, Neria Fomai, Pepesana Patafilo, Kyren Taumoefolau, Danny Toala, Tuna Tuitama
Ins: Alaimalo, Apoua, Filipo, Garden-Bachop, Pellegrini, Fa’amausili, Savea, Tuipulotu, Tuitama
Outs: Donald Brighthouse, Suetena Asomua, Ereatara Enari, Viliami Fine, Solomone Funaki, Sekope Kepu, Sateki Latu, D’Angelo Leuila, Christian Lealiifano, Lalomilo Lalomilo, Nigel Ah Wong, Otumaka Mausia, Henry Taefu, Viliami Napa’a, Anzelo Tuitavuki
Biggest transfer well flagged in advance is Ardie joining his brother, it’ll be interesting to see if he ends up playing 7 for Moana Pasifika as Lotu Inisi was one of their best last year playing at 8.
Huge amount of departing players with a lot of the first signings retiring and otherwise moving on plus second year of Umaga in charge presumably setting up the squad to match how he wants things more.
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.
Crusaders Squad for 2025
Props: Kershawl Sykes-Martin, Finlay Brewis, George Bower, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell, Seb Calder.
Hookers: Codie Taylor, Ioane Moananu, George Bell.
Locks: Scott Barrett, Quinten Strange, Tahlor Cahill, Jamie Hannah, Antonio Shalfoon.
Loose forwards: Ethan Blackadder, Christian Lio-Willie, Tom Christie, Cullen Grace, Corey Kellow, Dominic Gardiner, Fletcher Anderson, Xavier Saifoloi.
Halfbacks: Mitchell Drummond, Kyle Preston, Noah Hotham.
First five-eighths: Rivez Reihana, James O’Connor, Taha Kemara.
Midfielders: Dallas McLeod, David Havili, Levi Aumua, Brayden Ennor.
Outside backs: Aki Tuivailala, Johnny McNicholl, Macca Springer, Sevu Reece, Chay Fihaki, Will Jordan.
In: Sykes-Martin, Calder, Shalfoon, Anderson, Saifoloi, Preston, O’Connor, Tuivailala.
Out: Moody, Franks, McAlister, Gallagher, Heinz, Burke, Crotty, Rova, Murray, Mataele and Halfpenny.
Wonder where Brodie McAlister is off to, if still in NZ its presumably to get some game time rather than being stuck behind Taylor & Bell.
They’ll be hoping they get more out of O’Connor than they did Halfpenney, but i’d be surprised if he sees a big chunk of the season - but Kemara & Reihana need someone to learn from.
Loads of experience departing, lots of players coming in that didn’t exactly jump out at NPC. Here’s hoping for another middling to poor season for the one-eyes.
Hurricanes Squad for 2025
Props: Siale Lauaki, Tyrel Lomax, Tevita Mafileo, Xavier Numia, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Pasilio Tosi
Hookers: Asafo Aumua, Jacob Devery, Raymond Tuputupu
Locks: Tom Allen, Caleb Delany, Zach Gallagher, Josh Taula, Will Tucker, Isaia Walker-Leawere
Loose forwards: Devon Flanders, Brayden Iose, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Peter Lakai, Arese Poliko, Brad Shields
Halfbacks: Cam Roigard, Ereatara Enari, Jordi Viljoen
First five-eighths: Brett Cameron, Lucas Cashmore, Riley Hohepa
Midfielders: Billy Proctor, Riley Higgins, Ngane Punivae, Bailyn Sullivan, Peter Umaga-Jensen
Outside backs: Kade Banks, Tjay Clarke, Fehi Fineanganofo, Harry Godfrey, Ruben Love, Kini Naholo, Daniel Sinkinson
In: Tom Allen, Kade Banks, Lucas Cashmore, Tjay Clarke, Ereatara Enari, Fehi Fineanganofo, Zach Gallagher, Riley Hohepa, Arese Poliko, Will Tucker
Out: Jordie Barrett, Ben Grant, TK Howden, Richard Judd, Josh Moorby, Aidan Morgan, James O’Reilly, TJ Perenara, Salesi Rayasi, Justin Sangster, Ardie Savea, James Tucker
Brett Cameron will be out with injury for most of the season, Hohepa looked reasonable with the Crusaders last year without stamping a mark (the whole team failed) and Cashmore has been playing off the bench for BoP in the NPC so not a nailed down starter.
Enari & Viljoen for Perenara & Judd means they don’t have a lot of backup behind Cam Roigard at halfback as well.
Setting aside the big names like Barrett, Perenara and Savea leaving, its the loss of very good Super Rugby players Moorby, Rayasi, Sansgter that will hurt on top of losing Morgan and having to rely on two much more unproven 10s.
Blues Squad for 2025
Props: Angus Ta’avao, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Marcel Renata, Jordan Lay, Joshua Fusitu’a, PJ Sheck, Ben Ake
Hookers: Kurt Eklund, Ricky Riccitelli, James Mullan
Locks: Laghlan McWhannell, Cameron Christie, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Darry, Josh Beehre
Loose forwards: Cameron Suafoa, Adrian Choat, Dalton Papali’i, Anton Segner, Hoskins Sotutu, Che Clark
Halfbacks: Finlay Christie, Sam Nock, Taufa Funaki
First five-eighths: Stephen Perofeta, Harry Plummer, Beauden Barrett
Midfielders: Xavi Taele, Corey Evans, Meihana Grindlay, Rieko Ioane
Outside backs: Zarn Sullivan, Mark Tele’a, Caleb Clarke, AJ Lam, Payton Spencer, Reon Paul, Cole Forbes
In: Ake, Christie, Clark, Barrett, Taele, Spencer, Paul
Out: Soane Vikena, James Thompson, Akira Ioane, Rob Rush, Lucas Cashmore, Bryce Heem, Kade Banks, Caleb Tangitau
Quite a few players leaving the Blues looking for game time, a bit surprised nobody made a play to get either Plummer or Perofeta as they’d be keen on playing more, but then why would you want to leave the champs?
AJ Lam is listed as an outside back here, but I would expect he’ll be playing in the midfield with Ioane which would be quite a formidable pair. The big loss for the Blues is obviously Akira Ioane as its hard to see any of the remaining loosies having the sort of impact he did this year, but Vern was able to get the best out of him & Sotutu so maybe he’ll get some of these other lads to step up too.
A back 3 of Clarke, Sullivan and Tele’a is very, very good and they’ve got a good balance of young and experienced. Like the Chiefs on the basis of the squads alone, the Blues look the goods.
