The Waikato rugby team, which is also known as the Waikato Mooloos, is a professional rugby team based in Hamilton, New Zealand. The team competes in the Bunnings NPC competition and is affiliated with the Chiefs Super Rugby franchise.
Discover more about the Waikato rugby team with rugby gurus RugbyPass. On this page you’ll find a detailed history of the side and an analysis of the current Waikato squad. You’ll also be able to see the team’s latest results and upcoming fixtures.
There were a few noteworthy pick-ups in the New Zealand Super Rugby Pacific squads announced on Tuesday but it's a shrewd bit of business done in Christchurch that may be looked back on as the biggest coup of the off-season.
Despite aiming for a return to action in the final round of the NPC regular season, Anton Lienert-Brown has been omitted from the Waikato side named to tackle Bay of Plenty in Hamilton on Sunday.
The Waikato rugby team, which is also known as the Waikato Mooloos, is a professional rugby team based in Hamilton, New Zealand. The team competes in the Bunnings NPC competition and is affiliated with the Chiefs Super Rugby franchise.
Discover more about the Waikato rugby team with rugby gurus RugbyPass. On this page you’ll find a detailed history of the side and an analysis of the current Waikato squad. You’ll also be able to see the team’s latest results and upcoming fixtures.
The history of the Waikato rugby team dates back to 1921, when the Waikato rugby union was founded. However, the modern version of the Waikato rugby team was formed in 1976, when the team joined the newly formed National Provincial Championship. This competition is now known as the Bunnings NPC for sponsorship reasons.
Since they joined the competition, the Waikato rugby team has been relatively successful. They’ve won the overall title three times, in 1992, 2006 and 2021. Added to this, they’ve also won a number of divisional titles over the years.
Today, the Waikato rugby team plays in the premiership division of the Bunnings NPC. They play their home games at FMG Stadium Waikato, which has a capacity of 25,000.
Ayden Johnstone Prop 
George Dyer Tighthead Prop 
Hamilton Burr Blindside Flanker 
Jack Lam Openside Flanker 
James Thompson Lock 
James Tucker Flanker 6 
Laghlan McWhannell Lock 
Liam Messam Number 8 
Luke Jacobson Flanker 6 
Mitchell Jacobson Openside Flanker 
Ollie Norris Prop 
Patrick McCurran Blindside flanker 
Pita Anae Ah-Sue Hooker 
Rhys Marshall Hooker 
Samipeni Finau Blindside Flanker 
Samisoni Taukei'aho Hooker 
Simon Parker Number 8 
Solomone Tukuafu Tighthead Prop 
Sosefo Kautai Prop 
Steven Misa Hooker 
Alapati Leiua Centre 
Anton Lienert-Brown Centre 
Bailyn Sullivan Centre 
Cortez Ratima Scrum Half 
D'Angelo Leuila Fly Half 
Damian McKenzie Fullback 
Daniel Sinkinson Fullback 
Gideon Wrampling 
Liam Coombes-Fabling Right Wing 
Mosese Dawai Wing 
Quinn Tupaea Centre 13 
Rhys Dickinson Fullback 
Robert Cobb Fullback 
Ryan Tongia Wing 
Sam Cooper 
Taha Kemara Fullback 
Tana Tuhakaraina Fullback 
Te Rama Reuben Fullback 
Tepaea Cook-Savage Fullback 
Tom Martin Fullback 
Xavier Roe Scrum half As one of the premier teams in the competition, the current Waikato squad is packed with star names and international talents, including All Blacks Liam Messam, Anton Lienert-Brown and Damian McKenzie.
In addition to this, more than 15 members of the Waikato rugby team are contracted to play in Super Rugby. The vast majority of these players feature for the Chiefs, but James Tucker and Sefo Kautai play for the Brumbies, while Ayden Johnstone represents the Highlanders.
Waikato Rugby Team 
