The Chiefs' 'unsung hero' holding his own among four All Blacks

Chiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier exemplifies the qualities of a top Taranaki loose forward: practical, gritty, and modest.

Raised as one of five children on a dairy farm, he attended New Plymouth Boys’ High, whose alumni in the same position include All Blacks Sir John Graham, Graham Mourie, Geoff Old, and Reuben Thorne. His older brother, Lachlan Boshier, won an NPC Premiership with Taranaki in 2014, played 62 games for the Chiefs, and has achieved 60 wins in 68 matches during a decorated tenure with the Saitama Wild Knights.

Since 2018, Kaylum has made 63 appearances for Taranaki, winning 37 matches. His achievements include an unbeaten championship in 2021 and a Premiership title in 2023, a season in which he was named Taranaki Player of the Year for the second consecutive year.

Boshier was also a talented cricketer. In 2018, he represented New Zealand at the Under-19 level alongside current Black Caps Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra.

Boshier joined the Chiefs in 2021 and has played 42 matches, increasing his workload each season across all loose forward positions. Despite stiff competition from All Blacks Luke Jacobson, Samipeni Finau, Simon Parker, and Wallace Sititi, he has started 17 of his last 26 matches, earning All Blacks XV honours at the end of 2025.

“There’s a lot of big humans here,” Boshier observed dryly to RugbyPass.

“When the opportunity comes, you have to take it. You can’t wait around.”

“At six and eight, there’s more lineout work than at seven. Otherwise, the roles are similar: Get stuck in.”

Boshier played 149 out of a possible 160 minutes in the Chiefs’ victories over the Blues (19-15) and Highlanders (26-23) to open Super Rugby Pacific 2026. Across both away wins, he made 25 tackles, ranking third on the team, and scored a try with an “old pick and go” against the Highlanders.

“We’re not quite at our best yet. That’s a good feeling, knowing we can improve. It’s important to be able to win ugly. We’re back in front of our fans on Saturday, and that brings out the best in us.”

The Crusaders await in a rematch of the 2025 final. The defending champions have lost their first two matches but have recalled All Blacks prop Tamaiti Williams and centre Leicester Fainga’anuku to strengthen a lineup that was humbled by the Brumbies 50-24 in Christchurch on Sunday.

The Chiefs have promoted All Blacks Simon Parker and Emoni Narawa from the bench to start at blindside and wing, respectively. Boshier shifts from six to openside, and the bench is strengthened by the return of Sititi and Finau. Xavier Roe will play his 50th Super Rugby match after debuting against the Highlanders in 2021 as a former Hamilton Boys’ High School student.

“We’ve got to meet fire with fire. The Crusaders have been the benchmark in set pieces. We expect them to come hard there,” Boshier said.

The Crusaders have the lowest lineout success rate through two rounds of Super Rugby, retaining only 68 per cent of their own throws. This is their worst lineout performance since Opta began recording statistics in 2012.

The Chiefs have won five of their last six regular-season games against the Crusaders, including a record 49-24 victory in Hamilton last year. No team has beaten the Crusaders more often — 22 times — or has a higher overall winning percentage (42%) against the Crusaders than the Chiefs. The Chiefs have won 23 of 26 games at FMG Stadium and lead the Crusaders 14-13 in home fixtures. Surely the Crusaders are vulnerable?

“Their record means nothing. They’re experienced,” Boshier warned.

Will “Box Kick-itis” erupt? The ball was kicked 70 times in the Chiefs-Highlanders match, with a dozen of those kicks coming from halfback. There were 31 box kicks in the 2025 final, which the Crusaders won 16-12 against the Chiefs in Christchurch.

“The aerial battle is important. Win that, and you’ve got a chance to get the ball back. Unstructured defence creates counterattack,” Boshier responded.

The All Blacks XV produced plenty of decent counterattacks in their unbeaten Northern Hemisphere tour. Boshier featured in wins against the Barbarians (33-19) and Uruguay (45-21).

“I didn’t expect to be there. I was about to go on holiday when I got the call. It was great to be in a group of players you often play against. I’d never been to that part of the world. I enjoyed playing against different styles.

“It was my first experience with Jamie Joseph. He’s a good guy, similar to Clayton McMillan. He encouraged us to win territory and use the ball.”

McMillan coached the Chiefs to four finals and 58 wins in 81 matches. He said of Boshier in 2023:

“Kaylum is an unsung hero in the Gallagher Chiefs. He is a well-respected team man, has excellent leadership potential, and his ability to play all three loose forward positions is highly advantageous. He has always risen to the occasion when given opportunities. He will play a significant role over the coming seasons.”

To mark the 30th anniversary of the teams’ first Super Rugby match, FMG Stadium in Hamilton has been renamed Rugby Park, as it was on March 3, 1996, when the Chiefs beat the Crusaders 27-26.

That night for the Chiefs, All Blacks and All Blacks Sevens wingers Eric Rush and Glen Osborne scored tries, with future All Blacks coach Ian Foster kicking five penalties and a conversion. For the Crusaders, All Black Sevens winger Brad Fleming and police sergeant Adrian Tukaki (like Osborne) scored tries. Andy Miller kicked three penalties, two conversions, and the first drop goal in Super Rugby history. Miller later represented Japan at the 2003 Rugby World Cup and kicked a monster drop goal from beyond the halfway line against Fiji in Townsville.