Taranaki (National Provincial Championship)

For the Taranaki Rugby governing body, see Taranaki Rugby Football Union.

Rugby team

Taranaki

Official TRFU emblem

Union| Taranaki Rugby Football Union
Nickname(s)| Bulls
Founded| 1885; 139 years ago (1885)
Location| Westown, New Plymouth, New Zealand
Ground(s)| Yarrow Stadium (Capacity: 30,000)
CEO| Mike Sandle[1]
Coach(es)| Neil Barnes
Captain(s)| Kaylum Boshier
Most appearances| Kieran Crowley (199)
Top scorer| Kieran Crowley (1,723)
Most tries| Kieran Crowley (64)
League(s)| Bunnings NPC
2023| 2nd
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

[edit]

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

Taranaki Bulls squad

Props

* Michael Bent
* Donald Brighouse
* Mitch O'Neill ST [a]
* Reuben O'Neill
* Jared Proffit
* Kyle Stewart

Hookers

* Ricky Riccitelli
* Mills Sanerivi
* Bradley Slater

Locks

* Scott Barrett
* Tom Franklin REP [b]
* Scott Jury
* Josh Lord
* Jesse Parete
* Fiti Sa
* Tupou Vaa'i

Loose forwards

* Heiden Bedwell-Curtis
* Kaylum Boshier (c)
* Hemopo Cunningham
* Tom Florence
* Michael Loft
* Arese Poliko ST [a]
* Pita Gus Sowakula

Half-backs (scrum-halves)

* Liam Blyde
* Logan Crowley
* Adam Lennox

First five-eighths (fly-halves)

* Beauden Barrett
* Josh Jacomb
* Jayson Potroz

Midfielders (centres)

* Jordie Barrett
* Meihana Grindlay
* Brad Kooman REP [c]
* Brayton Northcott-Hill
* Daniel Rona
* Teihorangi Walden

Outside backs

* Matt McKenzie
* Kini Naholo
* Stephen Perofeta
* Willem Ratu
* Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
* Vereniki Tikoisolomone

(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

[edit]

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

* Winners: 1976, 1982, 1983, 1984

National Provincial Championship Second Division

* Winners: 1985, 1992, 1995

ITM Cup Premiership Division

* Winners: 2014

Bunnings NPC Championship Division

* Winners: 2021

Bunnings NPC

* Winners: 2023

## Current Super Rugby players

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

* Official Site

* v
* t
* e

National Provincial Championship (2006–present)

Seasons|

* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009 (Air New Zealand Cup)
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015 (ITM Cup)
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020 (Mitre 10 Cup)
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024 (Bunnings NPC)

Unions|

* Auckland
* Bay of Plenty
* Canterbury
* Counties Manukau
* Hawke's Bay
* Manawatu
* North Harbour
* Northland
* Otago
* Southland
* Taranaki
* Tasman
* Waikato
* Wellington

Other|

* Honours
* Rugby Cup
* Ranfurly Shield
* Wooden Spoon
* Inter-union trophies
* Duane Monkley medal
* Media
* Sky Sport
* Radio Sport
* New Zealand Herald

Stadium|

* Central Energy Trust Arena
* Eden Park
* FMG Stadium Waikato
* Forsyth Barr Stadium
* Lansdowne Park
* McLean Park
* Navigation Homes Stadium
* QBE Stadium
* Orangetheory Stadium
* Pukekura Park
* Rotorua International Stadium
* Rugby Park Stadium
* Semenoff Stadium
* Sky Stadium
* Tauranga Domain
* TET Stadium & Events Centre
* Trafalgar Park

New Zealand Rugby Union

* v
* t
* e

Taranaki - current squad

Forwards|

* Scott Barrett
* Heiden Bedwell-Curtis
* Michael Bent
* Kaylum Boshier
* Donald Brighouse
* Hemopo Cunningham
* Tom Florence
* Tom Franklin
* Scott Jury
* Michael Loft
* Josh Lord
* Mitch O'Neill
* Reuben O'Neill
* Jesse Parete
* Arese Poliko
* Jared Proffit
* Ricky Riccitelli
* Fiti Sa
* Mills Sanerivi
* Bradley Slater
* Kyle Stewart
* Tupou Vaa'i

Backs|

* Jordie Barrett
* Liam Blyde
* Logan Crowley
* Meihana Grindlay
* Josh Jacomb
* Brad Kooman
* Adam Lennox
* Matt McKenzie
* Kini Naholo
* Brayton Northcott-Hill
* Stephen Perofeta
* Jayson Potroz
* Willem Ratu
* Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
* Daniel Rona
* Vereniki Tikoisolomone
* Teihorangi Walden

Head coach|

* Neil Barnes

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