Taranaki
Official TRFU emblem
UnionTaranaki Rugby Football Union
Nickname(s)Bulls
Founded1885; 139 years ago (1885)
LocationWestown, New Plymouth, New Zealand
Ground(s)Yarrow Stadium (Capacity: 30,000)
CEOMike Sandle[1]
Coach(es)Neil Barnes
Captain(s)Kaylum Boshier
Most appearancesKieran Crowley (199)
Top scorerKieran Crowley (1,723)
Most triesKieran Crowley (64)
League(s)Bunnings NPC
20232nd
Champions
Team kit
Official website
www.trfu.co.nz

Taranaki (often known as the Taranaki Bulls) are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in New Plymouth, New Zealand. The union was originally established in 1889, with the National Provincial Championship established in 1976. They now play in the reformed National Provincial Championship competition. They play their home games at TET Stadium & Events Centre in Inglewood and Yarrow Stadium in the Taranaki region. The team is affiliated with the Chiefs Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are amber and black.

Current squad

The Taranaki Bulls squad for the 2023 Bunnings NPC is:[2]

Taranaki Bulls squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Loose forwards

Half-backs (scrum-halves)

First five-eighths (fly-halves)

Midfielders (centres)

Outside backs

(c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes player is internationally capped, REP denotes a replacement squad player. ST denotes a short-term squad member.
  1. ^ a b Mitch O'Neill & Poliko weren't named in the original Taranaki squad, but were announced in the side for Round 1.[3]
  2. ^ Franklin wasn't named in the original Taranaki squad, but was announced as a late signing on 23 August 2023.[4]
  3. ^ Kooman wasn't named in the original Taranaki squad, but was announced in the side for Round 9.[5]

Honours

Taranaki have been overall Champions twice, winning the title in 2014 and 2023. Their full list of honours include:[6][7]

National Provincial Championship Second Division North Island
National Provincial Championship Second Division
ITM Cup Premiership Division
Bunnings NPC Championship Division
Bunnings NPC

Current Super Rugby players

Players named in the 2023 Taranaki Bulls squad, who also earned contracts or were named in a squad for any side participating in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season.[8][9][10][11][12][13]

Player Team
Beauden Barrett Blues
Jordie Barrett Hurricanes
Scott Barrett Crusaders
Kaylum Boshier Chiefs
Josh Lord Chiefs
Kini Naholo Hurricanes
Reuben O'Neill Crusaders
Stephen Perofeta Blues
Jared Proffit Chiefs
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens Blues
Ricky Riccitelli Blues
Daniel Rona Chiefs
Bradley Slater Chiefs
Pita Gus Sowakula Chiefs
Tupou Vaa'i Chiefs

References

  1. ^ "New Taranaki Rugby boss Mike Sandle happy to be coming home". 9 March 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Just in case you missed the series launch 😉 Here is our full Yarrows Taranaki Bulls squad for the 2023 @bunningsnpc". @yarrowstaranakibulls. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Bunnings NPC Round 1: Team Lists". Bunnings NPC. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  4. ^ @TaranakiRugby (23 August 2023). "Welcome to Taranaki, Mr Franklin. Lock depth replenished" (Tweet). Retrieved 23 August 2023 – via Twitter.
  5. ^ "Bunnings NPC Round 9: Team Lists". Bunnings NPC. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  6. ^ "National Provincial Championship winners, 1976–2014". Te Ara. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Mitre 10 Cup". Rugby Heartland. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  8. ^ "2023 Squad announced". Blues (Press release). 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  9. ^ "Hurricanes 2023 squad announced" (Press release). Hurricanes. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  10. ^ "2023 Squad announced" (Press release). Crusaders. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  11. ^ "Gallagher Chiefs squad announced for 2023" (Press release). Chiefs. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  12. ^ "Team Naming: Whitelock Back for Waratahs Game" (Press release). Crusaders. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  13. ^ "Gallagher Chiefs motivated for first game at home" (Press release). Chiefs. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.

External links

National Provincial Championship (2006–present)
Taranaki – current squad
Categories