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4 days ago | 
rugbypass.com | Ned Lester
Four newcomers have been named to join the All Blacks forward pack to begin 2025, with one in particular furthering an emerging strength for the team. Ollie Norris has been rewarded for his continued growth in the Chiefs’ front row, steering the club to a 97.2 per cent success rate in the scrums – good for the best rate in not just Super Rugby Pacific, but the Top 14, URC, and Gallagher Premiership, too.
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4 days ago | 
rugbypass.com | Ned Lester
Just two specialist wingers were named in the first All Blacks squad of the year, something that came as a shock to all fans, given the breadth of talent New Zealand possesses. The call undoubtedly left the Kiwi faithful wondering: who’s the next man up, should the All Blacks need cover out wide? Attention naturally fell to former winger Rieko Ioane.
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4 days ago | 
rugbypass.com | Ned Lester
The Maori All Blacks have named a 29-strong squad to take on Japan XV and Scotland over the next two weeks. 11 of the 29 players are uncapped, with head coach Ross Filipo missing the services of six capped campaigners due to injury. Blues hooker Kurt Eklund has been named as the team’s new captain, a recognition of the Ngati Kahu, Bay of Plenty product’s character and experience.
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4 days ago | 
rugbypass.com | Ned Lester
Just under 10 months ago, All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson grinned as he endorsed the notion that workhorse loose forward Ethan Blackadder was possessed, such was his work rate around the park against the Springboks in Johannesburg. On Monday, when the first New Zealand squad of 2025 was announced, Blackadder’s name was not read.
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1 week ago | 
rugbypass.com | Ned Lester
There is only one major statistical category in which the Crusaders have outperformed the Chiefs in 2025, but no one beats the storied club on its home soil. So, who’s the favourite to lift the silverware? The Super Rugby Pacific grand final is here, and it’s the best of the best squaring off in a contest where both sides have plenty of reasons to feel confident.
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1 week ago | 
rugbypass.com | Ned Lester
One of Moana Pasifika’s first big success stories, Miracle Faiilagi, has re-signed with the club for another season. The 25-year-old has emerged as one of the premier blindside flankers in Super Rugby Pacific, a powerful endorsement of Moana Pasifika’s purpose in the competition, as he was the very first signing to come directly out of Samoa. Since Faiilagi’s 2023 debut, he has risen steadily through the ranks.
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1 week ago | 
rugbypass.com | Ned Lester
The Chiefs will run out with 10 All Blacks in their starting XV for the Super Rugby Pacific grand final in Christchurch, with one capped Kiwi international also named on the bench. It will be the same starting side that beat the Brumbies by 20 in the semi-final who will greet the Crusaders, with two changes on the bench. Aidan Ross adds experience to the reserves in what will be his final game in Chiefs colours. The two-cap All Black’s with a contract with the Reds starts next month.
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1 week ago | 
rugbypass.com | Ned Lester
Ardie Savea is on his way back to Japan for the 2026 Japan Rugby League One season, reuniting with the Kobe Steelers, where he played in 2024. The recently crowned Super Rugby Pacific MVP will return to Moana for the 2027 season, which is the final year of his current contract. The All Blacks star will remain eligible for international duty throughout, as is the case for all sabbaticals within New Zealand Rugby’s contract framework.
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1 week ago | 
rugbypass.com | Ned Lester
The first All Blacks squad of 2025 is less than a week from being named, and pundits have piled extra emphasis on the upcoming campaign as coach Scott Robertson builds towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup. The conversation came about on The Breakdown as the panel of former All Blacks debated the potential selection of young Hurricanes N0. 8 Peter Lakai, who is tipped to have a bright future in the black jersey but has his work cut out for him earning selection amongst an uber-talented field.
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1 week ago | 
rugbypass.com | Ned Lester
The Hurricanes have revealed their list of departing players for 2025, which includes the already announced exit of Peter Umaga-Jensen, along with seven others. Having bowed out of the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs in the qualifying finals, the team are now in offseason mode as they look to build a young squad into champions. That process will have to be undertaken without the services of Umaga-Jensen, who has read the lay of the land and chosen his moment to pick up a contract in Japan.
