Hurricanes 2026
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Isn't Love 25 years old? Seems to have hardly played any rugby in his professional career. And he's not the Lone Ranger which is worrying given the lack of rugby our most promising players are getting!
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Isn't Love 25 years old? Seems to have hardly played any rugby in his professional career. And he's not the Lone Ranger which is worrying given the lack of rugby our most promising players are getting!
100%
A key issue we seem to have is that these guys just aren't being given opportunities when they are healthy, so that when the inevitable injuries strike, they end up being a year or two behind where they should be.
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Love won’t be missing the season at all despite rumours posted above.
Scans have come back with no fractures/breaks but there is ligament damage. They are hoping for 4 weeks on the sideline at most.
@Landers92 said in Hurricanes 2026:
Love won’t be missing the season at all despite rumours posted above.
Scans have come back with no fractures/breaks but there is ligament damage. They are hoping for 4 weeks on the sideline at most.
Not the end of the world then aye. Maybe luck is finally turning for us. The first four games are all very winnable for the Canes so if he’s going to miss some of the season the first four games are the ones to miss.
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@Landers92 said in Hurricanes 2026:
Love won’t be missing the season at all despite rumours posted above.
Scans have come back with no fractures/breaks but there is ligament damage. They are hoping for 4 weeks on the sideline at most.
Not the end of the world then aye. Maybe luck is finally turning for us. The first four games are all very winnable for the Canes so if he’s going to miss some of the season the first four games are the ones to miss.
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:
@Landers92 said in Hurricanes 2026:
Love won’t be missing the season at all despite rumours posted above.
Scans have come back with no fractures/breaks but there is ligament damage. They are hoping for 4 weeks on the sideline at most.
Not the end of the world then aye. Maybe luck is finally turning for us. The first four games are all very winnable for the Canes so if he’s going to miss some of the season the first four games are the ones to miss.
Cameron will have to hold the line
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@Landers92 said in Hurricanes 2026:
Love won’t be missing the season at all despite rumours posted above.
Scans have come back with no fractures/breaks but there is ligament damage. They are hoping for 4 weeks on the sideline at most.
Not the end of the world then aye. Maybe luck is finally turning for us. The first four games are all very winnable for the Canes so if he’s going to miss some of the season the first four games are the ones to miss.
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:
@Landers92 said in Hurricanes 2026:
Love won’t be missing the season at all despite rumours posted above.
Scans have come back with no fractures/breaks but there is ligament damage. They are hoping for 4 weeks on the sideline at most.
Not the end of the world then aye. Maybe luck is finally turning for us. The first four games are all very winnable for the Canes so if he’s going to miss some of the season the first four games are the ones to miss.
Sounds like 4 weeks is being optimistic. Could be that 4-6 week range.
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@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:
@Landers92 said in Hurricanes 2026:
Love won’t be missing the season at all despite rumours posted above.
Scans have come back with no fractures/breaks but there is ligament damage. They are hoping for 4 weeks on the sideline at most.
Not the end of the world then aye. Maybe luck is finally turning for us. The first four games are all very winnable for the Canes so if he’s going to miss some of the season the first four games are the ones to miss.
Cameron will have to hold the line
@canefan said in Hurricanes 2026:
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:
@Landers92 said in Hurricanes 2026:
Love won’t be missing the season at all despite rumours posted above.
Scans have come back with no fractures/breaks but there is ligament damage. They are hoping for 4 weeks on the sideline at most.
Not the end of the world then aye. Maybe luck is finally turning for us. The first four games are all very winnable for the Canes so if he’s going to miss some of the season the first four games are the ones to miss.
Cameron will have to hold the line
Perfectly fine with that. Harkin will have to be back-up.
Wouldn’t mind a week 1 (2) backline of 9. Roigard 10. Cameron 11. Fineanganofo 12. Higgins 13. Proctor 14. Moorby and 15. Barrett
Reserves backs: 21. Vijoen 22. Harkin 23. Sullivan
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@canefan said in Hurricanes 2026:
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:
@Landers92 said in Hurricanes 2026:
Love won’t be missing the season at all despite rumours posted above.
Scans have come back with no fractures/breaks but there is ligament damage. They are hoping for 4 weeks on the sideline at most.
Not the end of the world then aye. Maybe luck is finally turning for us. The first four games are all very winnable for the Canes so if he’s going to miss some of the season the first four games are the ones to miss.
Cameron will have to hold the line
Perfectly fine with that. Harkin will have to be back-up.
Wouldn’t mind a week 1 (2) backline of 9. Roigard 10. Cameron 11. Fineanganofo 12. Higgins 13. Proctor 14. Moorby and 15. Barrett
Reserves backs: 21. Vijoen 22. Harkin 23. Sullivan
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@Canes4life looks good, Fainga'nuku tanked my fantasy team so Higgins straight in
@Grooter said in Hurricanes 2026:
@Canes4life looks good, Fainga'nuku tanked my fantasy team so Higgins straight in
Yeah I had Lester as my captain, he was mud.
Laidlaw will likely go with Barrett at 12 and Harkin at 15 though I would say.
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Excited for this week to see where the boys are at. Moana will have their tails up having beaten Drua at their fortress and always seem to get up against us. Is there any updates on whos in and out at this stage? Kirifi supposedly is out but all i can see on his socials is him building a deck (been great content to be fair)
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Going from the injury list just over a week ago when they played the Chiefs, this should be the updated timings.
Unavailable Due To Injury
Tyrel Lomax (thumb): should be fit for selection this week
Caleb Delany (calf): 2 weeks
Tom Allen (leg/foot): should be fit for selection this week
Brad Shields (finger): should be fit for selection this week
Du’Plessis Kirifi (calf): 3-4 weeks
Peter Lakai (calf): should be fit for selection this week
Harry Godfrey (knee): Expected to miss season
Kini Naholo (knee): 2-3 weeks
Ruben Love: (ankle): 4-6 weeksI'd be happy to run with the following 23:
- X Numia
- A Aumua
- P Tosi (have Lomax coming off the bench as he's played no minutes in pre-season
- I Walker-Leawere
- W Dearns
- D Flanders
- P Lakai
- B Iose
- C Roigard
- B Cameron
- F Fineanganofo
- R Higgins
- B Sullivan (have Proctor coming off the bench as he's played no mins in pre-season)
- J Moorby
- J Barrett
Reserves:
16. V Bason
17. T Mafileo
18. T Lomax
19. H Plummer
20. C Flanders
21. J Vijoen
22. C Harkin
23. B Proctor -
Is giving JB the co-captaincy a way of easing him back to 15 to allow Higgins to be at 12? JB might start at 12 on Friday due to the absence of Kirifi though. Brad Cooper reported as saying Cameron and Cashmore were the backups to Love - so Cameron starts. Laidlaw can’t risk having Cashmore on the bench though because he (and Cameron) are a bit too diminutive under the box-kick and the Blues v Chiefs game suggests Super between the NZ teams will be kick fests
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Is giving JB the co-captaincy a way of easing him back to 15 to allow Higgins to be at 12? JB might start at 12 on Friday due to the absence of Kirifi though. Brad Cooper reported as saying Cameron and Cashmore were the backups to Love - so Cameron starts. Laidlaw can’t risk having Cashmore on the bench though because he (and Cameron) are a bit too diminutive under the box-kick and the Blues v Chiefs game suggests Super between the NZ teams will be kick fests
@SecFid said in Hurricanes 2026:
Is giving JB the co-captaincy a way of easing him back to 15 to allow Higgins to be at 12? JB might start at 12 on Friday due to the absence of Kirifi though. Brad Cooper reported as saying Cameron and Cashmore were the backups to Love - so Cameron starts. Laidlaw can’t risk having Cashmore on the bench though because he (and Cameron) are a bit too diminutive under the box-kick and the Blues v Chiefs game suggests Super between the NZ teams will be kick fests
I'd say Harkin will be the back-up as he covers 10/15 and provides more utility value.
You're probably right in regard to Barrett starting at 12, Higgins was our best performing back in pre-season, especially in that first game against the Blues so will be interesting to see where he features.
I wouldn't be against starting Higgins at 13 outside Barrett due to the fact Proctor hasn't played any minutes yet. They would likely start Sullivan at 13 ahead of Higgins though.
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Great interview with new Hurricane's owner Malcolm Gillies and interim CEO Tony Philp.
They come across as very motivated and ambitious, most importantly they are taking fan feedback into account.
If they can follow through with even half the things they are talking about, then the Cake Tin will be the place to be when the Canes are in town. Good luck to them.
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Intriguing article about Riley Higgins’ older brother Kienan (HB) who is on his way to play for the Freejacks in the URC via Edinburgh. Story says Kienan is eligible to play for Scotland meaning Riley would be too. He has however been “captured” by NZ rugby because he played AB’s XV v Georgia in Nov 24 but by Nov 27 he would have served the 36 month stand down and be eligible. Currently doesn’t have a Super contract for next year. Might be a bit of a tug of war going on to retain his services but Riley would hopefully be in RWC27 considerations.
https://edinburghrugby.org/news-and-features/higgins-joins-on-short-term-deal/ -
Intriguing article about Riley Higgins’ older brother Kienan (HB) who is on his way to play for the Freejacks in the URC via Edinburgh. Story says Kienan is eligible to play for Scotland meaning Riley would be too. He has however been “captured” by NZ rugby because he played AB’s XV v Georgia in Nov 24 but by Nov 27 he would have served the 36 month stand down and be eligible. Currently doesn’t have a Super contract for next year. Might be a bit of a tug of war going on to retain his services but Riley would hopefully be in RWC27 considerations.
https://edinburghrugby.org/news-and-features/higgins-joins-on-short-term-deal/@SecFid said in Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika:
Intriguing article about Riley Higgins’ older brother Kienan (HB) who is on his way to play for the Freejacks in the URC via Edinburgh. Story says Kienan is eligible to play for Scotland meaning Riley would be too. He has however been “captured” by NZ rugby because he played AB’s XV v Georgia in Nov 24 but by Nov 27 he would have served the 36 month stand down and be eligible. Currently doesn’t have a Super contract for next year. Might be a bit of a tug of war going on to retain his services but Riley would hopefully be in RWC27 considerations.
https://edinburghrugby.org/news-and-features/higgins-joins-on-short-term-deal/All Blacks XV isn't a capture team, so that part isn't correct.
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@SecFid said in Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika:
Intriguing article about Riley Higgins’ older brother Kienan (HB) who is on his way to play for the Freejacks in the URC via Edinburgh. Story says Kienan is eligible to play for Scotland meaning Riley would be too. He has however been “captured” by NZ rugby because he played AB’s XV v Georgia in Nov 24 but by Nov 27 he would have served the 36 month stand down and be eligible. Currently doesn’t have a Super contract for next year. Might be a bit of a tug of war going on to retain his services but Riley would hopefully be in RWC27 considerations.
https://edinburghrugby.org/news-and-features/higgins-joins-on-short-term-deal/All Blacks XV isn't a capture team, so that part isn't correct.
@Mr-Fish said in Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika:
@SecFid said in Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika:
Intriguing article about Riley Higgins’ older brother Kienan (HB) who is on his way to play for the Freejacks in the URC via Edinburgh. Story says Kienan is eligible to play for Scotland meaning Riley would be too. He has however been “captured” by NZ rugby because he played AB’s XV v Georgia in Nov 24 but by Nov 27 he would have served the 36 month stand down and be eligible. Currently doesn’t have a Super contract for next year. Might be a bit of a tug of war going on to retain his services but Riley would hopefully be in RWC27 considerations.
https://edinburghrugby.org/news-and-features/higgins-joins-on-short-term-deal/All Blacks XV isn't a capture team, so that part isn't correct.
I would lose all faith in NZ Rugby if we let someone like Riley Higgins go at such a young age. There’s a massive gap in class between him and his brother so I’m sure Riley will back himself to stay in NZ and fight for an AB jersey.
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@SecFid said in Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika:
Intriguing article about Riley Higgins’ older brother Kienan (HB) who is on his way to play for the Freejacks in the URC via Edinburgh. Story says Kienan is eligible to play for Scotland meaning Riley would be too. He has however been “captured” by NZ rugby because he played AB’s XV v Georgia in Nov 24 but by Nov 27 he would have served the 36 month stand down and be eligible. Currently doesn’t have a Super contract for next year. Might be a bit of a tug of war going on to retain his services but Riley would hopefully be in RWC27 considerations.
https://edinburghrugby.org/news-and-features/higgins-joins-on-short-term-deal/All Blacks XV isn't a capture team, so that part isn't correct.
@Mr-Fish Apologies you are correct - All Blacks XV is no longer the second capture team it’s now the Sevens. Smart move that by NZRU.
So Riley Higgins is even a potentially greater flight risk - perhaps he will earn a test cap against Italy in Wellington to lock him up
