Southland (National Provincial Championship)

For the Southland Rugby governing body, see Rugby Southland.

Southland
Official emblem
UnionRugby Southland
Nickname(s)Stags
Founded1887 (1887)
LocationGeorgetown, Invercargill, New Zealand
Ground(s)Rugby Park Stadium (Capacity: 18,000)
CEOHua Tamariki[1]
Coach(es)Matt Saunders[2]
Captain(s)Sean Withy
Most appearancesJason Rutledge (143)
Top scorerSimon Culhane (980)
Most triesBruce Pascoe (46)
League(s)Bunnings NPC
202412th
Team kit
Official website
www.rugbysouthland.co.nz

Southland (often known as the Southland Stags) are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Invercargill, New Zealand. The union was originally established in 1887, with the National Provincial Championship established in 1976. They now play in the reformed National Provincial Championship competition. They play their home games at Rugby Park Stadium in Invercargill in the Southland region. The team is affiliated with the Highlanders Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are maroon and gold.

Current squad

The Southland Stags squad for the 2025 Bunnings NPC is:[3]

Southland Stags squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Loose forwards

Half-backs (scrum-halves)

  • New Zealand Connor Collins
  • New Zealand Connor McLeod
  • New Zealand Nic Shearer

First five-eighths (fly-halves)

Midfielders (centres)

Outside backs

  • (c) denotes team captain.
  • Bold denotes internationally capped.
  • DEV denotes a development player.
  • REP denotes a replacement squad player.
  1. ^ Walsh wasn't named in the original Southland squad, but was announced in the side for Round 3.[4]
  2. ^ Aho wasn't named in the original Southland squad, but was announced in the side for Round 1.[5]
  3. ^ Va'atausili wasn't named in the original Southland squad, but was announced in the side for Round 2.[6]

Honours

Southland have never been overall Champions. Their full list of honours, though, include:[7][8]

National Provincial Championship Second Division South Island
  • Winners: 1982, 1984
National Provincial Championship Second Division
  • Winners: 1989, 1994, 1996

Current Super Rugby players

Players named in the 2025 Southland Stags squad, who also earned contracts or were named in a squad for any side participating in the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season.[9][10][11][12][13]

Player Team
Ale Aho Waratahs
Ethan de Groot Highlanders
Mitchell Dunshea Highlanders
Michael Manson Highlanders
Hayden Michaels Highlanders
Sevu Reece Crusaders
Nic Souchon Hurricanes
Jack Taylor Highlanders
Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa Moana Pasifika
Sean Withy Highlanders

References

  1. ^ "State Of The Union – Chairman Murray Brown". Rugby Southland. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  2. ^ "SBS Bank Southland Stags coaching lineup confirmed for 2024 season". Rugby Southland (Press release). 4 April 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  3. ^ "SBS Bank Southland Stags squad confirmed for Bunnings NPC". Rugby Southland (Press release). 7 July 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  4. ^ @southlandstags; (13 August 2025). "The SBS Bank Southland Stags team to face Manawatū in Round Three of the 2025 Bunnings Warehouse National Provincial Championship". Retrieved 17 August 2025 – via Instagram.
  5. ^ @southlandstags; (30 July 2025). "The SBS Bank Southland Stags 23 for Stag Day". Retrieved 3 August 2025 – via Instagram.
  6. ^ @southlandstags; (6 August 2025). "The SBS Bank Southland Stags team to play Northland in Round Two of the 2025 Bunnings Warehouse National Provincial Championship". Retrieved 10 August 2025 – via Instagram.
  7. ^ "National Provincial Championship winners, 1976–2014". Te Ara. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Mitre 10 Cup". Rugby Heartland. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  9. ^ "The wait is over - The 2025 NSW Waratahs Squad is officially here and ready to support" (Press release). NSW Waratahs. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  10. ^ "Highlanders name squad for 2025 DHL Super Rugby competition" (Press release). Highlanders. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  11. ^ "2025 Crusaders squad announced". crusaders.co.nz (Press release). 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  12. ^ "Ruben Love returns to start against Moana Pasifika for Round 4". Hurricanes (Press release). 5 March 2025. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  13. ^ "Moana Pasifika name eight debutants for first match against Force". Moana Pasifika (Press release). 12 February 2025. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
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