The 2025 Gallagher Chiefs squad has been named ahead of the DHL Super Rugby Pacific competition.
A cohesive side has been named setting the stage for an exciting season.
The Gallagher Chiefs have procured 90 Super Rugby caps of experience for their forward pack in the form of All Blacks XV and Crusaders hooker Brodie McAlister and Brumbies loose forward Jahrome Brown.
The powerhouse duo are two of only five new additions to the Gallagher Chiefs side that is otherwise well established with my longstanding team members.
“The obvious thing is that there is a lot of consistency in the selection of the group,” said Gallagher Chiefs Head Coach Clayton McMillan.
“I’m a big believer in cohesion. So, having guys that have played together for a while and experienced the highs and lows together. They learn and then create opportunities in the new season to put those learnings into practice and go one step further.”
Familiar talents have also been offering their first full-time Super Rugby contracts for 2025: World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year nominee Leroy Carter, Taranaki and All Blacks XV first-five Josh Jacomb and New Zealand U19s and Taranaki lock Fiti Sa.
The trio are all familiar with the Gallagher Chiefs environment, with Carter and Jacomb previously part of the wider training squad, which Jacomb was promoted from last season. Meanwhile, Sa has been on a National Development Contract (NDC) with the Gallagher Chiefs for the past two years.
“I really love the team that we’ve got. I think it’s got great balance, great depth, and our collective experiences will put us in good stead to give the competition a real shake. That’s what we’ll be aiming to do,” said McMillan.
The 38-man squad will assemble later this month to begin their preparations for the coming season.
2025 Gallagher Chiefs Squad (Provincial Union, Chiefs caps):
Aidan Ross (Bay of Plenty, 88)
Anton Lienert-Brown (Waikato, 120)
Bradley Slater (Taranaki, 60)
Brodie McAlister (Canterbury, 0)
Cortez Ratima (Waikato, 42)
Damian McKenzie (Waikato, 126)
Daniel Rona (Taranaki, 23)
Emoni Narawa (Bay of Plenty, 33)
Etene Nanai-Seturo (Counties Manukau, 60)
Fiti Sa (Taranaki, 0)*
George Dyer (Waikato, 37)
Gideon Wrampling (Waikato, 3)
Jahrome Brown (Waikato, 0)
Jared Proffit (Taranaki, 15)
Jimmy Tupou (Counties Manukau, 10)
Josh Jacomb (Taranaki, 4)*
Josh Lord (Taranaki, 22)
Kaleb Trask (Bay of Plenty, 23)
Kaylum Boshier (Taranaki, 29)
Leroy Carter (Bay of Plenty, 0)*
Liam Coombes-Fabling (Waikato, 9)
Luke Jacobson (Waikato, 78) (Captain)
Malachi Wrampling (Waikato, 0)
Manaaki Selby-Rickit (Bay of Plenty, 15)
Naitoa Ah Kuoi (Bay of Plenty, 62)
Ollie Norris (Waikato, 54)
Quinn Tupaea (Waikato, 48)
Rameka Poihipi (Canterbury, 44)
Reuben O'Neill (Taranaki, 29)
Samipeni Finau (Waikato, 45)
Samisoni Taukei'aho (Waikato, 92)
Shaun Stevenson (North Harbour, 96)
Simon Parker (Northland, 22)
Sione Ahio (Auckland, 4)
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Bay of Plenty, 54)
Tupou Vaa'i (Taranaki, 58)
Wallace Sititi (North Harbour, 13)
Xavier Roe (Waikato, 31)
*denotes rookie.
