Riley Hohepa returns to the Hurricanes for Super Rugby 2025
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Returning Hurricanes legends, NPC standouts and All Black debutants - Hurricanes Head Coach Clark Laidlaw has named his 38-strong squad to take on the 2025 DHL Super Rugby Pacific competition.
After making their international debuts against Japan, Ruben Love and Peter Lakai bolster the number of current All Blacks in the squad to seven, lining up alongside nine new signings and a returning Hurricane in the form of Riley Hohepa.
Game readiness and maturity has been key in building this year’s squad remarked Laidlaw.
“We’ve been really intentional in seeking out players that tie into our team model and how we want to play the game. These are men that have a great deal of maturity on and off the field. They’re coming into our environment and they’re ready to play Super Rugby.”
“Kade Banks and Lucas Cashmore are the perfect example of this. They might be young players, but they’re coming in from the Blues with experience in a Super Rugby environment. They’ve both had cracking NPC and they fit how we want to play the game.”
Arese Poliko is another NPC performer joining the ranks. The dynamic loose forward has established himself as a formidable force throughout his provincial career, firstly with the Southland Stags and more recently with the Taranaki Bulls.
“Arese is one of those players with an incredible mindset,” Laidlaw observed, “not only has he proven that he’s a high performer on the field, but he’s also shown a real sense of gratitude and a hunger to get stuck in and attack the coming season.”
“We’ve seen a bit of player movement but we’re realistic about what it means to have an open market. I’m confident with the depth that we’ve got in our squad. We’re in a good spot with guys like Peter Lakai, Ruben Love and Harry Godfrey locked in for the next two or three years. They’re going from strength to strength, and that consistency will help us continue to build our depth over the next few seasons.”
“We’re extremely fortunate that we’ve found players who can come into our environment and be ready for round one if we need them. Look at Ere Enari, a Samoan internationalist with more than forty super rugby games under his belt. He’s 27, and he’s playing some of his best rugby right now. He’s going to have an incredible few years ahead of him.”
With Brett Cameron facing a lengthy rehab for an ACL injury, Riley Hohepa returns to the Hurricanes after a season with the Crusaders. Two South Island locks also make the move north, Will Tucker from the Highlanders and Zach Gallagher from the Crusaders.
The Hurricanes open the season away against the Crusaders on the 14th of February 2025. The first home game will be at McLean Park, Napier against the Drua and kicking off at 4:05PM on the 22nd of February.
Fans can secure their seats at SKY Stadium for all Hurricanes home games now with a 2025 Hurricanes Membership, available from www.hurricanes.co.nz/membership/packages
Hurricanes 2025 Squad:
Tom Allen – Hawke’s Bay
Asafo Aumua – Wellington
Kade Banks – North Harbour
Brett Cameron – Manawatū
Lucas Cashmore – Bay of Plenty
Tjay Clarke – Wellington
Caleb Delany – Wellington
Jacob Devery – Hawke’s Bay
Ereatara Enari – Hawke’s Bay
Fehi Fineanganofo – Bay of Plenty
Devan Flanders – Hawke’s Bay
Zach Gallagher – Canterbury
Harry Godfrey – Hawke’s Bay
Riley Higgins – Wellington
Riley Hohepa – Counties Manukau
Brayden Iose – Manawatū
Du’Plessis Kirifi – Wellington
Peter Lakai – Wellington
Siale Lauaki – Wellington
Tyrel Lomax – Tasman
Ruben Love – Wellington
Tevita Mafileo – North Harbour
Kini Naholo – Taranaki
Xavier Numia – Wellington
Arese Poliko – Taranaki
Billy Proctor – Wellington
Ngatungane Punivai – Canterbury
Pouri Rakete-Stones – Hawke’s Bay
Cam Roigard – Counties Manukau
Brad Shields – Wellington
Daniel Sinkinson – Waikato
Bailyn Sullivan – Waikato
Josh Taula – Manawatū
Pasilio Tosi – Bay of Plenty
Will Tucker – Otago
Raymond Tuputupu – Manawatū
Peter Umaga-Jensen – Wellington
Jordi Viljoen – Manawatū
Isaia Walker-Leawere – Hawke’s Bay
