Chiefs (rugby union)

The Chiefs (German chiefs; earlier Waikato Chiefs called ) are a rugby union team from the New Zealand city of Hamilton. The team plays in the international Super Rugby League. It represents the regional associations Counties Manukau RU, RU Waikato, Thames Valley RFU, RFU and King Country Bay of Plenty RU, whose catchment area includes the southern part of the conurbation and the regions Auckland Waikato and Bay of Plenty on the North Island. The home games are played at Waikato Stadium. Team colors are black, yellow and red

  • 3.1 Super 12
  • 3.2 Super 14
  • 3.3 Super Rugby

History

At the beginning of the catchment area of the franchise was put together differently. The NZRFU feared that the Blues from Auckland could due to the numerous national players in their squad dominate too much. The Chiefs therefore initially represented the regional associations Northland North Harbour RFU and RU.

In the late 1990s the number of national players dropped for the Blues, so that in 1999 an exchange was carried out at the regional associations represented. The Chiefs gave Northland and North Harbour from the Blues and received in return Counties Manukau and Thames Valley. This resulted in a geographically compact catchment area.

Since the founding of the Super 14 League in 1996 ( to 2005 Super 12 ), the Chiefs have proven to be the least successful team in New Zealand. By 2004, they were the only New Zealand team that never made it into the semi-finals. At that time they lost with the Brumbies in Canberra 37:20. In 2009, for the first time succeeded in reaching the final, where the Chiefs but the Bulls with 61:17 clearly documents. 2012 made ​​it the Chiefs again to the final and won with a 37:6 victory over the Sharks for the first time the title. They repeated this success in the 2013 season, the Chiefs beat the Brumbies in the final 27:22.

Players and coaches

Current squad

The squad for the 2012 season:

Pillar

  • Ben Afeaki
  • Shane Cleaver
  • Toby Smith
  • Ben Tameifuna
  • Sona Taumalolo

Hooker

  • Hikawera Elliot
  • Mahonri Schwalger

Second - row players

  • Craig Clarke
  • Mike Fitzgerald
  • Romana Graham
  • Brodie Retallick
  • Kane Thompson

Third - row players

  • Alex Bradley
  • Sam Cane
  • Tanerau Latimer
  • Fritz Lee
  • Liam Messam
  • Scott Waldrom

Scrum half

  • Brendon Leonard
  • Tawera Kerr - Barlow

Compound Semiconductors

  • Aaron Cruden
  • Andrew Horrell

Indoor Three Quarter

  • Richard Kahui
  • Aseli Tikoirotuma
  • Sonny Bill Williams
  • Jackson Willison

Outer three-quarters

Goalkeeper

  • Robbie Robinson
  • Tim Nanai -Williams

Current coaching staff

  • Dave Rennie ( Head coach )
  • Tim Coventry ( assistant coach )
  • Wayne Smith ( assistant coach )
  • Andrew Strawbridge (co - coach )

Well-known former players

  • Isaac Boss
  • Frank Bunce
  • Jono Gibbes
  • David Hill
  • Marty Holah
  • Glen Jackson
  • Ian Jones
  • Byron Kelleher
  • Walter Little
  • Jonah Lomu
  • Deon Muir
  • Caleb Ralph
  • Mark Ranby
  • Bruce Reihana
  • Keith Robinson
  • Mark Robinson

Former coach

  • Brad Meurant (1996 - 1997)
  • Ross Cooper (1998 - 2000)
  • John Mitchell ( 2001)
  • Kevin Greene (2002 - 2003)
  • Ian Foster (2004 - 2011)

Placements

Super 12

Super 14

Super Rugby

Pictures of Chiefs (rugby union)

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