Northland (National Provincial Championship)

Last updated

Northland
Northland rugby logo.png
NRU official logo
Union Northland Rugby Union
Nickname(s)Taniwha (men) and Kauri (women)
Founded1920;105 years ago (1920)
Location Whangārei, New Zealand
Ground(s) Semenoff Stadium (Capacity: 18,500)
CEOCameron Bell [1]
Coach(es) Ryan Martin
Captain(s) Matt Moulds
Most appearances Joe Morgan (165)
Top scorerWarren Johnston (1,666)
Most tries Norm Berryman (71)
League(s) Bunnings NPC
2024 13th
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Team kit
Official website
www.northlandrugby.co.nz

Northland (often known as the Northland Taniwha) are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Whangārei, New Zealand. The union was originally established in 1920, with the National Provincial Championship established in 1976. They now play in the reformed National Provincial Championship competition. They play their home games at Semenoff Stadium in Whangārei in the Northland region. The team is affiliated with the Blues Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are a Sky blue (Pantone 284).

Contents

Current squad

The Northland Taniwha squad for the 2025 Bunnings NPC is: [2]

Northland Taniwha squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Loose forwards

Half-backs (scrum-halves)

First five-eighths (fly-halves)

Midfielders (centres)

Outside backs

  • (c) denotes team captain.
  • Bold denotes internationally capped.
  • DEV denotes a development squad player.
  • REP denotes a replacement squad player.

    Honours

    Northland have never been overall Champions. Their full list of honours, though, include: [3] [4]

    National Provincial Championship Second Division North Island
    National Provincial Championship Second Division

    Current Super Rugby players

    Players named in the 2025 Northland Taniwha squad, who also earned contracts or were named in a squad for any side participating in the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

    PlayerTeam
    Solomon Alaimalo Moana Pasifika
    Chris Apoua Moana Pasifika
    Alan Craig Moana Pasifika
    Corey Evans Blues
    Lachlan Hooper Brumbies
    Jordan Lay Blues
    Matt Moulds Crusaders
    James Mullan Blues
    Sam Nock Blues
    Simon Parker Chiefs
    Reesjan Pasitoa Force
    Rivez Reihana Crusaders
    Marcel Renata Blues
    Ofa Tu'ungafasi Blues

    References

    1. ↑ "Our people". Northland Rugby. 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
    2. ↑ @northlandugby; (17 July 2025). "our 2025 Cancer Society Northland Taniwha Squad" . Retrieved 17 July 2025– via Instagram.
    3. ↑ "National Provincial Championship winners, 1976–2014". Te Ara. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
    4. ↑ "Mitre 10 Cup". Rugby Heartland. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
    5. ↑ "Moana Pasifika name squad for 2025". Moana Pasifika (Press release). 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
    6. ↑ "We're ready to take the handbrake off". Blues (Press release). 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
    7. ↑ "ACT Brumbies announce 36-player squad for 2025 Super Rugby Pacific" (Press release). ACT Brumbies. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
    8. ↑ "Match Centre - Super Rugby - Blues vs. Crusaders". SANZAAR. 22 March 2025. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
    9. ↑ "Gallagher Chiefs name cohesive 2025 squad" (Press release). Chiefs. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
    10. ↑ "Four more round out 2025 Western Force Super Rugby squad" (Press release). Western Force. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
    11. ↑ "2025 Crusaders squad announced". crusaders.co.nz (Press release). 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
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