Hurricanes sign promising Hawke's Bay lock
Updated: 2 days ago
The Hurricanes have further strengthened their squad signing Hawke’s Bay lock Hunter Morrison on a two-year deal beginning next season.
Morrison joins the club after impressing for the Magpies in this year’s NPC and is excited to have secured his first opportunity in Super Rugby Pacific.
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"I’m incredibly grateful and excited to join the Hurricanes for the next two years. It’s a huge honour to be able to represent this club, which I grew up aspiring to play for,” said Morrison.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to grow on and off the field, and I hope to contribute to the winning culture this club has established.”
Originally from Whanganui, the 23-year-old attended both Whanganui Collegiate and Palmerston North Boys’ High School and is a graduate of the Hurricanes’ pathway programme, having represented the club’s U18, U20, and development teams.
He featured for the New Zealand Barbarians U18, New Zealand U19, and New Zealand U20 sides between 2021 and 2023 before making his provincial debut with Hawke’s Bay three years ago.
Morrison has since played 21 times for the Magpies and was part of the Hawke’s Bay squad that claimed the Ranfurly Shield in 2023.
He also spent a season in Japan Rugby League One, playing twice for the Urayasu D-Rocks last year, and started for the New Zealand Barbarians in their 2024 win over the New Zealand Heartland XV.
Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw said Morrison’s addition to the club’s second row stocks has followed standout efforts in recent times.
"Hunter has been in and around the Hurricanes for the last two or three seasons,” Laidlaw said.
“He played for the Hurricanes Hunters development team last year and played really well against the Highlanders Bravehearts in Dunedin. He’s been in the discussion since then really.
“He started the NPC with real energy and some of his ball-carrying and work on the ball was exceptional. It’s a real opportunity for him to come here, grow his game, and get consistency around his set piece and work off the ball.
“We’re excited for him to join us as a local Hurricane boy and look forward to linking up with him and getting a really solid pre-season behind him as he makes the next step to Super Rugby.”
