1
Jamie Joseph names 2025 Highlanders Super Rugby Pacific squad
By Henry Lee
Jamie Joseph has named his Highlanders squad for the DHL 2025 Super Rugby Pacific competition.
ADVERTISEMENT
The 2025 squad features many new players, including the addition of new head coach Jamie Joseph who coached the Highlanders to the historic 2015 Super Rugby title.
“It’s great to be back leading the Highlanders. Dunedin and the wider southern region have always been a place that has provided opportunities for players to grow and develop. It’s a community that loves rugby, respects the game, and values hard work. My job is to ensure that we create an environment where players can blossom, not just as athletes, but as individuals who carry the game’s core values with them. We’ve got a very talented squad this year, and I’m excited to see what we can achieve together.”
Joseph has added Cody Brown to his coaching staff, the brother of former Highlanders coach and current Springboks attack coach Tony Brown.
Brown and Joseph will be joined by last year’s head coach Clarke Dermody as well as Dave Dillon to round out the 2025 coaching staff.
Experienced Highlanders players return to the squad, including All Black prop Ethan De Groot, All Blacks XV players Saula Ma’u, Fabian Holland and Oliver Haig and halfback Folau Fakatava.
Impressive NPC campaigns for Timoci Tavatavanawai, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Nikora Broughton, Sean Withy, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Michael Manson and Cam Millar have earned them another full playing contract.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Highlanders have added Hurricanes loose forward and Manawatu player TK Howden, who will bolster the loose forward stocks for Jamie Joseph’s squad.
The forward pack will welcome the additions of Blues hooker Soane Vikena down south, as well as tighthead prop Sosefo Kautai (NZ U20, Chiefs, Brumbies) and loosehead prop Josh Bartlett (NZU20, Chiefs, Western Force) to improve the tight five.
Young players like Caleb Tangitau from the Blues, Will Stodart and Finn Hurley from Otago will be looking to stake their claim for starting jerseys.
Additions to the backline will further develop Joseph’s headaches for selections, including Taine Robinson from Tasman, who has been impressive in NPC over multiple campaigns.
ADVERTISEMENT
Veveni Lasaqa from the Hurricanes and Bay of Plenty will join the squad’s forward pack, as well as 30-year-old Tongan Lui Naeta who has been plying his trade in Japan before returning for Otago in this year’s NPC competition.
Head coach Jamie Joseph has high hopes for his new squad.
“We have a squad full of talented and motivated players, and we know that the fans in Dunedin and across the region are looking forward to seeing this team grow and perform on the field,”added Joseph.
“This region has a proud rugby history, and it’s our responsibility to make sure we honour that by playing with passion and commitment. We’re not just developing players on the field, but also people who represent the values of this community.”
2025 Highlanders Super Rugby Pacific Squad
Backs: Folau Fakatava (Hawkes Bay), Nathan Hastie (Otago), James Arscott (Otago), Cameron Millar (Otago), Ajay Faleafaga (Otago), Taine Robinson (Tasman), Jake Te Hiwi (Otago), Thomas Umaga-Jensen (Otago), Tanielu Tele’a (Auckland), Josh Whaanga (Otago), Sam Gilbert (Otago), Michael Manson (Southland), Caleb Tangitau (Auckland), Jonah Lowe (Hawkes Bay), Timoci Tavatavanawai (Tasman), Jona Nareki (Otago), Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (Taranaki), Finn Hurley (Otago)
Forwards: Ethan de Groot (Southland) , Daniel Lienert-Brown (Canterbury), Josh Bartlett (BOP), Saula Ma’u (Otago), Rohan Wingham (Otago), Sosefo Kautai (Waikato), Henry Bell (Otago), Jack Taylor (Southland), Soane Vikena (Auckland), Fabian Holland (Otago), Mitch Dunshea (Southland), Oliver Haig (Otago), Lui Naeta (Otago), Will Stodart (Otago) Te Kamaka Howden (Manawatu), Sean Withy (Southland), Hayden Michaels (Southland), Veveni Lasaqa (BOP), Hugh Renton (Tasman), Nikora Broughton (BOP)
Unavailable for the 2025 season due to injury: Josh Timu and Tom Sanders
Watch the exclusive reveal-all episode of Walk the Talk with Ardie Savea as he chats to Jim Hamilton about the RWC 2023 experience, life in Japan, playing for the All Blacks and what the future holds. Watch now for free on RugbyPass TV
Great signing for the Highlanders, would have made a good AB coach too. Tough bastard but loved by his squad.
How is it NZ brags about it's centrally controlled national model, yet Brodie McAllister sees more of a future going to the Chiefs to warm the bench for Taukeaho than go start every game for the Highlanders? Ditto Brayden Ennor, or Dallas McLeod, one of whom will see little game time at the Cru. And on and on we could go, citing so many other players who could start for the Highlanders but are content to be outside the top 23 at one of the other 4 major franchises. Surely this is where NZR should intervene and make sure guys of that calibre go South and PLAY PLAY PLAY. But no, be a wider squad guy at the Blues, Cru, Chiefs or Canes and play hardly any Super Rugby and still you are better placed for national honours. Look at Karifi. No even a starting Cane but captain of the AB XV. No wonder NZ rugby isn't what it once was. If you want to be an AB, go somewhere you can start matches and show what you have got against the other guys competing to be ABs. Don't go be their training opponent on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It's pathetic Mark Robinson al lo ows this to happen. He is so weak as a leader for our sport it isn't funny. He's rugby's Jacinda, or Kamala.
Direct contracting by the franchises has helped do this. In the past you had a protected 23 or so but the rest was in the draft. Selection was earnt after NPC each year. A player signs on for 3 years so the team is committed to them and meanwhile another player develops well and gets an AB jersey and quickly enough you get stockpiling.
Something should be worked out that gaps in some teams should be traded. I can't see them stopping direct contracting these days though.
Ahh no raz daz signing in the end huh. Thankfully the did get Tele'a over the line in the end but that's only going to be a team that's scary when everythings clicking and all are on the park. Lets hope they get lucky with injurys this time round!
Joseph has taken a risk with only naming two specialist locks. Would of been nice to keep Will Tucker to back Holland and Dunshea up.
Agreed. Looks very light in the locking stocks. Whats up with PPP? Will Tucker was full of effort and +2m. Agree with SC - Haig is developing well as a 6 but will get dragged into the second row and Holland will be worked to the bone.
Every other NZ franchise selected 5 specialist locks. But Joseph foolishly signed two specialist locks one of whom, Dunshae, is very injury prone. Holland is going to get played into the ground by the Highlanders and Haig who could have been a serious option for All Blacks at 6 after a good season of SRP will now have to play lock.