The rich get richer as new All Black Semisi Ta’eiloa picks new club

Fresh off his All Blacks debut in South Africa, Semisi Ta’eiloa has put pen to paper on a deal with reigning Super Rugby Pacific champions, the Hurricanes.

After Ardie Savea’s signing with the Blues, Ta’eiloa’s services were arguably the next hottest property from the Moana Pasifika collapse, with most of New Zealand’s five Super Rugby franchises understood to have approached the powerful No. 8.

The 22-year-old was born in Auckland but moved to Southland during high school, suggesting the Blues and Highlanders could be potential landing spots, but Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw appears to have delivered the winning pitch.

The resulting deal will see Ta’eiloa join the defending champions for two years, fighting for minutes in a loose forward unit that took Super Rugby by storm in a historically dominant 2026 campaign. Ta’eiloa joins fellow Otago Boys’ High School product Oli Haig as the new faces in the back row stocks.

“It’s great that Semisi is joining us on a two-year deal. He’s got a lot of potential having already played for a couple of years in Super Rugby Pacific,” Laidlaw said.

“The first time I saw him play was when he was in South Africa with the New Zealand U19 side three or four years ago. His destructive power both in the tackle and in the ball-carry was obvious.

“To be selected by the All Blacks to go to South Africa this year shows what potential he’s got. We really look forward to working with him and helping him fulfil that potential over the next few years. He’s only 22, and his game is going to develop and grow.

“He’s someone who has already played Super Rugby at such a high level and played so well at such a young age, and will complement the guys we’ve already got.

“It’s hugely exciting to have him here for pre-season to start growing his game and getting him to understand how we want to play the game, and we can’t wait to welcome him to the club.”

The Hurricanes already have two explosive No.8s on their roster: Brayden Iose and rising All Blacks star Peter Lakai, both of whom have one year remaining on their respective contracts. The Hurricanes’ most notable departure from their championship season was powerful blindside flanker Devan Flanders.

For Ta’eiloa, the move to New Zealand’s capital for his third and fourth seasons in Super Rugby gives him the chance to rub shoulders with and benefit from the experience of former England representative Brad Shields and captain Du’Plessis Kirifi while competing for silverware for the first time in his career.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent the Hurricanes,” Ta’eiloa said. “It’s exciting to be part of such a proud region, and I can’t wait to get started. Malo.”