Waikato (National Provincial Championship)

Waikato
WRU official emblem
UnionWaikato Rugby Union
NicknameMooloos
Founded1921 (1921)
LocationWhitiora, Hamilton, New Zealand
GroundFMG Stadium Waikato (Capacity: 25,000)
CEOAmy Marfell [1]
CoachLeon Holden[2]
CaptainMitch Jacobson
Most appearancesIan Foster and Graham Purvis (148)
Top scorerMatthew Cooper (1,604)
Most triesBruce Smith (70)
LeagueNational Provincial Championship
20257th
Quarter-finals
Team kit
Official website
www.mooloo.co.nz

Waikato (often known as the Waikato Mooloos) are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Hamilton, New Zealand. The union was originally established in 1921, with the National Provincial Championship established in 1976. They now play in the reformed National Provincial Championship competition. They play their home games at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton in the Waikato region. The team is affiliated with the Chiefs Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are red, yellow and black.

Current squad

The Waikato Mooloos squad for the 2026 Hilux NPC season is:

2026 Waikato squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Loose forwards

Halfbacks (scrum-halves)

First five-eighths (fly-halves)

Midfielders (centres)

Outside backs

(c) denotes the team captain.
Bold denotes internationally capped players.
ST denotes a short-term signing.
  1. ↑ Anae Ah-Sue wasn’t named in the original Waikato squad, but was announced in the side for Round 5.[3]
  2. ↑ McEwan wasn't named in the original Waikato squad, but was named as a late inclusion in the side for Round 2.[4]
  3. ↑ Cook-Savage wasn't named in the original Waikato squad, but was announced in the side for Round 4.[5]
  4. ↑ Stephens wasn't named in the original Waikato squad, but was announced in the side for Round 1.[6]
Source: [7]

Honours

Waikato have been overall Champions on three occasions, winning the titles in 1992, 2006 and 2021. Their full list of honours include:[8][9]

National Provincial Championship Second Division North Island
  • Winners: 1980
National Provincial Championship Second Division
  • Winners: 1986
National Provincial Championship First Division
  • Winners: 1992
Air New Zealand Cup
  • Winners: 2006
Mitre 10 Cup Championship Division
  • Winners: 2018
Bunnings NPC Premiership Division
  • Winners: 2021

Current Super Rugby players

Players named in the 2025 Waikato Mooloos squad, who also earned contracts or were named in a squad for any side participating in the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season.[10][11][12][13][14][15]

Player Team
Austin Anderson Brumbies
Jahrome Brown Chiefs
Liam Coombes-Fabling Chiefs
George Dyer Chiefs
Samipeni Finau Chiefs
Luke Jacobson Chiefs
Sefo Kautai Highlanders
Taha Kemara Crusaders
Anton Lienert-Brown Chiefs
Damian McKenzie Chiefs
Laghlan McWhannell Blues
Ollie Norris Chiefs
Cortez Ratima Chiefs
Xavier Roe Chiefs
Xavier Saifoloi Crusaders
Daniel Sinkinson Hurricanes
Bailyn Sullivan Hurricanes
Samisoni Taukei'aho Chiefs
Aki Tuivailala Crusaders
Mason Tupaea Blues
Quinn Tupaea Chiefs
Gideon Wrampling Chiefs
Malachi Wrampling-Alec Chiefs

References

  1. ↑ "WRU Staff & Board". Waikato Rugby. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  2. ↑ "Waikato Rugby announces new Livingstone Waikato NPC Team Head Coach". Waikato Rugby. 1 December 2025. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  3. ↑ @waikatorugby; (26 August 2026). "Your Livingstone Waikato NPC squad to take on Otago". Retrieved 28 August 2026 – via Instagram.
  4. ↑ @waikatorugby; (7 August 2026). "Update ahead of our match against Taranaki tonight". Retrieved 7 August 2026 – via Instagram.
  5. ↑ @waikatorugby; (19 August 2026). "Your Livingstone Waikato NPC squad taking on Counties Manukau this Sunday". Retrieved 20 August 2026 – via Instagram.
  6. ↑ @waikatorugby; (29 July 2026). "The first 23 of 2026. Here's your Livingstone Waikato NPC squad to take on the @boprugby Steamers tomorrow night". Retrieved 30 July 2026 – via Instagram.
  7. ↑ @waikatorugby; (21 July 2026). "Introducing your 2026 Livingstone Waikato NPC squad". Retrieved 21 July 2026 – via Instagram.
  8. ↑ "National Provincial Championship winners, 1976–2014". Te Ara. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  9. ↑ "Mitre 10 Cup". Rugby Heartland. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  10. ↑ "ACT Brumbies announce 36-player squad for 2025 Super Rugby Pacific" (Press release). ACT Brumbies. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  11. ↑ "Gallagher Chiefs name cohesive 2025 squad" (Press release). Chiefs. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  12. ↑ "Highlanders name squad for 2025 DHL Super Rugby competition" (Press release). Highlanders. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  13. ↑ "2025 Crusaders squad announced". crusaders.co.nz (Press release). 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  14. ↑ "We're ready to take the handbrake off". Blues (Press release). 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  15. ↑ "Blues bolstered with returning players for double-header clash". Blues (Press release). 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
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