Waikato (National Provincial Championship)

For the Waikato Rugby governing body, see Waikato Rugby Union.

Waikato
WRU official emblem
UnionWaikato Rugby Union
Nickname(s)Mooloos
Founded1921; 103 years ago (1921)
LocationWhitiora, Hamilton, New Zealand
Ground(s)FMG Stadium Waikato (Capacity: 25,000)
CEOAmy Marfell [1]
Coach(es)Ross Filipo
Captain(s)Ayden Johnstone & Xavier Roe
Most appearancesIan Foster and Graham Purvis (148)
Top scorerMatthew Cooper (1,604)
Most triesBruce Smith (70)
League(s)Bunnings NPC
20247th
Semi-finalist
Team kit
Official website
www.mooloo.co.nz

Waikato (often known as the Waikato Mooloos) are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Hamilton, New Zealand. The union was originally established in 1921, with the National Provincial Championship established in 1976. They now play in the reformed National Provincial Championship competition. They play their home games at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton in the Waikato region. The team is affiliated with the Chiefs Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are red, yellow and black.

Current squad

The Waikato Mooloos squad for the 2024 Bunnings NPC is: [2]

Waikato Mooloos squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Loose forwards

Halfbacks (scrum-halves)

First five-eighths (fly-halves)

Midfielders (centres)

Outside backs

  • (c) denotes team captain.
  • Bold denotes internationally capped.
  • REP denotes a replacement squad player.
  1. ^ Kautai wasn't named in the original Waikato squad, but was announced in the side for Round 8.[3]
  2. ^ a b c d e f Boyle-Tiatia, Cribb, Mathis, Ngatai, Smith and Tudreu weren't named in the original Waikato squad, but were announced in the side for Round 1.[4]
  3. ^ a b c Balme, Naufahu and Tuivailala weren't named in the original Waikato squad, but were announced in the side for Round 4.[5]
  4. ^ Lauaki wasn't named in the original Waikato squad, but was announced in the side for Round 2[6]
  5. ^ Wharawhara wasn't named in the original Waikato squad, but was announced in the side for the Round 4 mid-week game.[7]
  6. ^ Salabiau wasn't named in the original Waikato squad, but was announced as a late inclusion in the side for Round 9.[8]

Honours

Waikato have been overall Champions on three occasions, winning the titles in 1992, 2006 and 2021. Their full list of honours include:[9][10]

National Provincial Championship Second Division North Island
  • Winners: 1980
National Provincial Championship Second Division
  • Winners: 1986
National Provincial Championship First Division
  • Winners: 1992
Air New Zealand Cup
  • Winners: 2006
Mitre 10 Cup Championship Division
  • Winners: 2018
Bunnings NPC Premiership Division
  • Winners: 2021

Current Super Rugby players

Players named in the 2024 Waikato Mooloos squad, who also earned contracts or were named in a squad for any side participating in the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season.

Player Team
Hamilton Burr Chiefs
Liam Coombes-Fabling Chiefs
George Dyer Chiefs
Samipeni Finau Chiefs
Luke Jacobson Chiefs
Ayden Johnstone Highlanders
Taha Kemara Crusaders
D'Angelo Leuila Moana Pasifika
Anton Lienert-Brown Chiefs
Josh Moorby Hurricanes
Damian McKenzie Chiefs
Laghlan McWhannell Blues
Ollie Norris Chiefs
Cortez Ratima Chiefs
Xavier Roe Chiefs
Daniel Sinkinson Hurricanes
Bailyn Sullivan Hurricanes
Samisoni Taukei'aho Chiefs
James Tucker Hurricanes
Solomone Tukuafu Highlanders
Mason Tupaea Blues
Quinn Tupaea Chiefs
Gideon Wrampling Chiefs
Malachi Wrampling-Alec Chiefs

References

  1. ^ "WRU Staff & Board". Waikato Rugby. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  2. ^ "2024 Waikato National Provincial Championship squad announced". Waikato Rugby (Press release). 30 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Waikato named for their round 8 Bunnings NPC clash with Southland Stags". Waikato Rugby (Press release). 28 September 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Waikato named for season opener against Bay of Plenty Steamers". Waikato Rugby (Press release). 8 August 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Waikato named to defend the Stan Thomas Memorial against Auckland". Waikato Rugby (Press release). 29 August 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Waikato named to face Counties Manukau in Pukekohe for round 2". Waikato Rugby (Press release). 17 August 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Waikato named for game 2 of Storm week against Northland Taniwha". Waikato Rugby (Press release). 3 September 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  8. ^ "Bunnings NPC: Canterbury v Waikato – Teams". RugbyPass. 5 October 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  9. ^ "National Provincial Championship winners, 1976–2014". Te Ara. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  10. ^ "Mitre 10 Cup". Rugby Heartland. Retrieved 17 September 2020.