Super Rugby wider training groups named
Fifty-seven players have been selected by Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders and Highlanders in the Super Rugby Pacific Wider Training Groups, with players coming from all New Zealand 14 provincial unions.
Each club can contract up to 12 players, who will assemble with the core 38-player squad on a full-time basis throughout the Super Rugby Pacific season.
LATEST HEADLINES:
Black Ferns named for final 2026 Test
The Chiefs, Blues and Crusaders have each named 12 players, the Hurricanes 11 and the Highlanders 10.
Selections cover nine position groups, from loosehead prop through to outside backs.
Wider Training Group players will train with their Super Rugby club and play for the club's development team or in local club rugby competitions. In doing so, they will be eligible, and match-ready, to play for their Super Rugby club if required.
The 57 players were selected from a pool of players who had made themselves available to be drafted to a DHL Super Rugby Pacific club in 2027. Some have been contracted to their Wider Training Group for 2027 and have also signed full contracts for 2028 and beyond.
Wider Training Group by franchise:
Blues (12)
Esile Fono (Loosehead Prop, Northland)
Leka Tu'ungafasi (Tighthead Prop, North Harbour)
Riley Tofilau (Tighthead Prop, North Harbour)
Jordan Hutchings (Hooker, Northland)
Tevita Tatafu (Lock, Auckland)
Sam Tuitupou (Loose Forward, North Harbour)
Caleb Woodley (Loose Forward, Auckland)
Tyson Belworthy (Halfback, Canterbury)
Cohen Norrie (First Five-eighth, Auckland)
Cam Howell (First Five-eighth, North Harbour)
Tom Barham (Midfield, North Harbour)
Harlyn Saunoa (Outside Backs, Auckland)
Chiefs (12)
William Martin (Loosehead Prop, Waikato)
Keightley Watson (Tighthead Prop, Taranaki)
Samu Tawake (Tighthead Prop, Wellington)
Kurene Luamanuvae (Tighthead Prop, Counties Manukau)
JJ Pokai (Hooker, Taranaki)
Mosese Bason (Loose Forward, Manawatū)
Rui Farrant (Halfback, Waikato)
Andrew Knewstubb (First Five-eighth, Canterbury)
Haki Wiseman (Midfield, Taranaki)
Mike Naitokani (Midfield, Waikato)
Nathan Stephens (Outside Backs, Waikato)
Dallas Rata-Makene (Outside Backs, Waikato)
Hurricanes (11)
Malakai Hala-Ngatai (Loosehead Prop, Manawatū)
Logan Wallace (Tighthead Prop, Manawatū)
Matolu Petaia (Lock, Wellington)
Johnny Falloon (Lock, Wellington)
Patrick Mauga (Loose Forward, Hawke's Bay)
Jai Tamati (Halfback, Manawatū)
Will Cole (First Five-eighth, Hawke's Bay)
Garouw Basson (Midfield, Auckland)
Lukas Ripley (Outside Backs, Hawke's Bay)
Taniela Filimone (Outside Backs, Manawatū)
Waisake Salabiau (Outside Backs, Waikato)
Crusaders (12)
Monu Moli (Loosehead Prop, Tasman)
Gus Brown (Tighthead Prop, Canterbury)
Vea Taumoefolau (Tighthead Prop, Tasman)
Jayden Henderson (Hooker, Southland)
Max Fale (Lock, Canterbury)
Jake Frost (Lock, Tasman)
Konrad Toleafoa (Loose Forward, Southland)
Joel Lam (Halfback, Otago)
Aaron Gibbs (First Five-eighth, Bay of Plenty)
Cooper Grant (Midfield, Tasman)
Jae Broomfield (Outside Backs, Otago)
Logan Williams (Outside Backs, Canterbury)
Highlanders (10)
Benjamin Lopas (Loosehead Prop, Otago)
Solomone Tukuafu (Tighthead Prop, Bay of Plenty)
Manaaki Boyle-Tiatia (Hooker, Waikato)
Reuben Allen (Lock, Manawatū)
Senita Lauaki (Loose Forward, Waikato)
Phoenix Abbott (Loose Forward, Canterbury)
Kieran McClea (Halfback, Otago)
Austin Anderson (Midfield, Waikato)
Sam Nemec-Vial (Outside Backs, Otago)
Nicholas Sauira (Outside Backs, Tasman)
Selections by provincial union
Waikato: 9
Canterbury: 6
Manawatū: 6
Auckland: 5
North Harbour: 5
Otago: 5
Tasman: 5
Hawke's Bay: 3
Taranaki: 3
Wellington: 3
Bay of Plenty: 2
Northland: 2
Southland: 2
Counties Manukau: 1
