Super Rugby Pacific wider training groups confirmed after nine-round draft

New Zealand’s Super Rugby Pacific clubs have finalised their wider training groups (WTG) for the 2027 season, highlighting the country’s next generation of talent.

This year, New Zealand Rugby opened its WTG draft to the media for the first time, offering a detailed look at which up-and-coming talent was most sought-after. This year’s was the third edition of the WTG draft.

Each club could sign six players during the NPC season, with the option to then fill the remaining places on their 12-man WTG rosters via the draft. The Highlanders locked in only three players before the deadline, and the Crusaders locked in four, triggering a staggered start to the draft to ensure both teams had the same number of players as the Blues, Chiefs and Hurricanes before those three began making selections.

Because signing players before the draft is not compulsory, the draft started at what was considered round 4, with the Highlanders selecting their fourth player. If a team had not signed any players before the draft, they would have started selecting in round 1. The Crusaders joined the draft in round 5, and the remaining three teams all joined in round 7.

There are no quotas or rules requiring teams to select players from their own regions, but if two teams select the same player in the same round and one is his home region, that team gets preference. If neither team that selects the player is his home team, the player is contacted to pick between them, and the team that loses out then reselects. That scenario did not eventuate this year.

Teams must fill each of the following positions before doubling up in any: loosehead prop, hooker, tighthead prop, lock, loose forward, halfback, first five, midfield, and outside back. This rule was immediately tested by the Highlanders, who had signed Otago’s Sam Nemec-Vial during his breakout NPC campaign and tried to select Jae Broomfield with their first pick, but were denied because they were yet to fill their other positions. Broomfield was later selected by the Crusaders.

The Blues and Crusaders were handed exemptions to sign two first fives and two locks, respectively, in their initial six. The Chiefs signalled they would not select a lock in their WTG, the Hurricanes signalled they would not select a hooker, and the Highlanders signalled they would not select a first five. Both the Highlanders and Hurricanes opted to leave the draft early and will carry fewer than 12 players in their 2027 WTGs.

The teams’ pre-draft signings were as follows.

Blues: Esilie Fono (loosehead prop), Leka Tu’ungafasi (tighthead prop), Cohen Norie (first five), Cam Howell (first five), Tom Barham (midfield), Harlyn Saunoa (outside back)

Chiefs: Keightley Watson (tighthead prop), JJ Pokai (hooker), Rui Farrant (halfback), Andrew Knewstubb (first five), Haki Wiseman (midfield), Nathan Stephens (outside back)

Hurricanes: Logan Wallace (tighthead prop), Matolu Petaia (lock), Jai Tamati (halfback), Will Cole (first five), Gary Basson (midfield), Lukas Ripley (outside back)

Crusaders: Monu Moli (loosehead prop), Gus Brown (tighthead prop), Max Fale (lock), Jake Frost (lock)

Highlanders: Kieran McClea (halfback), Austin Anderson (midfield), Sam Nemec-Vial (outside back)

Fixture

Super Rugby Pacific

Crusaders

22:35

11 Feb 27

Reds

All Stats and Data

Full 2027 Super Rugby Pacific WTG draft results

Round 4
Highlanders: Senita Lauaki (loose forward)

Round 5
Crusaders: Jayden Henderson (hooker)
Highlanders: Ben Lopas (loosehead prop)

Round 6
Crusaders: Konrad Toleafoa (loose forward)
Highlanders: Solomone Tukuafu (tighthead prop)

Round 7
Blues: Sam Tuitupou (loose forward)
Chiefs: William Martin (loosehead prop)
Hurricanes: Patrick Mauga (loose forward)
Crusaders: Joel Lam (halfback)
Highlanders: Reuben Allen (lock)

Round 8
Blues: Jordan Hutchings (hooker)
Chiefs: Mosese Bason (loose forward)
Hurricanes: Malakai Hala-Ngatai (loosehead prop)
Crusaders: Jae Broomfield (outside back)
Highlanders: Manaaki Boyle-Tiatia (hooker)

Round 9
Blues: Tevita Tatafu (lock)
Chiefs: Michael Naitokani (midfield)
Hurricanes: Taniela Filimone (outside back)
Crusaders: Cooper Grant (midfield)
Highlanders: Nicholas Sauira (outside back)

Round 10
Blues: Tyson Belworthy (halfback)
Chiefs: Dallas Rata-Makene (outside back)
Hurricanes: Waisake Salabiau (outside back)
Crusaders: Aaron Gibbes (first five)
Highlanders: Phoenix Abbott (loose forward)

Round 11
Blues: Riley Tofilau (tighthead prop)
Chiefs: Samu Tawake (tighthead prop)
Hurricanes: Johnny Falloon (lock)
Crusaders: Vea Taumoefolau (tighthead prop)
Highlanders: N/A

Round 12
Blues: Caleb Woodley (loose forward)
Chiefs: Kurene Luamanuvae (tighthead prop)
Hurricanes: N/A
Crusaders: Logan Williams (outside back)
Highlanders: N/A

Final wider training groups

Blues
Esilie Fono (loosehead prop)
Leka Tu’ungafasi (tighthead prop)
Cohen Norie (first five)
Cam Howell (first five)
Tom Barham (midfield)
Harlyn Saunoa (outside back)
Sam Tuitupou (loose forward)
Jordan Hutchings (hooker)
Tevita Tatafu (lock)
Tyson Belworthy (halfback)
Riley Tofilau (tighthead prop)
Caleb Woodley (loose forward)

Chiefs
Keightley Watson (tighthead prop)
JJ Pokai (hooker)
Rui Farrant (halfback)
Andrew Knewstubb (first five)
Haki Wiseman (midfield)
Nathan Stephens (outside back)
William Martin (loosehead prop)
Mosese Bason (loose forward)
Michael Naitokani (midfield)
Dallas Rata-Makene (outside back)
Samu Tawake (tighthead prop)
Kurene Luamanuvae (tighthead prop)

Hurricanes
Logan Wallace (tighthead prop)
Matolu Petaia (lock)
Jai Tamati (halfback)
Will Cole (first five)
Gary Basson (midfield)
Lukas Ripley (outside back)
Patrick Mauga (loose forward)
Taniela Filimone (outside back)
Waisake Salabiau (outside back)
Johnny Falloon (lock)

Crusaders
Monu Moli (loosehead prop)
Gus Brown (tighthead prop)
Max Fale (lock)
Jake Frost (lock)
Jayden Henderson (hooker)
Konrad Toleafoa (loose forward)
Joel Lam (halfback)
Cooper Grant (midfield)
Vea Taumoefolau (tighthead prop)
Logan Williams (outside back)

Highlanders
Kieran McClea (halfback)
Austin Anderson (midfield)
Sam Nemec-Vial (outside back)
Senita Lauaki (loose forward)
Ben Lopas (loosehead prop)
Solomone Tukuafu (tighthead prop)
Reuben Allen (lock)
Manaaki Boyle-Tiatia (hooker)
Nicholas Sauira (outside back)
Phoenix Abbott (loose forward)

Italics denote draft selectees