Alumni Members

Rugby World Cup winner Andrew Hore departed the Hurricanes at the end of the 2011 season to play for the Highlanders in 2012. Hore returned to his original home town Dunedin after playing 106 times for the Hurricanes in a 10-season career for the franchise.

An electrifying debut Super Rugby season for the Hurricanes in 2012 was rewarded in selection for the All Blacks for the first time in June against Ireland. Barrett's Test debut was a memorable one; the first five-eighth coming off the bench after 24 minutes and helping the All Blacks to a record 60-0 win over the Irish.

He went on to play five Tests in 2012, making his starting debut against Italy in Rome in November.

An all-action loose forward, Chris Masoe brings power, pace and a huge work ethic to any side he plays for. Masoe announced his arrival as a world-class openside flanker when he scored a match-winning try in the Hurricanes’ 26-24 victory over the Waratahs in 2005. Coming on as a replacement, Masoe had a blinder and it was his efforts that helped win the day.

Christian Cullen was widely considered the best fullback of modern rugby and was arguably the finest broken field runner to have graced the game. His records speak volumes. His 58 tests, including 51 consecutively, make him the most capped All Black fullback and he scored 46 test rugby tries, only surpassed by Doug Howlett. He scored in excess of 150 first class tries while in New Zealand and is still the third highest tryscorer in the history of Super rugby with 56 tries behind only Joe Roff and Howlett. He remains the all-time leading try scorer in the Tri-Nations series with 16.

Dane Coles's elevation to the All Blacks for their 2012 end of year tour to Europe was richly deserved for the dynamic hooker from the Kapiti Coast. Coles came off the bench to make his Test debut in New Zealand's 51-22 against Edinburgh against Scotland. He went on to play in Test wins against Italy and Wales.

Injuries curtailed his 2013 Super Rugby season for the Hurricanes, a year in which he surpassed 50 caps for the franchise.

In early 2005 David Holwell gave up an Irish rugby contract to return home to his original rugby roots and his family farm in Northland.

Holwell had left New Zealand in September 2004 for Leinster, where he quickly established himself as one of the premier first five-eighths in European rugby.

Arriving at Leinster he immediately sparked their attack, leading them into the European playoffs.

Dion Waller gave terrific service to the Hurricanes and New Zealand rugby over an eight-year career between 1995-2002, spanning 180 first class games. Waller played for the Hurricanes continuously between 1996-2002, New Zealand Maori between 1996-2001, and made the All Blacks at the end of 2001.

Then 38-year old Filogia Ian Tiatia was just one of two 1996 original Hurricanes (along with Tana Umaga) who was still playing professional rugby at the end of the 2010 Rebel Sport Super 14 season.

But 15 years after his professional career began, Tiatia played his last and 99^th game for his adopted Welsh club the Ospreys in their 17-12 Magners League final win over Leinster at the end of May.

A feature of the Hurricanes front row from 1997-2002, Slater overcame a bad compound fracture of his leg playing for Taranaki against Bay of Plenty in 1995, which could have easily ended his career. But the average Taranaki farmer is made of stern stuff and Slater recovered to eventually play 55 games for the Hurricanes, including two seasons as captain in 2001 and 2002.

Hosea Gear completed his eighth season with the Hurricanes in 2011, after shifting to the capital to join the Hurricanes and then the Wellington Lions from North Harbour as a 19-year old at the end of 2004. At the end of 2011, Gear left the Hurricanes for the Highlanders.

Hard-working lock and specialist set piece exponent James Broadhurst has become a valuable member of any side he represents, renowned for his high workrate, athleticism and experience.

Broadhurst played his first Super Rugby season in 2010 after previously being a member of the Crusaders Wider Training Group.

Prior to 2010 he spent four years in Canterbury, but returned to the Hurricanes region where he attended secondary school in Gisborne and represented Poverty Bay Secondary Schools. He grew up in Northland and as represented New Zealand at U19 and U21 levels.

When reliable midfield back Jason O’Halloran took the field for his one and only All Black appearance as a replacement against Italy in 2000 it capped off a memorable Hurricanes and Wellington career.

Despite being an insulin-dependent diabetic, O'Halloran performed with distinction in 95 games for Wellington between 1993 and 2001 and in 54 games for the Hurricanes between 1996-2001.

Energetic halfback Jason Spice was a consistent feature of the Hurricanes following his arrival from the Waikato in 1999 until his departure for a second career with the Ospreys in Wales in 2004.

Remembered for his sniping runs and fearless defence, Spice formed a popular inside back partnership with first five-eighth David Holwell for both the Hurricanes and the Vodafone Wellington Lions.

Jerry Collins announced his retirement from New Zealand professional rugby following the 2008 Super 14, after equalling Christian Cullen's record of 85 matches for the Hurricanes, behind Tana Umaga's 122 caps, and as the most capped Hurricanes forward. In November 2008 he was playing for the Umaga-coached French Top 14 side Toulon.

Luke Andrews came up to play for Wellington and the Hurricanes from Southland via Otago in 2002 after an impressive 2001 NPC with Southland. His versatility and big-game temperament ensured his was a successful stay in the capital.

Comfortable as either a lock or blindside flanker, Andrews was the perfect player to have on hand for any situation. If the going got tough he could dig deep and graft it out, and if it opened up he was just as valuable as a talented ball carrier and sound defender.

Ma’a Nonu ended his New Zealand rugby career in 2015 for a stint in France as a two-time Rugby World Cup winner and the recipient of the 2015 Kelvin R Tremain NZ Rugby Player of the Year award.

Nonu ended the 2011 Super Rugby season on 110 caps for the Hurricanes and in red hot form, having helped the All Blacks to their second Rugby World Cup victory. Nonu cemented himself as amongst the best midfielders in the world during the tournament in a big year for him ahead of his departure from the Hurricanes to the Blues for 2012.

Norm Hewitt was a hardworking and dynamic hooker who played 296 representative matches during a memorable first class career spanning 13 seasons.

The durable Paul Tito was a regular feature of Hurricanes packs over eight Super rugby campaigns, reaching 84 matches by the close of the 2007 season, the most by a Hurricanes forward and the third most appearances behind Tana Umaga and Christian Cullen.

In that time the popular Taranaki lock became a crucial part of the side and in his final Hurricanes season started in every match. One of the best lineout forwards in the country, he was always wholly committed to the cause – when the going got tough, Tito got going.

The Hurricanes celebrated the career of one of their champion players in their penultimate round-robin match of the 2010 Rebel Sport Super 14 season when No. 8 Rodney So’oialo played his 100th game in round 13 against the Reds.

The dedicated, hard working and popular So’oilao reached the landmark personal milestone on his home ground at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.

He became the second Hurricanes player and first forward to reach a century of appearances for the franchise, after founding Hurricanes player and midfield back and winger Tana Umaga (122 caps, 1996-2007).

Mr. Reliable Shannon Paku retired from the Hurricanes and Wellington rugby to take up an overseas contract at French Top 14 side Montauban following the 2008 Super 14 and his international calendar with the New Zealand Maori side.

A fleet-footed attacking outside back and dependable defender, Paku deservedly reached the milestone of 50 appearances for the Hurricanes in 2008 after debuting in 2002.

In May 2007 Jonathan Falefasa ‘Tana’ Umaga brought the curtain down on an illustrious Hurricanes career, spanning the entire Super rugby competition and 122 appearances.

Born in Lower Hutt to Samoan parents, Umaga originally played rugby league, making the Junior Kiwis in 1991-1992. In 1992 aged 18 he trialled with NRL side the Newcastle Knights but returned to New Zealand to pursue rugby.

Prop Tim Fairbrother handed in his New Zealand contract and departed for Perth and the Western Force at the conclusion of the 2009 Super 14 season, his seventh consecutive year as a Hurricane. Fairbrother made 12 appearances for the Force in his inaugural season there in 2010.

Previously, Fairbrother suffered a cruel blow when a shoulder injury forced him to miss almost the entire 2007 Super 14 season with the Hurricanes. Fairbrother dislocated his left shoulder in the opening round of the competition - after undergoing surgery on the same shoulder in 2006.