For now, Darby Lancaster’s rugby future is in New Zealand. The winger who starred for the Wallabies in their dramatic 40-29 win Georgia in Sydney in 2024 doing his job for Hawke’s Bay in the NPC. He signed with Blues for 2027 and the next two years of Super Rugby Pacific.
“Hawke’s Bay is a great set-up. They’re good guys, there’s room to surf and the style of rugby we play really encourages us to shake it up. When we put it together, it’s hard for us to handle,” Lancaster told RugbyPass.
“Lukas Ripley, who I played with at the Rebels, was my connection here. He introduced me to a few people, and it happened quickly. I’m really excited about the opportunity at the Blues. I’ve rubbed shoulders with a few people All black people like Caleb Clarke will be huge. My immediate focus is on the NPC.”
Hawke’s Bay started 2026 in hot form, winning six straight matches. They have since lost their last three, including a 50-14 drubbing by a desperate, All Blacks-stacked Taranaki at McLean Park in Napier on Sunday.
Lancaster played seven matches, scoring 59-17 tries. Manawatu and in a 32-17 loss to Bay of Plenty, who have not missed the playoffs since 2021.
“The way Australia the approach to the game is similar to New Zealand. Every NPC team now seems to have two or three Australians, which is great for us to be exposed to strong competition, but it also shows that we are quick to adapt,” Lancaster said.
“The biggest things I’ve learned are about communication and seeing and attacking space. New Zealand players are very good at spotting opportunities even before they happen. There are other nuances, but essentially the approach is similar.
Is Hawke’s Bay on the wane?
“I hope not. The game against a couple of Taranaki All Blacks was a great opportunity, a litmus test for our position. When we’re on we’re hard to stop and we’re as good as any team,” Lancaster replied.
Indeed, in their first three matches Hawke’s Bay put up half-centuries against Wellington, Tasman and Manawatu to win Auckland 44-31. A 35-24 come-from-behind win against Otago followed by two defeats at home, which cast doubt on the championship credentials of the Magpies.
If ever there was a Hawke’s Bay rally match, it’s the Ranfurly Shield challenge. It will happen at Navigation Homes Stadium in Pukekohe on Saturday after the underdogs Counties Manukau stunned at the top of the table Northland 22-19 in Whangarei in round nine.
Hawke’s Bay has a rich Ranfurly Shield history with 80 wins in 118 matches, including the fourth (24 saves, 1922-27) and fifth (21 saves, 1966-1969) longest reigns in Shield history. Between 2020 and 2022, Hawke’s Bay had 14 defenses and again from September 23, 2023 to September 7, 2024, it held the Log for four defenses.
Winning the Ranfurly Shield for Lancaster would add to an already impressive trophy cabinet which includes the 2021-22 World Rugby League title.
While studying at Kempsey Cannonballs, The Scots College, Sydney, and Waratahs Academy, Lancaster overcame serious ACL injuries to represent Australia Under-20s and the Aussie Sevens. When Lancaster made his World Series Sevens debut in Malaga, Spain, he was Australia’s youngest player at 18.
“The weeks were the foundation that set me up for my career,” Lancaster said. “My first big trip abroad was to Spain; that was pretty wild for a teenager. I went to about half a dozen different countries and learned how to be a pro – diet, fitness, handling pressure, building skills. It was great,” Lancaster said.
Australia have been a model of consistency during the 2021-22 World Sevens Series, reaching the finals in Dubai and Seville and winning the cup title in London in May 2022. They beat New Zealand 19-14 in the final. Henry Paterson scored a hat-trick of tries, including winning the golden points in extra time, and produced a crucial try-saving effort at the end of regulation time to give Australia their first Cup final victory over New Zealand in 20 years.
In November 2022, Australia won the Hong Kong Sevens for the first time in 34 years, defeating the Fiji 20-17 in the final. They had to come back from a 12-0 deficit against the five-time defending champion and eventually pulled out the win with just 22 seconds left after trailing 17-15. Nathan Lawson scored the winning try after Maurice Longbottom rattled Manueli Maisamou in the tackle and Stuart Dunbar collected the loose ball to secure Lawson.
“Winning the Hong Kong Sevens was the highlight of my time with the Aussie Sevens. I got injured halfway through but it’s such a big tournament, the whole city lights up and the history behind it was huge. It was such a privilege to be a part of it,” Lancaster said.
“I haven’t ruled out a return to the Sevens. The 2028 Olympics – who’s going to say no to that? I’m not sure what the eligibility rules are now that I’m in New Zealand. My immediate focus is obviously on the fifteens. The Sevens has been really important for my growth. There are some great players involved.”
When asked if Australia could have one player for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Lancaster was nominated Brumbies and the Wallabies flyer Corey Toole, who hit a World Series-leading 75 home runs in 2021-2022. Lancaster says he’s never seen a player with “that kind of motor” before or since Toole.
Lancaster’s way to the Blues Super Rugby Pacific has gone through 23 games and 13 tries for Rebels 2024, Warathas 2025 and Western Force in 2026