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
The NZ based franchises & Moana Pasifika are all announcing their squads for the 2025 season today. On the hour, in NZDT:
Highlanders Squad for 2025
Props: Ethan de Groot, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Josh Bartlett, Saula Ma’u, Rohan Wingham, Sosefo Kautai
Hookers: Soane Vikena, Jack Taylor, Henry Bell
Locks: Fabian Holland, Mitch Dunshea, Oliver Haig
Loose forwards: Will Stodart, Sean Withy, TK Howden, Hayden Michaels, Nikora Broughton, Hugh Renton, Lui Naeata, Veveni Lasaqa
Halfbacks: Folau Fakatava, James Arscott, Nathan Hastie
First five-eighths: Cameron Millar, Ajay Faleafaga, Taine Robinson
Midfielders: Jake Te Hiwi, Josh Whaanga, Tanielu Tele’a, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Sam Gilbert
Outside backs:Jona Nareki, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Michael Manson, Finn Hurley, Jonah Lowe, Caleb Tangitau
In: Vikena, Kautai, Wingham, Bartlett, Stodart, Howden, Naeata, Lasaqa, Robinson, Whaanga, Manson, Hurley, Tangitau
Out: Jermaine Ainsley, Ayden Johnstone, Ricky Jackson, Will Tucker, Pari Pari Parkinson, Max Hicks, Billy Harmon, Tom Sanders, Rhys Patchell, Josh Timu, Martin Bogado
Very light on locks and Harmon moving on is a huge loss for the 'landers Patchell didn’t get to play as much as he’d have wanted but will be missed too. If they can avoid as many injuries as they had to carry last year they might do ok, but definitely not as well balanced a squad as the Chiefs or Hurricanes.