The Hurricanes will take on the Chiefs in a pre-season trial on February 1 at Yarrow Stadium, Taranaki.
Hurricanes Head Coach Clark Laidlaw has named 47 players to meet the Chiefs in the squad's first pre-season hit out, which will be played as a game of three-halves.
“Pre-season games are our best chance at getting a real feel for where the team is at after a couple of months in the Hurricanes environment,” Laidlaw remarked, “I’m really happy with how the boys have thrown themselves into pre-season, there’s been a great energy on and off the field.”
“For some of our guys they’ve only been back in the environment for a few weeks which has allowed the new players in the squad to get really good opportunities in training. It’s important that we now take this opportunity to give most of the squad some game time and put ourselves in a good position as we gear up for Round 1.”
Fresh from the squad's three-day camp in Whanganui, Laidlaw has mixed experience with some fresh faces to take on last year’s runners up.
Laidlaw said the team had a great few days in Whanganui, getting some solid work done on things they want to focus on for the season, all while enjoying the hospitality of the local community.
There’s sure to be plenty of eyes on the performances of the new recruits this weekend, including former Blues back, Kade Banks, Olympic Seven's star Fehi Fineanganofo and Taranaki local Arese Poliko.
Hurricanes squad to meet the Chiefs in a game of three-halves:
- Xavier Numia
- Raymond Tuputupu
- Tevita Mafileo
- Isaia Walker-Leawere
- Tom Allen
- Brad Shields
- Du’Plessis Kirifi
- Devan Flanders
- Jordi Viljoen
- Riley Hohepa
- Kini Naholo
- Peter Umaga-Jensen
- Bailyn Sullivan
- Kade Banks
- Harry Godfrey
- Nic Souchon
- Vernon Bason
- JJ Pokai
- Jacob Devery
- Pouri Rakete-Stones
- Joe Gavigan
- Logan Wallace
- Flyn Yates
- Siale Lauaki
- Caleb Delany
- Hugo Plummer
- Harry Irving
- Arese Poliko
- Mosese Bason
- Sione Halalilo
- Cooper Flanders
- Oscar Ritchie
- Brayden Iose
- Patrick Tuifua
- Nui Muriwai
- Ereatara Enari
- Jai Tamati
- Will Cole
- Fehi Fineanganofo
- Riley Higgins
- Liam O’Connor
- Billy Proctor
- Ngatungane Punivai
- Jone Rova
- Stanley Solomon
- Callum Harkin
- Sam Coles
Unavailable:
Asafo Aumua, Brett Cameron, Lucas Cashmore, Tjay Clarke, Zach Gallagher, Peter Lakai, Tyrel Lomax, Ruben Love, Cameron Roigard, Daniel Sinkinson, Josh Taula, Pasilio Tosi, Will Tucker
New recruits Brodie McAlister and Jahrome Brown are set to have their first outing in Chiefs colours this Saturday afternoon in Taranaki, after being named as part of a 37-strong squad for the pre-season clash with the Hurricanes at Yarrow Stadium (2.00pm kick-off).
The pair – along with utility back Leroy Carter – are the new faces included in the group, who will share minutes across a match played in three 30-minute periods.
McAlister joins after time spent with the Crusaders, while Putāruru native Brown arrives following six seasons across the Tasman with the Brumbies.
Carter, who is a former World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year nominee, joins first five-eighth Josh Jacomb in gaining a full-time DHL Super Rugby contract for 2025.
Jacomb is one of six Taranaki representatives named to play in the match, which celebrates the strong ties both clubs have to the Taranaki region (11 years ago Taranaki changed their Super Rugby club allegiance from the Hurricanes to the Gallagher Chiefs).
Bradley Slater, Jared Proffit, Josh Lord, Kaylum Boshier and Daniel Rona are the other hometown players.
Chiefs squad versus Hurricanes,
1. Aidan Ross
2. Bradley Slater
3. Reuben O’Neill
4. Naitoa Ah Kuoi
5. Manaaki Selby-Rickit
6. Simon Parker
7. Jahrome Brown
8. Malachi Wrampling
9. Xavier Roe
10 Josh Jacomb
11. Manasa Mataele
12. Rameka Poihipi
13. Daniel Rona
14. Leroy Carter
15. Etene Nanai-Seturo
16. Taine Kolose
17. Ollie Norris
18. Benet Kumeroa
19. Jimmy Tupou
20. Josh Lord
21. Leone Nawai
22. Ethan Reti
23. Peniasi Malimali
24. Oscar Koller
25. Gideon Wrampling
26. Luke Jacobson
27. Brodie McAlister
28. George Dyer
29. Jared Proffit
30. Leo Ngati-Taufu
31. Charlie Sinton
32. Tai Cribb
33. Jacob Norris
34. Manaaki Boyle-Tiatia
35. James Thompson
36. Sione Ahio
37. Kaylum Boshier
