In celebration of the National Provincial Championship’s 50^th Anniversary, we are delighted to announce the North Harbour Rugby Union squad for 2026.

 

Our Team Behind the Team have worked extensively to promote local talent to the next level. Following our 33-31 win over Hawke's Bay in last week's pre-season match, we have our second pre-season match scheduled for Friday, 24th July. The match will kickoff at 2:00pm, at Centennial Park, Wellsford.

 

Thanks go to our Principal Partners at Go Media, for their unwavering support in our purpose of “Improving Lives Through Rugby”.

 

Our 39-man squad includes 19 returning players, headlined by halfback Bryn Hall, who is the most experienced player in the team, with 99 Harbour caps. 16 players in our squad have past or present Super Rugby experience. All but two of our new players, including Moses Hafoka of East Coast Bays, have experience in our Kennards Hire Premier 1 competition. Club form was the factor across the majority of the new players' NPC contracts.

 

Commenting on his maiden selection for an NPC contract, Hafoka said, “I’m stoked to be here and enjoy the environment with the boys. I’m extremely grateful to Jimmy and the coaching staff for including me in the team”. “I’ve worked really hard over the last few years in search of a breakthrough to the NPC and also want to thank the crew over at Bays for making me feel at home before I managed to play for Harbour's Wider Training Group”.

 

Further expressing his desire to wear the jersey with pride, Hafoka stated, “it was an amazing experience to wear the Harbour jersey for the first time through King’s Birthday weekend, so I look forward to potentially wearing it again during the NPC”.

 

Tristyn Cook, returning for his third season in the loose forwards, mentioned that “I’ve really enjoyed coming back from some time off, getting stuck into the grind with some fresh faces”. “Growing up, the pathway of Westlake Boys, to Harbour and the Blues was always a dream, so it’s an honour to return for year three.”

 

“Seeing so many guys progress from club footy to the NPC keeps me on my toes and reminds me so much of where I was when I first joined the North Harbour team. It’s going to be a great time on the field this year and I can’t wait to get stuck in”, Cook further emphasises, on his eagerness to play.

 

The Squad:

 

Hookers:

• James Fairbairn (North Shore, new cap)
• Bryn Gordon (Northcote, 26)
• Moses Hafoka (East Coast Bays, new cap)

 

Props:

• Oscar Cowley-Andrea (Takapuna, new cap)
• Bradley Fifita (new cap)
• Toma Laumalili (East Coast Bays, new cap)
• Tony Tafa (Massey, 9)
• Riley Tofilau (Northcote, new cap)
• Leka Tu’ungafasi (Takapuna, 8)

 

Locks:

• Cam Christie (Silverdale, 14)
• Gus Farnan (East Coast Bays, new cap)
• James Fiebig (North Shore, 8)
• Jack Lee (Takapuna, 10)
• Taeao Pomale-Time (North Shore, new cap)

 

Loose Forwards:

• Tristyn Cook (Takapuna, 16)
• Malaesaili Elato (Kumeū, new cap)
• AJ Lemalu (East Coast Bays, new cap)
• Jed Melvin (East Coast Bays, 38)
• Motikai Murray (new cap)
• George Reeves (Takapuna, new cap)
• Dane Sawers (Silverdale, new cap)
• Wallace Sititi (Massey, 11)
• Sam Tu’itupou (Northcote, new cap)

 

Halfbacks:

• Bryn Hall (Northcote, 99)
• Nui Muriwai (Takapuna, new cap)
• Sam Wye (East Coast Bays, new cap)

 

First-Five-Eighths:

• Cam Howell (North Shore, 10)
• Oscar Koller (North Shore, 18)
• Coby Miln (Takapuna, new cap)

 

Midfielders:

• Tom Barham (Silverdale, 32)
• Leo Gordon (Northcote, new cap)
• Iosefo Namoce (Mahurangi, new cap)

 

Outside Backs:

• Kade Banks (Mahurangi, 39)
• Tima Fainga’anuku (North Shore, 14)
• Israel Leota (East Coast Bays, new cap)
• Tyler Pulini (Takapuna, new cap)
• Sofai Notoa-Tipo (Takapuna, 21)
• Hunter Rice (North Shore, 5)
• Rory Taylor (North Shore, new cap)

 

Team Behind the Team:

• Jimmy Maher (Head Coach)
• Grant Henson (Assistant Coach & Head of Pathways)
• Adam Foy (Assistant Coach)
• Glen Rowe (Assistant Coach)
• Brad Boult (Team Manager)
• Clive “Spy” Kelly (Assistant Team Manager)
• Kim Burke (NZRPA Personal Development Manager)
• Nick Marquet (Head of Strength & Conditioning)
• Pasqualle Dunn (Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach)
• Stephen Vanderpeet (Head Performance Analyst)
• Larry Lambourne (Assistant Performance Analyst)
• Dr. Jamie Jolly (Team Doctor)
• Matt Wenham (Physiotherapist)

 

Our Hilux NPC campaign will begin next week, while our first Home Game will be against our fierce rivals from Counties Manukau. Become a Maxim Hotel Season Member and get behind our team!

 

For further information or media enquiries, please contact:

 

Brad Boult

National Provincial Championship Team Manager

[email protected]

 

 

 

 

Article added: Wednesday 22 July 2026