Chiefs 2025
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Here's the squad from last year...
Props
Sione Ahio
George Dyer
Kauvaka Kaivelata
Ollie Norris
Reuben O'Neill
Jared Proffit
Aidan RossHookers
Bradley Slater
Samisoni Taukei'aho
Tyrone ThompsonLocks
Naitoa Ah Kuoi
Josh Lord
Manaaki Selby-Rickit
Jimmy Tupou
Tupou Vaa'iLoose forwards
Kaylum Boshier
Samipeni Finau
Tom Florence
Luke Jacobson
Simon Parker
Wallace Sititi
Malachi Wrampling-AlecHalfbacks
Cortez Ratima
Xavier Roe
Te Toiroa TahuriorangiFirst five-eighths
Josh Ioane
Damian McKenzie
Kaleb TraskMidfielders
Anton Lienert-Brown
Rameka Poihipi
Daniel Rona
Quinn Tupaea
Gideon WramplingOutside backs
Liam Coombes-Fabling
Peniasi Malimali
Etene Nanai-Seturo
Emoni Narawa
Shaun StevensonJosh Ioane and Tyrone Thompson (more or less) are the only confirmed departures. Josh Jacomb has replaced Ioane and either Millenium Sanerevi (25 years old) or Taine Kolose (21 years old) will likely take Thompson's spot.
Jahrome Brown comes in - probably for Tom Florence. I'd say Kaylum Boshier is at risk of being left out in favour of Xavier Saifoloi.
One or two of the props could miss out. Aidan Ross, George Dyer and Kauvaka Kaivelata are probably the only certainties (not basing that on contracts, mind you). Ollie Norris has ongoing issues at scrum time and slipped behind Jared Proffit in the pecking order last year. Reuben O'Neill is probably safe as the best tighthead behind George Dyer. Sione Ahio has only had two games off the bench for Auckland this year but is a good longer-term prospect.
There's plenty of depth at lock. Hard to say if MSR or Jimmy Tupou will be around next season but wouldn't be a bad idea holding onto one of the two as an experienced option to cover for Vaa'i's rest weeks and Lord's injury issues. Fiti Sa looms as the obvious replacement for one of the two.
TTT could miss out to a young halfback but he might be held onto given both Ratima and Roe still have plenty of years left in them. Otherwise, Adam Lennox has been going well enough for Taranaki. Leroy Carter is presumably being looked at as an outside back but his versatility does open the door for some interesting match-day 23s.
The midfield group are presumably all back next year. In the outside backs, likely one of Liam Coombes-Fabling or Peniasi Malimali will drop out in place of Carter and I don't think it would be too big a loss to see both players replaced.
Think that covers everything really? Some young guys like Oli Mathis will no doubt be included in the WTS again.
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@Mr-Fish said in Chiefs 2025:
Jahrome Brown comes in - probably for Tom Florence.
Florence is gone. He got an early release from Taranaki to go overseas.
One or two of the props could miss out. Aidan Ross, George Dyer and Kauvaka Kaivelata are probably the only certainties (not basing that on contracts, mind you). Ollie Norris has ongoing issues at scrum time and slipped behind Jared Proffit in the pecking order last year. Reuben O'Neill is probably safe as the best tighthead behind George Dyer. Sione Ahio has only had two games off the bench for Auckland this year but is a good longer-term prospect.
Ahio is signed until 2026. I assume Kaivelata has a similar contract. I've not seen any current info for Norris, O'Neill or Proffit.
There's plenty of depth at lock. Hard to say if MSR or Jimmy Tupou will be around next season
Tupou is back for 2025. He signed a 2-yr contract. MSR unknown as his contract ended this year.
The midfield group are presumably all back next year.
Yes, all signed until 2025 or 2026.
In the outside backs, likely one of Liam Coombes-Fabling or Peniasi Malimali will drop out in place of Carter and I don't think it would be too big a loss to see both players replaced.
The Chiefs need more size and pace on the wings. Stevenson might be leaving after next season so ENS could move back to fullback.
I agree with @cliff about Vai as another winger might be needed soon.Think that covers everything really? Some young guys like Oli Mathis will no doubt be included in the WTS again.
Mathis was one of the five NDC players, and those are the young guys they keep close.
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In today's Waikato Times:
While squads will be unveiled in early November, as the draw for next year’s revamped competition was released on Monday, Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan confirmed to the Waikato Times the franchise had signed 50-cap Brumbies flanker Jahrome Brown on a two-year deal from next season, in a move triggered by the change-of-plans of Sam Cane. It will mark a homecoming for Brown, the 28-year-old, 1.89m, 105kg openside, who grew up in the small south Waikato town of Putāruru, then later excelled in the national championship-winning Hamilton Boys’ High School 1st XV, and went on to make his NPC debut for the Mooloos in 2017.
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Senita lauaki maybe a possibility? Looked good in games I seen
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@family-man said in Chiefs 2025:
Senita lauaki maybe a possibility? Looked good in games I seen
I think he's pretty similar to Saifaloi and Wrampling - probably don't need all three of them at this stage (especially when they've also got Finau and Sititi).
But definitely one to keep an eye on.
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Obviously not everyone plays every week, but Jahrome Brown seems a bit of an odd signing to me? Assuming the top trio is seen as Finau, Jacobson and Sititi, you've got all those promising young guys including Parker... really seems like he only plays if Jacobson gets injured?
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@frugby said in Chiefs 2025:
Obviously not everyone plays every week, but Jahrome Brown seems a bit of an odd signing to me? Assuming the top trio is seen as Finau, Jacobson and Sititi, you've got all those promising young guys including Parker... really seems like he only plays if Jacobson gets injured?
Jacobson will need a couple of rests during the season so you do need someone to back him up and Brown is a fairly proven talent. They might see him as holding down the fort for two years until Mathis is ready for Super Rugby.
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@frugby said in Chiefs 2025:
Obviously not everyone plays every week, but Jahrome Brown seems a bit of an odd signing to me?
McMillan says Brown has been signed as a specialist no.7, and admits that outside of the departing Cane, the Chiefs don't really have any. He also mentions that he tried to sign Brown a couple of years ago.
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@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2025:
@ploughboy said in Chiefs 2025:
do you think they will drop to 6 props and bolster somewhere else
I don't know. Proffit is the oldest prop, and one of 4 LHs. So if they do, he would be most at risk.
Sa injured again? he seemed to be playing well as is his brother
Barnes was saying they are bringing Sa along slowly, even at NPC level. We've seen most of the tall young locks (e.g., Lord, Holland) have a few injuries as they develop.
Probably a good approach with anyone who hasn't filled out enough. Then you have the counterpoint in a guy like Retallick who played a few games of NPC, then half a season of Super, then was a gun AB straight off the bat.
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@reprobate said in Chiefs 2025:
@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2025:
@ploughboy said in Chiefs 2025:
do you think they will drop to 6 props and bolster somewhere else
I don't know. Proffit is the oldest prop, and one of 4 LHs. So if they do, he would be most at risk.
Sa injured again? he seemed to be playing well as is his brother
Barnes was saying they are bringing Sa along slowly, even at NPC level. We've seen most of the tall young locks (e.g., Lord, Holland) have a few injuries as they develop.
Probably a good approach with anyone who hasn't filled out enough. Then you have the counterpoint in a guy like Retallick who played a few games of NPC, then half a season of Super, then was a gun AB straight off the bat.
Yes but he had a body - not to mention a face! made for test rugby...
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I think you'll find it is more likely Kolose is signed by nobody. Contracts these days are largely locked in before the NPC starts, particularly in positions where there isn't a lot of depth.
Sure, but McMillan would have known if Thompson is leaving so plans would have to be in place before the SR season ended. As I've said previously, Kolose is in the Chiefs system (playing for the Dev team), and would be a signing for the future. Sanerivi is closer in age to Taukei’aho and Slater. We'll find out soon enough.
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@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2025:
I think you'll find it is more likely Kolose is signed by nobody. Contracts these days are largely locked in before the NPC starts, particularly in positions where there isn't a lot of depth.
Sure, but McMillan would have known if Thompson is leaving so plans would have to be in place before the SR season ended. As I've said previously, Kolose is in the Chiefs system (playing for the Dev team), and would be a signing for the future. Sanerivi is closer in age to Taukei’aho and Slater. We'll find out soon enough.
Oh, I was more meaning for the Blues. I think it is entirely possible that Thompson's contract future was still up in the air, meaning the Chiefs were happy to wait to test the open market - particularly as in Slater and Taukei'aho they already have two good options. Wouldn't be surprised to see Kolose pop up.
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Not the news I was hoping for. Obviously ST was very optimistic in aiming to be fit for the EOYT.
Injured All Blacks hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho will not likely be seen back on the park until several rounds into the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season. While the All Blacks noted last week the 30-test rep was done for the year, Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan confirmed to the Waikato Times that it was a ruptured achilles tendon which the 27-year-old had suffered in the semifinal win over the Hurricanes in Wellington on June 15. And, with next year’s competition kicking off on February 15, that’s still a month shy of the typical recovery timeframe laid out for that injury.
McMillan also confirms that Thompson won't be back, and that they are exploring options at hooker. The Chiefs will need to contract two hookers, one to replace Thompson and another as injury cover for Taukei’aho.
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@Bovidae Really unfortunate news, hopefully he makes a full recovery.
Looking at the NPC squad lists, there don't seem to be a lot of options at hooker which aren't already signed to a Super side. Kolose should take one of the slots. If the Highlanders already have Bell, Taylor and Vikena signed, the Chiefs should inquire whether Coltman would be interested in coming up north. He's been good for Otago.
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