Highlanders confirm Wider Training Group for 2026

Nine players have been chosen for the Highlanders Wider Training Group (WTG) for the 2026 DHL Super Rugby Pacific competition. This extended group of players will train with the main Highlanders squad throughout the season and will serve as the first port-of-call for any injury replacements should they be required.

Highlanders Head Coach Jamie Joseph commented on the necessity of an extended squad for today’s Super Rugby demands:

 “The wider training group is important to our season as it provides injury cover but also gives us an arm for further development of some players.”

Five Otago players have been rewarded with WTG contracts following their outstanding performances during the recent NPC season as well as two from Southland and two from further north.

Local 22 year old, Lucas Casey, took the NPC by storm this year racking up nine tries and topping the tackle count alongside Wingham in the final against Canterbury. The tearway flanker is contracted to the Highlanders main squad in 2027 and 2026 should see him develop into a contender for the loose forward trio in 2027.

Midfielder Meihana Grindlay is a former NZ Schools and NZ U20s player and has played over 30 matches for Taranaki at either second-five or centre. A hard running midfielder Grindlay is 24 years old and was previously contracted to the Blues where he made his debut against the Highlanders in 2024.

Southland midfield back Tayne Harvey is just 20 years of age but is already establishing himself as a player of the future. Joining the Highlanders High Performance Programme two years ago he was a member of the Highlanders U20 team in 2024 and 2025. He was selected for the NZU20s World Cup squad along with Dylan Pledger and Josh Tengblad and has so far made eight appearances for the Southland Stags in the midfield and on the wing.

Senita Lauaki is an athletic loose forward from the Waikato and younger brother of the late All Black backrower Sione Lauaki. A product of Kelston Boys High School he captained the school First XV to an Auckland 1A title in  2021. he has since clocked up 16 games for the mooloos over the last two NPC seasons.

Otago loosehead prop Ben Lopas has 24 games of NPC experience under his belt and is a mobile, skilled player who had his best season for the blue and golds in 2025 after strong club form in recent seasons.

Young Otago rake A-One Lolofie is another product of the Highlanders U20 programme having played in national U20 tournament in 2023/4 and making the NZ U20 World Cup team in 2024. He made his debut for Otago during the 2025 NPC at 21 years of age he will benefit from more game time in the coming seasons.

Nic Shearer was the number one halfback for the Southland Stags throughout the season and a  member of the 2024 Canterbury NPC and NZU20s squads . A busy player he caught the eye with some sharp work behind the scrum this season, scoring a sensational try in the Stags triumphant Ranfurly Shield challenge against Waikato.

Towering lock Josh Tengblad at over 2.0m sticks out in a crowd but it his rugby ability that has set him apart since leaving Sacred Heart College in Auckland for the Highlanders High Performance Programme and playing for the Highlanders U20 team in 2024/25. He joined the NZU20 squad at this years World Cup and made his NPC debut for Otago against Auckland this year. At just 20 years of age he has plenty of rugby opportunities in front of him and is contracted to the full Highlanders  squad in 2027.

Prop Rohan Wingham, who has already made three appearances for the Highlanders, had a solid season for Otago at tighthead prop and at just 22 years of age has plenty of rugby ahead of him.

HIGHLANDERS WIDER TRAINING GROUP 2025

END