Tupaea staying with Chiefs, NZ Rugby
- Dave Worsley
- Sep 9
- 2 min read
Confirmation that backline stalwart Quinn Tupaea has re-signed with the Chiefs and New Zealand Rugby (NZR) through to the end of 2026.
An 18-Test All Black, Tupaea a powerful and dynamic playing style as well as leadership to the Chiefs midfield.
LATEST HEADLINES:
The 26-year-old Hamilton born-and-bred player made his debut for Waikato in 2018, Tupaea burst onto the Super Rugby scene in 2020 where he immediately made his mark establishing himself as a try-scoring threat. That year saw him honored by the club as the Gallagher Chiefs’ Rookie of the Year.
Quinn went on to debut for the All Blacks in 2021 where he gained 14 caps for the national side before an injury in 2022 forced him sideline for a full year.
Returning to the Chiefs in 2024 Tupaea appeared in 14 of 17 games leading him to celebrate his 50th appearance for the club in 2025 – the occasion punctuated by two match-winning tries.
Gaining a call up for the All Blacks again for this year’s July Series and Rugby Championship campaigns, Quinn further solidified his place in the squad with a decisive try against South Africa at Eden Park.
“Quinn is a unique player and his resilience, passion and leadership over the past few years has shown the kind of character he is” said Head Coach of the Gallagher Chiefs Jono Gibbes.
“To see what he’s overcome and return to perform at such a high level speaks to his commitment to the jersey, his team and the community. We’re thrilled to have him re-sign and continue to be a big part of the future.”
Tupaea said whānau was always front of mind in his career decisions along with unfinished business at the Chiefs. “
The motivation to win a title for the Club was big. I had some pretty big conversations with my family and partner. I have a lot of good mates here and I back Jono as a coach so yeah, pretty happy.”
