Tyrone Thompson: 'I’m just seeing how the Chiefs season plays out'

When Tyrone Thompson signed for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL, some may have thought that his rugby union career was done, but he knew a return was still on the cards.

The All Blacks XV and Maori All Black representative has only signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs, and is up against two high-quality hookers who have both played for Scott Robertson’s All Blacks this year.

Samisoni Taukei’aho has continued his position in the All Blacks as the reserve hooker, while Brodie McAlister made his debut at FMG Stadium Waikato, where he scored a try in his first Test.

Thompson, who has played 29 times for Hawke’s Bay, 18 for Wellington, and 22 for the Chiefs, moved to the NRL to join his brother, Leo, at the Newcastle Knights.

Thompson played 17 times for the NSW reserve grade side in Australia, while only featuring three times for the main NRL side in 2025.

That move didn’t work out, with Thompson making the move back to the 15-man code ahead of the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season with the Chiefs.

The 25-year-old told the New Zealand Herald after training in Hamilton that he wasn’t sure what the future held for him after the NRL season.

“I wasn’t sure if I was going to come back, I knew I was going to end up at rugby eventually, but I wasn’t sure if it was going to be this year, or next year. It’s just the way it played out,” Thompson told Doug Laing from the New Zealand Herald.

The hooker returned to pre-season training before Christmas for the Chiefs, before any of the international players have returned, as they are due back in the new year.

But for Thompson, he said he’s enjoying getting “straight into it”, as he tries to get himself ready for the 2026 season after a campaign playing a different sport.

“I thought I had to get used to the movements and stuff like that, but it’s all come natural,” the Chiefs hooker said.

Speaking about his future aspirations, and thoughts on what level he could get too in the sport, Thompson is quick to explain that playing for the All Blacks would be a dream come true.

“Making the All Blacks is always the ambition of every eligible rugby player who comes and plays in New Zealand, I reckon.

“If that happens, it will be mean.”

Despite playing for Wellington earlier on in his career in New Zealand in the NPC, the Maori All Black can’t see himself playing for any other provincial team.

“I’m just seeing how the Chiefs season plays out, but I don’t see myself being in any other NPC team.”