Jamie Joseph has continued his Highlanders revitalisation with another extremely active offseason ahead of the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season.

The marquee signings of Shannon Frizell and Josh Jacomb are complemented by six further additions, while two of New Zealand’s most intriguing prospects have been promoted to the top squad after spending 2026 in the wider training group.

Former Crusaders and Waratahs hooker Ioane Moananu joins a young hooker cohort, with Benét Kumeroa moving south from the Chiefs and Jermaine Ainsley returning after two seasons with Lyon. Ainsley is currently injured, so the club have called on Jack Sexton as injury cover. Josh Tengblad will add some additional height to the second row as he hopes to make his Super Rugby debut in 2027.

Fijian utility forward Joseva Tamani joins Frizell, adding to what is now one of the competition’s most talented loose forward units. Lucas Casey is part of the top squad from the outset in 2027 after starting his 2026 season in the wider training group and winning a promotion as an injury replacement for Fabian Holland.

Joining Holland in the rehab room after also seeing his 2026 season end before it began was promising halfback Dylan Pledger, who is expected to be one of the stars of the 2027 rookie class.

A complete overhaul in the playmaker stocks has seen Josh Jacomb, Patrick Pellegrini and Mika Muliaina land in Dunedin, bringing experience and promise alike. Former Samoa Sevens star and Moana Pasifika flyer Tuna Tuitama is the only other new face in the backline.

“The important thing for us is we’re not starting again,” said Joseph. “A lot of these young guys have now had exposure to Super Rugby, we’ve been able to keep them together, and we’ve added some quality and experience around them. The challenge now is turning that into performance.

“It has been really pleasing to see players from our environment get opportunities at the next level. Timoci (Tavatavanawai) has continued to grow as a player and leader, and Saula (Ma’u) has worked incredibly hard for his opportunity.

“Getting Shannon back and having Fabian available again is important as well. It adds experience and quality to the group and creates more competition for places. Halfback is another good example of that competition. Folau (Fakatava) has played at the highest level and we know what he can bring, while Dylan and Adam (Lennox) are young players who are continuing to develop and push hard for opportunities.

“We don’t want players waiting for their turn. We want them putting pressure on each other and making selection difficult for us. That’s how the whole group gets better.”

Sosefo Kautai, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Soane Vikena, Tai Cribb, Oliver Haig, Hugh Renton, Andrew Knewstubb, Cam Millar, Taine Robinson, Tanielu Tele’a, Jake Te Hiwi and Jonah Lowe are no longer with the squad from the 2026 group.

The 2027 Highlanders squad

PROPS
Jermaine Ainsley *
Josh Bartlett
Ethan De Groot
Benét Kumeroa
Saula Ma’u
Jack Sexton
Angus Ta’avao

HOOKERS
Henry Bell
Ioane Moananu
Jack Taylor

LOCKS
Mitch Dunshea
Fabian Holland
Tomas Lavanini
Josh Tengblad

LOOSE FORWARDS
Nikora Broughton
Lucas Casey
Shannon Frizell
Te Kamaka Howden
Veveni Lasaqa
Joseva Tamani
Will Stodart
Sean Withy

HALFBACKS
Folau Fakatava
Adam Lennox
Dylan Pledger

FIRST FIVES
Josh Jacomb
Mika Muliaina
Patrick Pellegrini

MIDFIELDERS
Meihana Grindlay
Reesjan Pasitoa
Timoci Tavatavanawai
Josh Whaanga

OUTSIDE BACKS
Finn Hurley
Jona Nareki
Stanley Solomon
Caleb Tangitau
Tuna Tuitama
Xavier Tito-Harris
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens