Waikato
WRU official emblem
UnionWaikato Rugby Union
Nickname(s)Mooloos
Founded1921 (1921)
LocationWhitiora, Hamilton, New Zealand
Ground(s)FMG Stadium Waikato (Capacity: 25,000)
CEOCarl Moon[1]
Coach(es)Ross Filipo
Captain(s)Mitch Jacobson and Ayden Johnstone
Most appearancesIan Foster and Graham Purvis (148)
Top scorerMatthew Cooper (1,604)
Most triesBruce Smith (70)
League(s)Bunnings NPC
20238th
Quarterfinalist
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 2023 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 player is internationally capped, REP denotes a replacement squad player.
  1. 1 2 3 4 Fahamokioa, Hansen, Muriwai and Saifoloi weren't named in the original Waikato squad, but were announced in the side for Waikato's 2nd game in Round 2.[3]
  2. 1 2 3 4 Cribb, Ralph, Tuhakaraina and Wrampling-Alec weren't named in the original Waikato squad, but were announced in the side for Round 1.[4]
  3. 1 2 Cruden & Johnston weren't named in the original Waikato squad, but were announced in the side for Round 4.[5]
  4. 1 2 Anderson & Lam weren't named in the original Waikato squad, but were announced in the side for Round 2.[3]
  5. 1 2 Ngatai & Tuivailala weren't named in the original Waikato squad, but were announced in the side for Round 7.[6]

Honours

Waikato have been overall Champions on three occasions, winning the titles in 1992, 2006 and 2021. Their full list of honours include:[7][8]

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 2023 Waikato Mooloos squad, who also earned contracts or were named in a squad for any side participating in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season.[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]

Player Team
Liam Coombes-Fabling Chiefs
Mosese Dawai Highlanders
George Dyer Chiefs
Samipeni Finau Chiefs
Josh Ioane Chiefs
Luke Jacobson Chiefs
Ayden Johnstone Highlanders
Taha Kemara Crusaders
Jack Lam Moana Pasifika
D'Angelo Leuila Moana Pasifika
Anton Lienert-Brown Chiefs
Rhys Marshall Highlanders
Laghlan McWhannell Chiefs
Ollie Norris Chiefs
Simon Parker Chiefs
Cortez Ratima Chiefs
Xavier Roe Chiefs
Daniel Sinkinson Hurricanes
Bailyn Sullivan Hurricanes
Samisoni Taukei'aho Chiefs
James Tucker Blues
Solomone Tukuafu Chiefs
Quinn Tupaea Chiefs
Gideon Wrampling Chiefs

References

  1. ↑ "WRU Staff & Board". Waikato Rugby. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  2. ↑ "2023 Waikato National Provincial Championship Squad Announced" (Press release). Waikato Rugby. 17 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Bunnings NPC Round 2: Team Lists". Bunnings NPC. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  4. ↑ "Bunnings NPC Round 1: Team Lists". Bunnings NPC. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  5. ↑ "Bunnings NPC Round 4: Team Lists". Bunnings NPC. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  6. ↑ "Bunnings NPC Round 7: Team Lists". Bunnings NPC. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  7. ↑ "National Provincial Championship winners, 1976–2014". Te Ara. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  8. ↑ "Mitre 10 Cup". Rugby Heartland. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  9. ↑ "Match Centre - Super Rugby - Crusaders vs Chiefs". SANZAAR. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  10. ↑ "Highlanders 2023 Squad Announcement" (Press release). Highlanders. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  11. ↑ "Gallagher Chiefs squad announced for 2023" (Press release). Chiefs. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  12. ↑ "2023 Squad announced" (Press release). Crusaders. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  13. ↑ "Moana Pasifika name 2023 DHL Super Rugby Pacific Squad". Moana Pasifika (Press release). 22 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  14. ↑ "Hurricanes 2023 squad announced" (Press release). Hurricanes. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  15. ↑ "2023 Squad announced". Blues (Press release). 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  16. ↑ "Gallagher Chiefs inject fresh talent for clash against the Fijian Drua" (Press release). Chiefs. 19 April 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
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