Wallaroo, Canadian and teen Black Fern headline '26 Chiefs Manawa squad

The Chiefs Manawa have named an all-new outside back unit, along with eight more new faces, in their 2026 Super Rugby Aupiki squad.

Among the newcomers are Black Ferns XV fullback Kaea Nepia, who is the niece of All Blacks great Liam Messam, and Carys Dallinger, who has represented Australia. The pair make up an overhauled playmaking unit, with no Rosie Kelly or Hazel Tubic in the 2026 squad, while Kelly Brazier has moved on from playing to join the team’s assistant coaching group.

Shoshanah Seumanutafa, who wore the No.23 jersey for Canada in the 2025 Rugby World Cup final and against her new captain, Kennedy Tukuafu, in the semi-final, will bring additional international experience to the midfield.

One of the newest Black Ferns, 19-year-old Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a, is set for her first minutes in Super Rugby with the Chiefs, which will potentially come after her international debut, given she’s currently in the United States with Whitney Hansen’s New Zealand squad.

Manaia Nuku will bring her gold-winning Olympic experience with the Black Ferns Sevens to the Aupiki stage in ’26, joining Presayus Singh, Lele Ieremia, and former schoolgirl sensation Justine McGregor in the new-look outside backs unit.

The halfbacks are a more familiar group to Chiefs fans, with Ariana Bayler, Holli O’Sullivan, and Reese Anderson all back to add to their respective Chiefs careers.

Up front, Amber Mundell, Chyann Kaitapu and Lonita Ngelu join the new generation Black Ferns Awhina Tangen-Wainohi and Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu in the prop stocks, and Nicole Purdom joins Vici-Rose Green in what is just a two-woman hooker group as the Chiefs seek a replacement for the injured Luka Connor.

Jade Coates has rejoined the Hamilton-based outfit from the Fijian Drua, with Leomie Kloppers and Olivia Holten also new faces in the locks. Leata Puni Lio completes the second-row cohort.

Team captain Tukuafu leads a more established loose forward unit, with Tynealle Fitzgerald, Chyna Hohepa and fellow 2026 Black Fern Mia Anderson completing the forward pack.

Chiefs Manawa 2026 squad

Props
Amber Mundell*
Awhina Tangen-Wainohi (4)
Chyann Kaitapu*
Lonita Ngelu*
Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu (6)

Hookers
Nicole Purdom*
Vici-Rose Green (11)

Locks
Jade Coates (6)
Leomie Kloppers*
Olivia Holten*
Leata Puni Lio (3)

Loose Forwards
Kennedy Tukuafu [Captain] (22)
Mia Anderson (15)
Tynealle Fitzgerald (8)
Chyna Hohepa (15)

Halfbacks
Ariana Bayler (17)
Holli O’Sullivan (5)
Reese Anderson (7)

Inside Backs
Carys Dallinger*
Kaea Nepia*

Midfield
Kiriana Nolan (7)
Shoshanah Seumanutafa (4)
Levonah Motuliki*

Outside Backs
Justine McGregor*
Lele Ieremia*
Manaia Nuku*
Presayus Singh*
Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a*

*Denotes debut

Coaching Group
Dwayne Sweeney – Head Coach
Carla Hohepa – Assistant Coach
Kelly Brazier – Assistant Coach
Nathan White – Assistant Coach