Front row quartet commit to Chiefs

Kane Hames and Sosefo Kautai have committed to the Chiefs until 2019, with Nepo Laulala and Atunaisa Moli signing for the next three years. 

Loosehead prop Kane Hames has dominated the Chiefs number 1 jersey this season, starting in 12 of the 13 games he has played this year to date. The 28-year-old joined the Chiefs as injury cover in 2016, with his performances earning him an All Blacks Test debut against Australia in August last year. The 1.81m and 113kg studious tighthead prop hails from Bay of Plenty but currently, plays his Mitre 10 Cup rugby with the Tasman Makos. The Maori All Blacks representative is also a registered rugby referee and he has thus far played 22 games for the Gallagher Chiefs.

Sosefo Kautai made his Mitre 10 Cup debut for Waikato last year, following an impressive campaign with the New Zealand Under 20s side. The 20-year-old tighthead prop made his Super Rugby debut for the Chiefs against the Stormers in Cape Town this year and has since added three more caps to his name. 

Samoan-born Nepo Laulala has been a mainstay of the Chiefs forward pack this season, starting in every one of his 11 appearances this year. He made his Super Rugby debut for the Crusaders in 2013, playing 33 games over two seasons for the southern side before moving north to join the Chiefs in 2015. That same year, Nepo Laulala was selected for the All Blacks and has played 4 Tests for the national side to date. After missing the 2016 season due to a serious knee injury, 26-year-old Laulala made his long-awaited debut for the Chiefs against the Highlanders in February this year. 

Atunaisa Moli is a very talented rugby player with a lot of potential. The 1.89m and 127kg Waikato prop is equally adept on both sides of the scrum. The former New Zealand Schools representative was born in Gisborne and schooled at Marlborough Boys College. He was selected for the New Zealand Under 20s side for two consecutive seasons, captaining the side to a Junior World Championship title in 2015. To date Atunaisa Moli has played 25 games for the Chiefs.