Southland (National Provincial Championship)

Southland
Official emblem
UnionRugby Southland
NicknameStags
Founded1887 (1887)
LocationGeorgetown, Invercargill, New Zealand
GroundRugby Park Stadium (Capacity: 18,000)
CEOHua Tamariki[1]
CoachScott Eade[2]
CaptainSean Withy
Most appearancesJason Rutledge (143)
Top scorerSimon Culhane (980)
Most triesBruce Pascoe (46)
LeagueNational Provincial Championship
202513th
Team kit
Official website
www.rugbysouthland.co.nz

Southland (often known as the Southland Stags) are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Invercargill, New Zealand. The union was originally established in 1887, with the National Provincial Championship established in 1976. They now play in the reformed National Provincial Championship competition. They play their home games at Rugby Park Stadium in Invercargill in the Southland region. The team is affiliated with the Highlanders Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are maroon and gold.

Current squad

The Southland Stags squad for the 2026 Hilux NPC season is:

2026 Southland squad

Props

Hookers

  • New Zealand Liam Ferguson WTG
  • New Zealand Jayden Henderson ST[A]
  • New Zealand Shaun Kempton
  • New Zealand Aukusitino Salanoa
  • New Zealand Jack Taylor

Locks

Loose forwards

Halfbacks (scrum-halves)

  • New Zealand Jackson Hughan
  • New Zealand Charlie Marsh
  • New Zealand Koen Rarere WTG
  • New Zealand Nic Shearer

First five-eighths (fly-halves)

  • New Zealand Josh Jennings WTG
  • New Zealand Mika Muliaina
  • Japan Takaya Saito
  • New Zealand Jimmy Taylor

Midfielders (centres)

Outside backs

(c) denotes the team captain.
Bold denotes internationally capped players.
ST denotes a short-term signing.
WTG denotes a wider training group member.
Injured denotes an injured player.
  1. ↑ Henderson wasn't named in the original Southland squad, but was announced in the side for Round 1.[3][4]
  2. ↑ Ahokovi wasn't named in the original Southland squad, but was announced in the side for Round 1.[3][4]
  3. ↑ Gualter wasn't named in the original Southland squad, but was announced in the side for Round 3.[5][6]
  4. ↑ Nonu wasn't named in the original Southland squad, but was announced in the side for Round 2.[7][8]
Source: [9][10][11]

Honours

Southland have never been overall Champions. Their full list of honours, though, include:[12][13]

National Provincial Championship Second Division South Island
  • Winners: 1982, 1984
National Provincial Championship Second Division
  • Winners: 1989, 1994, 1996

Current Super Rugby players

Players named in the 2025 Southland Stags squad, who also earned contracts or were named in a squad for any side participating in the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season.[14][15][16][17][18]

Player Team
Ale Aho Waratahs
Ethan de Groot Highlanders
Mitchell Dunshea Highlanders
Michael Manson Highlanders
Hayden Michaels Highlanders
Sevu Reece Crusaders
Nic Souchon Hurricanes
Jack Taylor Highlanders
Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa Moana Pasifika
Sean Withy Highlanders

References

  1. ↑ "State Of The Union – Chairman Murray Brown". Rugby Southland. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  2. ↑ "Local loyalty Rewarded - Eade promoted to Stags Head Coach for 2026". Rugby Southland (Press release). 30 October 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  3. 1 2 @southlandstags; (29 July 2026). "The SBS Bank Southland Stags 23 for Stag Day, and Round One of the Hilux National Provincial Championship season". Retrieved 1 August 2026 – via Instagram.
  4. 1 2 "Teenage Taylor to start in No 10 jersey on Stag Day". The Southland Tribune. 29 July 2026. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
  5. ↑ @southlandstags; (12 August 2026). "Your 23 for Sunday at home". Retrieved 13 August 2026 – via Instagram.
  6. ↑ "'Not looking great': Jack Taylor set for stint on sidelines". The Southland Tribune. 12 August 2026. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  7. ↑ @southlandstags; (5 August 2026). "The SBS Bank Southland Stags team to play Manawatū in Round Two of the 2026 Hilux National Provincial Championship". Retrieved 9 August 2026 – via Instagram.
  8. ↑ "Stags facing early-season must-win against Manawatu". The Southland Tribune. 7 August 2026. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  9. ↑ @southlandstags; (8 July 2026). "After weeks of player announcements, we're proud to present the full 2026 SBS Bank Southland Stags squad". Retrieved 9 July 2026 – via Instagram.
  10. ↑ "Experience meets youth in exciting 2026 Southland Stags squad". Southland Times. 9 July 2026. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  11. ↑ @southlandstags; (10 July 2026). "We're proud to introduce our 2026 SBS Bank Southland Stags Extended Squad". Retrieved 1 August 2026 – via Instagram.
  12. ↑ "National Provincial Championship winners, 1976–2014". Te Ara. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  13. ↑ "Mitre 10 Cup". Rugby Heartland. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  14. ↑ "The wait is over - The 2025 NSW Waratahs Squad is officially here and ready to support" (Press release). NSW Waratahs. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  15. ↑ "Highlanders name squad for 2025 DHL Super Rugby competition" (Press release). Highlanders. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  16. ↑ "2025 Crusaders squad announced". crusaders.co.nz (Press release). 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  17. ↑ "Ruben Love returns to start against Moana Pasifika for Round 4". Hurricanes (Press release). 5 March 2025. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  18. ↑ "Moana Pasifika name eight debutants for first match against Force". Moana Pasifika (Press release). 12 February 2025. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
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