2021

Loose Forward Liam Messam sets a franchise record for most games played – 183. chiefs manawa played their inaugural game against the blues.

With Covid still in the community, Super Rugby Trans Tasman was a condensed competition between five New Zealand and five Australian sides. 

Winning four of our five matches, all against Australian opposition, the highlight of the Chiefs’ season was Sean Wainui setting a new single match record for all Super Rugby with five tries against the Waratahs. The Chiefs also won five of our eight Super Rugby Aotearoa matches, to make the final against the Crusaders, but going down 24–13 in a tight tussle. 

2021 also marked Clayton McMillian’s first season as head coach. Liam Messam made his 183rd and final appearance, the most by any Chief.

Coach: Clayton McMillan
Captain: Sam Cane & Brad Weber

Squad: N. Ah Kuoi, J. Apikotoa, K. Boshier, L. Boshier, M. Brown, S. Cane (C), S. Finau, T. Florence, B. Gatland, N. Harris, L. Jacobson, Z. Kapeli, M. Karpik, A. Lienert-Brown, E. Lindenmuth, J. Lord, J. Lowe, S. Mafileo, D. McKenzie, L. Messam, A. Moli, E. Nanai-Seturo, A. Nankivell, O. Norris, R. O’Neill, S. Parker, R. Poihipi, R. Reihana, X. Roe, A. Ross, B. Slater, P-G. Sowakula, S. Stevenson, B. Sullivan, A. Ta’avao, T. Tahuirorangi, S. Taukei’aho, V. Taulani, C. Tiatia, K. Trask, Q. Tupaea, T. Vaa’i, S. Wainui, B. Weber (C), G. Wrampling.

MANAWA

On the First of May 2021, the Blues and Chiefs women’s teams created a significant moment in the history of New Zealand Rugby when they played in the first-ever Women’s Super Rugby match. The Blues hosted the match at Eden Park in a double header before the Super Rugby Aotearoa round 10 match between the Blues and the Chiefs. 

A bright sunny evening set the scene for this Historic Match! Both teams were stacked with talent and the Chiefs side featured twelve current Black Ferns and an abundance of Farah Palmer Cup players from across the Chiefs Region. The teams played for the ‘Waipuea Women’s Rugby Taonga’ trophy. The name was derived from the words Wai (for Waikato, Waitemata water, river and sea) and Puea (for winds that carry korero – a conversation or meeting – over land, mountains and sea). The Chiefs Women blew away their Blues counterparts 39-12. Captained by Les Elder, the Chiefs emerged as deserved victors to claim this special Taonga for the first time. The historic match was televised live on Sky.

“We made a goal we didn’t just want to be in history we wanted to create it so I’m proud of the effort the girls put out there. It just shows what we could create if we were resourced.” Chiefs captain Les Elder.

Chiefs 39 (Langi Vaeinu, Kendra Reynolds, Luka Connor, Les Elder, Ngatokotoru Arakua tries; Hazel Tubic 4 cons, 2 pens)

Blues 12 (Patricia Maliepo, Sylvia Brunt tries; Maleipo con) HT: 18-12

Coach: Chad Shepherd

Captain: Les Elder

Squad: Angel Mulu, Luka Connor, Tanya Kalounivale, Kelsie Wills, Chyna Hohepa, Kendra Reynolds, Les Elder (c), Kennedy Simon, Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, Hazel Tubic, Langi Veainu, Chelsea Alley (vc), Ngatokotoru Arakua, Kelsey Teneti, Renee Holmes, Grace Houpapa-Barrett, Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, Leilani Perese, Harono Te Iringa, Pia Tapsell, Ariana Bayler, Shyanne Thompson, Iritana Hohaia