Fresh Faces and International Experience Feature in 2026 Highlanders Squad

The Highlanders are proud to announce a 38-man squad to compete in the 2026 DHL Super Rugby Pacific competition.

The squad has a fresh and exciting look to it including seven players who will all pull on the Highlanders jersey for the first time. Among them are All Black front rower Angus Ta’avao, experienced Argentinian international Tomas Lavanini, former Brumbies and Force inside back Reesjan Pasitoa, New Zealand All Black Sevens and Olympic medallist Andrew Knewstubb and New Zealand U20s stars; Dylan Pledger, Xavier Tito-Harris and Stanley Solomon.

The new cohort will join forces with some experienced names. In the forwards;  Ethan de Groot, Saula Ma’u, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Fabian Holland, Mitch Dunshea and Hugh Renton as well as rising stars Jack Taylor, Sean Withy and Te Kamaka Howden who are currently touring with the All Blacks XV.

In the backs; returning after excellent NPC seasons are Cameron Millar, Jona Nareki and, also with touring with the All Blacks XV,  Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens,  Folau Fakatava and  Caleb Tangitau.

Head Coach, Jamie Joseph, has focussed on building depth in the off season and feels the squad is more balanced this year.

“We learned some hard lessons last year after losing several close games but we had a relatively young team who would have learned and grown from their experiences. We knew we had to build depth across the board to enable us to better utilise our squad across the whole season, we have recruited in the off season to do just that and  believe we have a better balanced squad heading into 2026”.

Some key positions demonstrate that developing depth, like halfback, where All Black Folau Fakatava, the well performed Dylan Pledger and the versatile Adam Lennox will all be competing for game time. In the front row the experienced All Black Angus Ta’avao, Otago strongman Saula Ma’u and the well performed former Brumbie, Sosefo Kautai, will all vie for the starting tighthead prop jersey. On the outsides there are plenty of speed and ball playing talents to go into the back three with the likes of Finn Hurley, Jonah Lowe, Jona Nareki, Caleb Tangitau, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Xavier Tito-Harris and Stanley Solomon. 

Highlanders break out star and 2025 MVP, Timoci Tavatanawai, who debuted as an All Black during the international season before breaking his arm is on track for another big year in the midfield and his usual midfield partner Tanielu Tele’a will have competition from Otago’s Josh Whaanga and Jake Te Hiwi, and Reesjan Pasitoa who can play midfield and first-five.

The first-fives will be an interesting mix with Cameron Millar having his best NPC season guiding the Blue and Golds to their first championship final in decades. His unerring goal-kicking and running play being a feature of the latter rounds of the competition. Andrew Knewstubb is no rookie having made 173 appearances for the New Zealand All Black Sevens team and, while nowhere near that experience at 15s, did a good job steering the Canterbury team to an NPC title this season – looking calm and assured throughout the playoffs.  Taine Robinson had an unfortunate NPC season blighted by injury but showed promising signs for the Highlanders toward the back end of last season and will be hungry for rugby by time February 2026 rolls around.

Next year will be the 30 year celebration of Super Rugby. The club will reflect on three decades of strong connection with our community and pride in the region. The Highlanders will have the honour of kicking off the special season when they take on the old foe the Crusaders in the opening game at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Friday 27 February. Secure your seats now with a 2026 Highlanders Club Membership and celebrate 30-years of Highlanders rugby. 

The squad will assemble and begin their preseason hard work on Thursday 27^th November.

Fantasy Super Rugby Pacific 2026 is coming soon. Register your interest at https://www.playfantasyrugby.com/