mens
super-rugby-pacific
The Hurricanes they announced their 2027 Super Rugby Pacific a team that has a total of 10 new signings and one promotion from last year’s WTG team.
Blockbusting No.8, recent member of the All Black team on the RGR tour of South Africa, Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, headlines the paper which was announced earlier this season.
The halves stock has been boosted by the arrival of six-time Super Rugby champion Bryn Hall, who has spent time at Japan with the Shizuoka Blue Revs and Kubota Spears from leaving Crusaders in 2022
The second row is where the Hurricanes made a significant investment to cover the loss of world-class lock Warner Dearns, who was on just a one-year commitment.
All black people XV loose forward Oliver Haig and Hawke’s Bay lock Hunter Morrison have been brought into the squad. Morrison was outstanding in this year’s NPC competition.
The Hurricanes also made promising signings Waikato lock Dylan Eti. The 20-year-old performed for New Zealand U20 side in 2025 during Rugby Championship after an impressive Bosses U20 campaign. Pacific Ocean lock Alefosio Aho has also been signed.
exHighlanders prop Rohan Wingham has been brought up front, along with Tito Tuipulotu who joins the Hurricanes after playing for Moana Pasifika alongside Tupou Ta’eila and Aho last season.
Fullback Tamiro Armstrong moves south from Bay of Plenty, along with former Crusader and Northland product Heremiah Murray, who will provide insurance for Ngane Punivai, who is expected to miss the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season after rupturing his Achilles earlier this month.
Josh Gray has been promoted from the Wider Training Group to earn a full contract after making his Super Rugby Pacific debut with the Hurricanes last year.
“It’s always a good part of the year to finally pick and announce the team,” Laidlaw said.
“We’ve done a lot of work over the last 10 months, since the beginning of the year when we knew a few players were leaving. It wasn’t just a process around the NPC, it started back in January around trying to look at areas in the squad that needed reinforcements.
“I think we’ve done a really good job of that with the coaches and Tom Kindley, our GM Rugby, in terms of filling the gaps and bringing in some youth as we look to the future as well as some players who are ready for Super Rugby.
“We feel that the balance we managed to achieve in the main squad allows us to continue playing and to prepare well with experience, as well as to have an eye on the future.
“It’s good to finalize the team and now we enter the final pre-season preparations as we look to welcome the new and returning Hurricanes in November.”
2027 HURRICANE SQUAD
Props
Siale Lawaki
Tyrell Lomax
Xavier Numia
Tosi stood up
Tito Tuipulotu
Rohan Wingham
Whores
Asafo Aumua
Vernon Basson
Jacob Devery
Raymond Grows
Locks
Alefosio Aho
Caleb Delany
Dylan Eti
Hunter Morrison
Hugo Plummer
Loose Forwards
Oliver Haig
Brayden Lose
Du’Plessis for Kirifi
Peter Lakai
Ares Poli
Brad Shields
James the Great
Halfbacks
Bryn Hall
Cam Roigard
Jordi Viljoen
First-Fives
Brett Cameron
Harry Godfrey
Ruben Love
Midfielders
T?miro Armstrong
Jordie Barrett
Heremaia Murray
Billy Proctor
Jon Rova
Outside Backs
Josh Gray
Fehi Finenganofo
Callum Harkin
Josh Moorby
Kini Naholo
Chargers*