Wellington 2025

[Canes4life]

It's still yet to be determined who will feature in the ABs this year but assuming ASavea, Aumua, Proctor, Love and Lakai are in the ABs, this is the start of the squad I'm predicting to defend the title from 2024. A few spots to be filled. Anyone heard of any signing rumours?

Props:

• S Lauaki (Tawa)
• P Sheck (Tawa)
• B Chrichton (Norths)
• X Numia (Ories)
• S Senele (Upper Hutt)

Hookers:

• J O'Reilly (HOBM)
• H Press (HOBM)
• P Poasa (Ories)

Locks:

• H Plummer (Tawa)
• C Delany (OBU)
• A Ieremia (Tawa) ?? He's in Japan now so not sure of his availability
• W Dearns - hopeful on this signing but he might end up in the Bay
• F O'Sullivan (OBU)

Loose forwards:

• B Shields (Petone)
• D Kirifi (Norths)
• S Halalilo (Ories)
• D Ropeti (Ories)
• J Avei-Collins (Norths)
• H Irving (OBU)

Halfbacks:

• K Preston (OBU)
• M Nuriwai (HOBM)
• M McLeod (OBU)

First fives:

• C Harkin (OBU)
• J Garden-Bachop (Norths)

Centres:

• J Savea (Ories)
• R Higgins (Petone)
• J Rova
• P Umaga-Jensen (Wainuiomata)

Outside backs:

• L Filipo (Petone)
• P Patafilo (Tawa)
• S Solomon (Petone)
• T Clarke (Petone)

[Canes4life]

Pretty strong 23 if all those above are correct, large portion of that group have either Super contracts or Japanese contracts. Those that are uncontracted have spent most of the season as training support for Super franchises.

1. Numia (Hurricanes)
2. O'Reilly (Hurricanes)
3. Lauaki (Hurricanes)
4. Plummer (Hurricanes)
5. Dearns (Brave Lupas)
6. Delany (Hurricanes)
7. Kirifi (Hurricanes) - could yet be in the ABs but I don't think they will select both him and Lakai.
8. Shields (Hurricanes)
9. Preston (Crusaders)
10. Harkin (Hurricanes)
11. Patafilo (Moana Pasifika)
12. Higgins (Hurricanes)
13. Umaga-Jensen (Hurricanes)
14. Filipo (Moana Pasifika)
15. Clarke (Hurricanes)
16. Press (Uncontracted)
17. Chrichton (Uncontracted)
18. Sheck (Blues)
19. Ieremia (Kubota Spears)
20. Halalilo/Ropeti (Uncontracted)
21. Muriwai (Uncontracted)
22. Garden-Bachop (Moana Pasifika)
23. Rova (Hurricanes)

[DurryMexted]

@Canes4life I saw that Patafilo was on the list of departures from MP, so maybe off overseas?

[Canes4life]

@DurryMexted said in Wellington 2025:

@Canes4life I saw that Patafilo was on the list of departures from MP, so maybe off overseas?

I think most of those guys going to Japan or wherever, will play NPC first. But maybe not, will be interesting.

[Trig]

Is Rova confirmed to be with Wellington for NPC? Had heard possibility he could be back for Canterbury. He has only only featured in one game of club rugby this season and that was for his Lincoln Uni club in Canterbury

[Bones]

Saw a picture of O'Reilly playing for HOBM the other day, looks like he could be a front row on his own.

[Canes4life]

Patafilo is heading off soon I think so looks like he won’t be available for the Lions this year.

[Canes4life]

@Trig said in Wellington 2025:

Is Rova confirmed to be with Wellington for NPC? Had heard possibility he could be back for Canterbury. He has only only featured in one game of club rugby this season and that was for his Lincoln Uni club in Canterbury

There were rumours he had signed for Wellington but I could be wrong.

[Canes4life]

So an update on the squad with known departures and those making the ABs, along with injuries. The Lions unfortunately will be looking a little light now.

Higgins, Aumua and Lakai might feature in the campaign but there are definitely ?? against their name as the extend of their injuries are fairly unknown.

ABs: Savea, Kirifi, Love, Proctor
Injured: Lakai, Higgins, Aumua
Departed: Umaga-Jensen, Patafilo, Savea, Ieremia

Likely players available:

Props:
S Lauaki (Tawa)
P Sheck (Tawa)
B Chrichton (Norths)
X Numia (Ories)
S Senele (Upper Hutt)

Hookers:
J O'Reilly (HOBM)
H Press (HOBM)
P Poasa (Ories)

Locks:
H Plummer (Tawa)
C Delany (OBU)
F O'Sullivan (OBU)

Loose forwards:
B Shields (Petone)
S Halalilo (Ories)
D Ropeti (Ories)
J Avei-Collins (Norths)
H Irving (OBU)

Halfbacks:
K Preston (OBU)
M Nuriwai (HOBM)
M McLeod (OBU)

First fives:
C Harkin (OBU)
J Garden-Bachop (Norths)

Centres:
J Rova

Outside backs:
L Filipo (Petone)
S Solomon (Petone)
T Clarke (Petone)

[mikey07]

Wholy that is light especially in the midfield Rova, Filipo 12,13 maybe??

[Canes4life]

@mikey07 said in Wellington 2025:

Wholy that is light especially in the midfield Rova, Filipo 12,13 maybe??

Matt Proctor might be available. Not sure who in club rugby could make the step up.

[SBW1]

How likely would it be for Matt Proctor to play in a Kiwi franchise in 2026? His deal at the Force was only for this year.

[Fredsaua12]

@Canes4life Rova is still contracted to Canterbury for this season I believe, unless he can get a release

[Canes4life]

Wellington Lions look to have been dealt another blow with Tjay Clarke also signing in Japan.

Without including ABs, Wellington have lost all of Peter Umaga-Jensen (Japan), Pepesani Patafilio (overseas), Tjay Clarke (Japan), Julian Savea (North Harbour) and Riley Higgins (injured) for this upcoming season. Doesn't look like we'll be defending our title this year unfortunately.

[DurryMexted]

Wonder how wide they will be casting the net to try get some names for this years squad. Could be a brand new backline aside from a spine of Preston, Garden Bachop and Harkin

[Canes4life]

Savea still with the Lions. First three players announced:

[Canes4life]

Three more players announced, Matt Proctor included.

[DurryMexted]

Oh god dammit i thought Julian had gone to North Harbour for some reason..........

[UpTheHarbs]

@DurryMexted Well, it ended up being a rumour.

[Canes4life]

Three more added to the squad: