The Super Rugby Pacific squads have been revealed, with all of the groups releasing their lists for the 2026 season.
There was loads of participant motion already, whereas for the New Zealand groups, there’s extra to come back with Friday’s announcement of the brand new wider coaching group (WTG) squads.
Right here’s how the New Zealand groups graded on their recruitment for the 2026 season.
Highlanders
Recruitment Grade: A
Greatest signing: Dylan Pledger
Roster power: Outdoors backs
Roster weak spot: Props
The Highlanders continued their low season wins with promising recruits throughout the board, pulling in veteran All Black Angus Ta’avao and Argentinian lock Tomas Lavanini, whereas securing the younger expertise like Dylan Pledger that they’ve developed of their newly-formed academy.
After two growth signings within the outdoors backs over the past two seasons, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens in 2024 and Caleb Tangitau in 2025, they’ve landed one other in Xavier Tito-Harris, the ex-New Zealand Sevens younger gun who may do the identical in 2026.
The Highlanders proceed to stockpile among the finest rising expertise out large, once more with the signing of Wellington’s Stanley Solomon, who has had two years within the New Zealand U20s as a wing and fullback. Solomon may additionally show to be an choice at No.10 long-term, which makes the signing a excessive upside choose able of want with AJ Faleafaga leaving for Japan. When you think about they nonetheless have fullback Finn Hurley, the Highlanders do have one of the crucial promising future backlines within the competitors.
Probably the most intriguing choose is ex-Force midfielder Reesjan Pasitoa, a former Australian faculties flyhalf who frolicked with Northland to revive his profession within the NPC. He may discover his toes within the south.
Whereas not named within the high squad, the Highlanders signed academy lock Josh Tengblad to a long-term deal till the tip of 2028. He was introduced down from Auckland after highschool. He’s an enormous human and extremely expert, Tengblad could be that anchor alongside Fabian Holland long-term.
Will the Highlanders contend in 2026 for the title? It’s nonetheless unlikely they’ll, but it surely’s clear they’re on the up. After breaking their dropping run in opposition to rival Kiwi sides in 2025 with an early-season win over the Blues, they slumped to a 3-11 report. That’s an enormous hill to climb to go from second-last to the highest.
Hurricanes
Recruitment Grade: B
Greatest signing: Warner Dearns
Roster power: Again row/midfield
Roster weak spot: Locks
For the Hurricanes, it was very a lot enterprise as ordinary, including only some names to an already highly effective roster. Three of their six new names had been returners, with membership legend Jordie Barrett coming again.
Their finest signing is Warner Dearns, a two-time Japan League One champion and capped Japanese worldwide. The Hurricanes have by no means had the most effective locks, however Dearns is a dynamic one who may actually remodel the Hurricanes’ pack, which already has a superb free ahead unit and highly effective entrance rowers. From a ‘want’ perspective, Dearns suits the invoice completely to bolster a historically weak unit.
They misplaced promising Canterbury lock Zach Gallagher to Toyota Verblitz, which additionally doubles as a loss for New Zealand Rugby. Gallagher was solely 23 years previous and exhibiting indicators of changing into a key member of the Canes pack.
That is largely the identical squad that put up a 12-2 report two seasons in the past and claimed the primary seed for the playoffs. A horror harm toll in 2025 actually damage their probabilities, however they nonetheless completed fourth on the ladder.
And that’s the key for the Hurricanes in 2026: staying wholesome. They’ve the world’s finest No.9 in Cam Roigard, and when he’s on the park, the Hurricanes might be laborious to beat. A 12 months on from his knee harm, having Brett Cameron again is a big plus. They missed him in 2025, and the All Black No.10 is essential to piloting the backline, which has sufficient firepower.
If the Hurricanes can’t maintain first-choice halves pair Roigard and Cameron wholesome, that’s when their title aspirations dip. They’ve Ere Enari and Jordi Viljoen as backup 9s, and Lucas Cashmore to depend on at first 5 with Harry Godfrey out for the season.
That’s the place the lack of Stanley Solomon hurts. A Hurricanes age-grade product and two-year New Zealand U20 participant, it’s disappointing to see the Highlanders snap him up once they have already got Finn Hurley and Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens at No.15.
Blues
Recruitment Grade: C+
Greatest signing: James Cameron
Roster power: Free forwards
Roster weak spot: Hookers/Halfbacks
The Blues are on a cyclical decline after their championship-contending years from 2022-24. A difficult 2025 noticed them scrape into the playoffs with a dropping report, proving they’re in want of a rebuild. They’ve taken steps with their 2026 to handle that, however that might want to proceed. Auckland, North Harbour and Northland all struggling within the NPC will not be signal, in order that they must look outdoors of their yard.
This season they’ve misplaced Mark Tele’a to Japan, Rieko Ioane to sabbatical, Angus Ta’avao to the Highlanders, whereas ‘glue’ gamers like Harry Plummer, Adrian Choat and hooker Ricky Riccitelli have additionally departed.
Let’s begin with the nice; raiding the Crusaders academy for centre James Cameron and Eli Oudenryn is a coup. Cameron, a high prospect popping out of Westlake Boys, is coming again residence. He’s a midfield prospect with an enormous ceiling.
Oudenryn, this 12 months’s Tremendous Rugby U20 participant of the match, isn’t but prepared for Tremendous Rugby however is a good pick-up at a place of weak spot on the roster. He’s the second coming of Dane Coles.
The signing of Cody Vai can be a pleasant match, given they misplaced Tele’a and are in want of wingers. They’ve missed out on two native merchandise, Tangitau and Tito-Harris, so getting Vai is a aid. Vai debuted for the All Blacks Sevens as an 18-year-old and is a particular expertise out large.
Within the free forwards, they’ve signed Malachi Wrampling-Alec away from the Chiefs, a standout two years in the past for the New Zealand U20s.
However there isn’t any escaping that this squad is now younger, and they’ll must construct expertise with this youthful group. It’s a top-heavy squad with a scattering of veterans and plenty of gamers simply beginning their Tremendous careers.
There’s expertise within the pack with the likes of Hoskins Sotutu, Dalton Papalii, Jordan Lay, Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Patrick Tuipulotu, but when there are a number of accidents to these guys, the pack begins to look very inexperienced.
The Blues are in rebuild mode and wish to focus on extra age-grade expertise to construct round. At halfback, they need to go after Charlie Sinton on the Chiefs, who’s behind Cortez Ratima and Xavier Roe, two guys of their mid-20s who gained’t be going anyplace quickly.
However for 2026, it’s laborious to see the Blues competing for the title. The window has closed.
Chiefs
Recruitment Grade: B+
Greatest signing: Kyren Taumoefolau
Roster power: Locks/Outdoors backs
Roster weak spot: Midfield
The Chiefs have added 10 new gamers to their squad, and it’s a powerful haul, including Moana Pasifika weapon Kyren Taumoefolau because the headline attraction.
A pair of New Zealand U20 locks, Aisake Vakasiuola and Jayden Sa, bolster depth in an already sturdy lock group with All Blacks Tupou Vaa’i and Josh Lord, Naitoa Ah Koui and Taranaki large Fiti Sa. One other promising lock, Dylan Eti, isn’t distant both, a standout for Chiefs U20. The Chiefs are the lock manufacturing facility of New Zealand presently.
Up entrance, they get again Tyrone Thompson at hooker from a brief stint within the NRL, whereas Bay of Plenty prop Benet Kumeroa provides extra energy up entrance.
They missed out on All Blacks Sevens machine Oli Mathis, however the Chiefs do have an distinctive free ahead group to start with. From the sevens programme, they’ve additionally nabbed Tepaea Cook-Savage as a primary 5 choice.
With Anton Lienert-Brown on sabbatical and Gideon Wrampling departing, the midfield is the weakest a part of the roster resulting from an absence of depth. Daniel Rona and Quinn Tupaea are a powerful pair, they usually’ve added Wallaby Lalakai Foketi into the combination together with Manuwatu centre Kyle Brown out of the Hurricanes area. However accidents within the midfield may damage the Chiefs title probabilities with such a harmful outdoors again group. Sevens convert Leroy Carter may very well be an choice after taking part in 13 for Bay of A lot through the season.
We all know the Chiefs will contend, however have they accomplished sufficient to take the title after three straight last losses? They are going to be within the operating.
Crusaders
Recruitment Grade: A-
Greatest signing: Leicester Fainga’anuku
Roster power: Midfield
Roster weak spot: First 5
The champions are arguably higher this 12 months than final, with the additions outclassing the subtractions. Headlined by All Black Leicester Fainga’anuku, the returning Crusaders provides punch to the midfield or energy out large.
The ahead pack was already sturdy, however provides New Zealand U20 rep Manu Letiu at hooker for the departing Ioane Moananu. Younger lock Liam Jack, nephew of Chris Jack, is elevated to the full-time squad with Quinten Strange departing.
Spectacular Canterbury first 5 James White formally comes into the squad, which is a unit of concern. They’ve three younger 10s who all have excessive potential. Louie Chapman has been added to the halfbacks.
It was a brief stint on the sevens circuit for Maloni Kunawave, who debuted on the Perth SVNS final 12 months earlier than linking up with the U20 programme. The fullback will add some elusiveness and aptitude to an already sturdy again three unit.
All the brand new gamers are academy-made coming by way of the Crusaders system which is an actual power. The Oli Mathis deal bucks that homegrown pattern, however Mathis will sit within the WTG for a 12 months.
The fear for the opposite New Zealand groups is the Crusaders aren’t getting worse and their 2024 mishap seems to be over.
