Super Rugby 2025

Steven Harris

@frugby Rob Rush was offered a Chiefs All Black injury cover /wider training spot but he declined it and is pushing for a spot in the NZ Sevens program, Clayton MacMillian even spoke to him about the things he could work on and potentially iron out .
For me Rush has missed a trick here your being offered a great opportunity from a quality coach to sort out some works ons in your game
It’s real red flag stuff that you can’t be told what to do
Got a lot time for Rob but man alive it’s a poor decision imo

Heremaia Murray is still a possibility to make the Reds paperwork is proving to be an issue if this is sorted it will be a 2 year deal which will mean he will have to forgo his NPC contract with Northland
Should none of these things eventuate then he’s back to Northland

Both Lisati Milo Harris and Quinton Nichols are in the Blues wider training squad

Some unlucky players in the list you posted but I suspect many might be part of preseason and wider training squads

Bovidae

As with this year, a lot of the players that miss out on a full contract look to MLR as the money is better and they get to play. Joe Johnston, for example, is back to the New England Free Jacks.

ARHS

Surprised most with Kumeroa, Kolose, Plummer, Lennox, Hutchinson.
Is Ayden Johnstone off overseas?
Ollie Mathis should be contracted somewhere, but am OK if it is sevens.

frugby

@ARHS said in Super Rugby 2025:

Surprised most with Kumeroa, Kolose, Plummer, Lennox, Hutchinson.
Is Ayden Johnstone off overseas?
Ollie Mathis should be contracted somewhere, but am OK if it is sevens.

Plummer and Kumeroa are both interesting ones for sure. Plummer, Lennox & Hutchinson have definitely fallen victim to the contracting system, where nearly all spots are filled prior to the NPC - particularly Lennox, who plays in a specialist position, but he'd probably be the #2 at the Highlanders, Hurricanes and maybe even the Crusaders.

Bovidae

There will be a lot extras involved in pre-Xmas training to make up for the missing ABs/injured players.

Johnstone is only 28 but may look to cash in overseas. I'd rather have him in a squad than DLB, who can't scrum.

Kiwidom

@frugby Sofai Maka ( NH) , Adam Brash (CM) , Nick shearer (Canterbury) , Faletoi Peni ( Sou)
And I can believe no one's mentioned Lincoln mclutchie yet ....

Mr Fish

Guys like Ollie Mathis and Taine Kolose could well be locked into long-term deals that see them spend a season or two in a development role before joining the full squad later down the track.

Mathis in particular is certainly not big enough to be a loose forward in Super Rugby yet (he only played what, two or three games at flanker for Waikato this year?). There's a chance he comes into the squad as injury cover anywya (he'd do a fine job over someone like LCF on the wing, to be honest), but there's no need to rush him in when it would mean having to lose another loosie that's already battle-hardened (and not on a longer-term contract).

African Monkey

@Bovidae said in Super Rugby 2025:

There will be a lot extras involved in pre-Xmas training to make up for the missing ABs/injured players.

Johnstone is only 28 but may look to cash in overseas. I'd rather have him in a squad than DLB, who can't scrum.

I'm shocked that he's still a SR player. Feel like he's been kept on for about 3-4 seasons too long.

Landers92

DLB signed that 2 year extension in 2023 along with Hugh Renton if I remember correctly. In hindsight that probably wasn’t the best choice but it was a reflection of the propping situation in the country at the time. 2025 will be his last season but I agree, could have done with moving on at the end of 2023 but circumstances meant otherwise.

A great servant to NZ rugby none the less, still only 31 so could get a few seasons in in Japan from 2025 on you would think. Glad Josh Bartlett has been given a contract

Bovidae

@Mr-Fish said in Super Rugby 2025:

Guys like Ollie Mathis and Taine Kolose could well be locked into long-term deals that see them spend a season or two in a development role before joining the full squad later down the track.

Agree. Most of these young players will have a career pathway mapped out for them. Mathis isn't even 19 I believe. You would think Kolose is a good chance of being ST's injury replacement, as a third hooker is still required.

Landers92

I’m unsure when squads usually announce Wider squads/injury replacements but I’ve just had confirmation from someone within a franchise that we won’t be seeing the wider squads/injury replacements confirmed until early in the new year.

I suppose those who are filling in at training pre Christmas aren’t guaranteed to be added so that makes sense.

Daffy Jaffy

@Landers92 said in Super Rugby 2025:

unsure when squads usually announce Wider squads

Last season the Blues named a group of 5 wtg players Nov 27. A separate group from the younger academy NDC players who were named in December I think.

frugby

@Landers92 WTG went away sometime around 2014 when squads were expanded from 33(?) to 38… with the pressures of MLR it is great to see them making a formal return

Bones

Interesting to note this year that the missed out XV doesn't scream pick me.

Canes4life

@frugby said in Super Rugby 2025:

Best NZ XV of players not signed?

Ayden Johnstone

James O’Reilly

?

Hugo Plummer

James Thompson

Rob Rush

Oli Mathis

Semisi Tupou Taieloa

Adam Lennox

Callum Harkin

?

?

Jone Rova

Viliami Fine

Issac Hutchinson