New All Black Ta'eiloa signs two-year deal with reigning Super Rugby champions Hurricanes

Semisi Ta’eiloa has signed a two-year contract with the Hurricanes, joining the reigning Super Rugby Pacific champions after his All Blacks debut in South Africa this year. The 22-year-old No. 8 was one of the most coveted free agents to emerge from the collapse of Moana Pasifika, with most of New Zealand’s five Super Rugby franchises understood to have approached him.

Ta’eiloa’s arrival at the Hurricanes follows Ardie Savea’s high-profile move to the Blues, making the powerful back-rower arguably the next most attractive prospect from the Moana Pasifika dispersal. Born in Auckland but raised in Southland, the Blues and Highlanders were considered natural fits, yet Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw ultimately made the winning case.

“It’s great that Semisi is joining us on a two-year deal. He’s got a lot of potential having already played for a couple of years in Super Rugby Pacific,” Laidlaw said. “The first time I saw him play was when he was in South Africa with the New Zealand U19 side three or four years ago. His destructive power both in the tackle and in the ball-carry was obvious.”

Laidlaw added that Ta’eiloa’s All Blacks call-up for the South Africa tour underlined his trajectory. “He’s only 22, and his game is going to develop and grow,” the coach said. “He’s someone who has already played Super Rugby at such a high level and played so well at such a young age, and will complement the guys we’ve already got.”

Ta’eiloa joins a loose forward unit that was historically dominant during the Hurricanes’ 2026 championship campaign. He will compete for minutes alongside No. 8s Brayden Iose and rising All Blacks star Peter Lakai, both of whom have one year remaining on their contracts. He also joins fellow Otago Boys’ High School product Oli Haig among the new back-row additions.

The move to Wellington for his third and fourth Super Rugby seasons gives Ta’eiloa the chance to work alongside former England representative Brad Shields and captain Du’Plessis Kirifi, as well as compete for silverware for the first time in his career.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent the Hurricanes,” Ta’eiloa said. “It’s exciting to be part of such a proud region, and I can’t wait to get started.”