Southland (National Provincial Championship)

For the Southland Rugby governing body, see Rugby Southland.

Southland

Official emblem
Union	Rugby Southland
Nickname(s)	Stags
Founded	1887;138 years ago (1887)
Location	Georgetown, Invercargill, New Zealand
Ground(s)	Rugby Park Stadium (Capacity: 18,000)
CEO	Hua Tamariki [1]
Coach(es)	Matt Saunders [2]
Captain(s)	Sean Withy
Most appearances	Jason Rutledge (143)
Top scorer	Simon Culhane (980)
Most tries	Bruce Pascoe (46)
League(s)	Bunnings NPC
2024	12th
Team kit
Official website
www.rugbysouthland.co.nz

Southland (often known as the Southland Stags) are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Invercargill, New Zealand. The union was originally established in 1887, with the National Provincial Championship established in 1976. They now play in the reformed National Provincial Championship competition. They play their home games at Rugby Park Stadium in Invercargill in the Southland region. The team is affiliated with the Highlanders Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are maroon and gold.

Current squad

The Southland Stags squad for the 2025 Bunnings NPC is: ^[3]

Southland Stags squad
Props Ethan de Groot Hunter Fahey Paula Latu Liam McIntosh Troy McIvor REP [a] Morgan Mitchell Jack Sexton Jone Tiko Joe Walsh REP [b] Hookers Shaun Kempton Aukusitino Salanoa DEV Nic Souchon Jack Taylor Locks Ale Aho REP [c] Mitchell Dunshea Cian Hurley Woody Kirkwood Alex Yallop	Loose forwards Leroy Ferguson Sam Fischli Ethan MacDonald REP [d] Hayden Michaels George Reeves REP [e] Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa Nathan Va'atausili REP [f] Sean Withy (c) Half-backs (scrum-halves) Connor Collins Connor McLeod Nic Shearer First five-eighths (fly-halves) Dan Hollinshead Mika Muliaina DEV Byron Smith	Midfielders (centres) Scott Gregory Tayne Harvey Fletcher Morgan Faletoi Peni Isaac Te Tamaki Matt Whaanga Outside backs Brad Kooman Michael Manson Sevu Reece Rory van Vugt
(c) denotes team captain. Bold denotes internationally capped. DEV denotes a development player. REP denotes a replacement squad player. McIvor wasn't named in the original Southland squad, but was announced as a late inclusion in the side for Round 6. [4] Walsh wasn't named in the original Southland squad, but was announced in the side for Round 3. [5] Aho wasn't named in the original Southland squad, but was announced in the side for Round 1. [6] MacDonald wasn't named in the original Southland squad, but was announced in the side for Round 7. [7] Reeves wasn't named in the original Southland squad, but was announced in the side for Round 4. [8] Va'atausili wasn't named in the original Southland squad, but was announced in the side for Round 2. [9]

Honours

Southland have never been overall Champions. Their full list of honours, though, include: ^{[10] [11]}

National Provincial Championship Second Division South Island

• Winners: 1982, 1984

National Provincial Championship Second Division

• Winners: 1989, 1994, 1996

Current Super Rugby players

Players named in the 2025 Southland Stags squad, who also earned contracts or were named in a squad for any side participating in the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season. ^{[12] [13] [14] [15] [16]}

Player	Team
Ale Aho	Waratahs
Ethan de Groot	Highlanders
Mitchell Dunshea	Highlanders
Michael Manson	Highlanders
Hayden Michaels	Highlanders
Sevu Reece	Crusaders
Nic Souchon	Hurricanes
Jack Taylor	Highlanders
Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa	Moana Pasifika
Sean Withy	Highlanders

References

1. "State Of The Union – Chairman Murray Brown". Rugby Southland. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
2. "SBS Bank Southland Stags coaching lineup confirmed for 2024 season". Rugby Southland (Press release). 4 April 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
3. "SBS Bank Southland Stags squad confirmed for Bunnings NPC". Rugby Southland (Press release). 7 July 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
4. @southlandstags; (7 September 2025). "Welcome to the Stags Troy Mcivor. A tough assignment first up against an in-form Canterbury, Troy has been a standout at prop for Southland Country this year, and has now made his Southland provincial debut. Congratulations Troy" . Retrieved 8 September 2025– via Instagram.
5. @southlandstags; (13 August 2025). "The SBS Bank Southland Stags team to face Manawatū in Round Three of the 2025 Bunnings Warehouse National Provincial Championship" . Retrieved 17 August 2025– via Instagram.
6. @southlandstags; (30 July 2025). "The SBS Bank Southland Stags 23 for Stag Day" . Retrieved 3 August 2025– via Instagram.
7. @southlandstags; (10 September 2025). "Your SBS Bank Southland Stags team to face Counties Manukau at Rugby Park, Invercargill, in Round Seven of the 2025 Bunnings Warehouse National Provincial Championship" . Retrieved 14 September 2025– via Instagram.
8. @southlandstags; (19 August 2025). "The SBS Bank Southland Stags team to face Bay of Plenty in Round Four of the 2025 Bunnings Warehouse National Provincial Championship" . Retrieved 24 August 2025– via Instagram.
9. @southlandstags; (6 August 2025). "The SBS Bank Southland Stags team to play Northland in Round Two of the 2025 Bunnings Warehouse National Provincial Championship" . Retrieved 10 August 2025– via Instagram.
10. "National Provincial Championship winners, 1976–2014". Te Ara. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
11. "Mitre 10 Cup". Rugby Heartland. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
12. "The wait is over - The 2025 NSW Waratahs Squad is officially here and ready to support" (Press release). NSW Waratahs. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
13. "Highlanders name squad for 2025 DHL Super Rugby competition" (Press release). Highlanders. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
14. "2025 Crusaders squad announced". crusaders.co.nz (Press release). 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
15. "Ruben Love returns to start against Moana Pasifika for Round 4". Hurricanes (Press release). 5 March 2025. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
16. "Moana Pasifika name eight debutants for first match against Force". Moana Pasifika (Press release). 12 February 2025. Retrieved 12 February 2025.

External links

• Official site