Rugby: Six new comers in Taranaki NPC squad

Photo: Fresh from winning the Taranaki championship with Clifton, hooker Suli Pahulu has earned a Taranaki contract. Photo by Shelley Tate. 

The National Provincial Championship reaches a half-century in 2026, 50 years on from the inaugural competition in 1976.

The Yarrows Taranaki Bulls have named the full squad that will represent the province across the anniversary season, completing a group that began with the contracted core confirmed in May and was filled out through the CMK Premiership season.

Kaylum Boshier will again captain the province, with Bradley Slater and Logan Crowley named vice-captains. They lead a squad built around the experienced group that has driven Taranaki's recent campaigns, including the 2023 championship, now joined by six players new to the group for 2026: Suli Pahulu (Clifton), Josefa Namosimalua (Inglewood), Quintony Ngatai (NPOB), Chris Vunipola (Clifton), Rocky Olsen (Stratford Eltham) and Indiha Saotui-Huta (Clifton).

All earned their contracts on the back of standout CMK Club Rugby form.

The season opens with the Kaitake Battle at the Beach pre-season fixture at Corbett Park, Oakura, on Friday 24 July, which has already sold out. The Yarrows Taranaki Bulls then travel to face Counties Manukau in round one on Saturday 1 August. Full fixtures and membership are at trfu.co.nz.

Five All Blacks are included in the squad in Beauden Barrett, Jordie Barrett, Scott Barrett, Josh Lord and Tupou Vaa'i. The variable through the opening rounds is whether any further players are called into the All Blacks squad for the tour to South Africa.

The coaching group has factored that in since pre-season began, building the depth to absorb any late call-ups and settle the side ahead of round one.

Development contracts go to Dane Johnston, Noah Rogers, Jamie Viljoen and Bradley Tocker. Tocker and Johnston are among three Taranaki players currently with New Zealand at the World Rugby U20 Championship, alongside captain Haki Wiseman, with Rogers named on standby.

Rogers and Tocker are contracted to Taranaki Rugby while completing their studies at the University of Waikato, where they play their club rugby, returning to the region for the representative season. Wiseman, a midfielder, has graduated from the Downer Taranaki Academy to a full Yarrows Taranaki Bulls contract for 2026.

The season will start without Hemopo Cunningham and Patrick O'Carroll-Haami, who have both been ruled out for the campaign through injury.

Yarrows Taranaki Bulls Head Coach Jarrad Hoeata:

"It's a settled group with a strong spine. Kaylum, Bradley and Logan set the standard, and the new faces have all earned their shot on the back of CMK Club Rugby form. With the pending South Africa tour, the early rounds may test our depth, but we've planned for exactly that. It means we carry a bigger squad in the opening weeks, but it will only help with ensuring we get every player confident and connected so we're firing from round one, whoever runs out in the Amber & Black."

2026 YARROWS TARANAKI BULLS SQUAD

Captain: Kaylum Boshier

Vice-captains: Bradley Slater, Logan Crowley

PROPS
Jared Proffit
Reuben O'Neill
Perry Lawrence
Marika Parker
Keightley Watson

HOOKERS
Bradley Slater
JJ Pokai
Harry Hansen
Suli Pahulu*

LOCKS
Fiti Sa
Jayden Sa
Jesse Parete
Scott Jury
Hemopo Cunningham (out for the season, injury)

LOOSE FORWARDS
Arese Poliko
Michael Loft
Kaylum Boshier
Sage Walters Hansen
Olly Lawson
Josefa Namosimalua*

HALFBACKS
Adam Lennox
Logan Crowley
Quintony Ngatai*
Chris Vunipola*

FIRST FIVE-EIGHTHS
Josh Jacomb
Sam Clarke
Rocky Olsen*

MIDFIELD
Daniel Rona
Meihana Grindlay
Seta Tamanivalu
Haki Wiseman

OUTSIDE BACKS
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Kini Naholo
Josh Setu
Vereniki Tikoisolomone
Indiha Saotui-Huta*

DEVELOPMENT CONTRACTS
Dane Johnston
Noah Rogers
Jamie Viljoen
Bradley Tocker

ALL BLACKS
Jordie Barrett
Scott Barrett
Beauden Barrett
Tupou Vaa'i
Josh Lord

*New to the squad in 2026: Suli Pahulu, Josefa Namosimalua, Quintony Ngatai, Chris Vunipola, Rocky Olsen, Indiha Saotui-Huta