Northland (National Provincial Championship)

For the Northland Rugby governing body and more information about rugby in the Northland region, see Northland Rugby Union.

Northland
NRU official logo
UnionNorthland Rugby Union
Nickname(s)Taniwha (men) and Kauri (women)
Founded1920 (1920)
LocationWhangārei, New Zealand
Ground(s)Semenoff Stadium (Capacity: 18,500)
CEOCameron Bell[1]
Coach(es)Ryan Martin
Captain(s)Matt Moulds
Most appearancesJoe Morgan (165)
Top scorerWarren Johnston (1,666)
Most triesNorm Berryman (71)
League(s)Bunnings NPC
202413th
Team kit
Official website
www.northlandrugby.co.nz

Northland (often known as the Northland Taniwha) are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Whangārei, New Zealand. The union was originally established in 1920, with the National Provincial Championship established in 1976. They now play in the reformed National Provincial Championship competition. They play their home games at Semenoff Stadium in Whangārei in the Northland region. The team is affiliated with the Blues Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are a Sky blue (Pantone 284).

Current squad

The Northland Taniwha squad for the 2025 Bunnings NPC is:[2]

Northland Taniwha squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Loose forwards

Half-backs (scrum-halves)

First five-eighths (fly-halves)

Midfielders (centres)

Outside backs

  • (c) denotes team captain.
  • Bold denotes internationally capped.
  • DEV denotes a development squad player.
  • REP denotes a replacement squad player.
  1. ^ Balekana wasn't named in the original Northland squad, but was announced in the side for Round 3.[3]

Honours

Northland have never been overall Champions. Their full list of honours, though, include:[4][5]

National Provincial Championship Second Division North Island
  • Winners: 1977 (as North Auckland)
National Provincial Championship Second Division
  • Winners: 1997

Current Super Rugby players

Players named in the 2025 Northland Taniwha squad, who also earned contracts or were named in a squad for any side participating in the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12]

Player Team
Solomon Alaimalo Moana Pasifika
Chris Apoua Moana Pasifika
Alan Craig Moana Pasifika
Corey Evans Blues
Lachlan Hooper Brumbies
Jordan Lay Blues
Matt Moulds Crusaders
James Mullan Blues
Sam Nock Blues
Simon Parker Chiefs
Reesjan Pasitoa Force
Rivez Reihana Crusaders
Marcel Renata Blues
Ofa Tu'ungafasi Blues

References

  1. ^ "Our people". Northland Rugby. 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  2. ^ @northlandugby; (17 July 2025). "our 2025 Cancer Society Northland Taniwha Squad". Retrieved 17 July 2025 – via Instagram.
  3. ^ @northlandrugby; (13 August 2025). "Ladies and Gentlemen, Your Cancer Society Northland Taniwha to take on Tasman this Saturday in part one of our double header!". Retrieved 17 August 2025 – via Instagram.
  4. ^ "National Provincial Championship winners, 1976–2014". Te Ara. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  5. ^ "Mitre 10 Cup". Rugby Heartland. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Moana Pasifika name squad for 2025". Moana Pasifika (Press release). 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  7. ^ "We're ready to take the handbrake off". Blues (Press release). 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  8. ^ "ACT Brumbies announce 36-player squad for 2025 Super Rugby Pacific" (Press release). ACT Brumbies. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  9. ^ "Match Centre - Super Rugby - Blues vs. Crusaders". SANZAAR. 22 March 2025. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  10. ^ "Gallagher Chiefs name cohesive 2025 squad" (Press release). Chiefs. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  11. ^ "Four more round out 2025 Western Force Super Rugby squad" (Press release). Western Force. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  12. ^ "2025 Crusaders squad announced". crusaders.co.nz (Press release). 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
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