There is, as usual a steady sprinkling of Tasman Mako players among the Super Rugby Pacific 2026 squads announced late last week.
Again, the bulk of the Tasman lads will be turning out for the champion Crusaders side. Kershawl Sykes-Martin, Ethan Blackadder and Antonio Shalfoon will once more be part of Rob Penney’s imposing forward pack while skipper David Havili, Will Jordan, Macca Springer and Noah Hotham return among the backline contingent. Also back in Red and Black is Leicester Fainga’anuku, while NZ under-20 star Maloni Kunawave joins the franchise. Former Mako halfback Louie Chapman will be a Crusaders debutant while midfielder Cooper Roberts, a former Marlborough Boys’ College standout and one of the bright lights in Tasman’s disappointing 2025 NPC campaign, is named in the wider training group. Also in the wider group are Cooper Grant, Johnny Lee, Tomasi Maka and Drummond.
Mako men missing from the Crusaders squad this year are Quinten Strange, Fletcher Anderson, Mitchell Drummond and Levi Aumua.
Representing Tasman in a powerful Chiefs squad is Kyren Taumoefolau, who shifted his allegiance from Moana Pasifika.
Once again Tasman have two backline players at the Highlanders - Taine Robinson and last season’s breakout star Timoci Tavatavanawai, who is recovering from a broken arm suffered in the NPC.
Halfback Finlay Christie will be part of the Blues while Tyrel Lomax will again be a key player for the Hurricanes. Sam Matenga and Eli Oudenryn are part of the Blues’ wider training group.
Moana Pasifika will have Sam Moli and Willie Havili, both Tongan internationals, among their ranks, with Sione Havili Taletui absent this season.
Mako utility forward Lopeti Faifua will play for the Western Force.
The competition begins on Friday February 13.
