Hurricanes announce 10 new signings for 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season

The Hurricanes have announced their 2027 Super Rugby Pacific squad which features a total of 10 new signings and one promotion from last year’s WTG squad.

Blockbusting No.8, a recent All Black squad member on the RGR tour of South Africa, Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, headlines the new arrivals which was announced earlier this season.

The halves stocks are boosted by the arrival of six-time Super Rugby champion Bryn Hall, who has spent time in Japan with Shizuoka Blue Revs and Kubota Spears since leaving the Crusaders in 2022.

The second row is where the Hurricanes have made significant investment to help cover for the loss of world class lock Warner Dearns, who was only on a one-year commitment.

All Blacks XV loose forward Oliver Haig and Hawke’s Bay lock Hunter Morrison have been brought into the squad Morrison was a standout in this year’s NPC competition.

The Hurricanes have also signed promising Waikato lock Dylan Eti. The 20-year-old featured for the New Zealand U20 side in 2025 during the Rugby Championship after an impressive Chiefs U20 campaign. Moana Pasifika lock Alefosio Aho has also been signed.

Ex-Highlanders prop Rohan Wingham has been brought in up front, along with Tito Tuipulotu who joins the Hurricanes after featuring for Moana Pasifika alongside Tupou Ta’eiloa and Aho last season.

In the backs midfielder Tamiro Armstrong moves south from Bay of Plenty, along with former Crusader and Northland product Heremiah Murray, who will provide insurance for Ngane Punivai, who is expected to miss the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season after rupturing his Achilles earlier this month.

Josh Gray has been promoted from the Wider Training Group to earn a full contract after making his Super Rugby Pacific debut with the Hurricanes last year.

“It’s always a good part of the year to finally have the squad selected and announced,” Laidlaw said.

“We’ve done a lot of work over the last 10 months, since the turn of the year when we knew a few players were departing. It’s not only been a process over the NPC, but it started back in January around trying to look at the areas of the squad that needed reinforcements.

“I think we’ve done a really good job on that with the coaches and Tom Kindley, our GM Rugby, in terms of filling the gaps and bringing in some youth as we look to the future, as well as some players who are Super Rugby-ready.

“We feel like the balance we’ve managed to get in the main squad allows us to continue to play and prepare well with experience, as well as having an eye to the future.

“It’s good to get the squad done and now we get into the final preparations for pre-season as we look to welcome the new and returning Hurricanes back in November.”

2027 HURRICANES SQUAD

Props
Siale Lauaki
Tyrel Lomax
Xavier Numia
Pasilio Tosi
Tito Tuipulotu
Rohan Wingham

Hookers
Asafo Aumua
Vernon Bason
Jacob Devery
Raymond Tuputupu

Locks
Alefosio Aho
Caleb Delany
Dylan Eti
Hunter Morrison
Hugo Plummer

Loose Forwards
Oliver Haig
Brayden Iose
Du’Plessis Kirifi
Peter Lakai
Arese Poliko
Brad Shields
Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa

Halfbacks
Bryn Hall
Cam Roigard
Jordi Viljoen

First-Fives
Brett Cameron
Harry Godfrey
Ruben Love

Midfielders
T?miro Armstrong
Jordie Barrett
Heremaia Murray
Billy Proctor
Jone Rova

Outside Backs
Josh Gray
Fehi Fineanganofo
Callum Harkin
Josh Moorby
Kini Naholo
Ngane Punivai*