About Chiefs Rugby Club | Gallagher Chiefs & Chiefs Manawa

OUR STORY

chiefs rugby club

The Chiefs Rugby Club was founded in 1996 for the inaugural Super 12 season. The team, initially called the Waikato Chiefs, was one of the five New Zealand professional rugby unions (alongside the Hurricanes, Crusaders, Blues and Highlanders) who joined the competition and remain part of it still today.  

Based in Hamilton, New Zealand the Chiefs’ primary home ground is FMG Stadium Waikato which is central to the six provincial unions that make up Chiefs Country. Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki and Counties Manukau are regions that play in the National Provincial Championship (NPC), with Thames Valley and King Country competing in the Heartland Championship.

The Chiefs field three main teams now, the Gallagher Chiefs who compete in DHL Super Rugby Pacific, the Chiefs Manawa who compete in Sky Super Rugby Aupiki and their age-group team the University of Waikato Chiefs U20s.

The Chiefs teams play in red, black and yellow colours with jerseys in recent years having strong Māori cultural elements to tie the club to its region. Māori culture, values and traditions are also a cornerstone of the club’s culture, implemented during Dave Rennie’s time as head coach and continued by current head coach Jono Gibbes.

hītori & rārangi wā

history & timeline

1996

Chiefs founded for the inaugural Super 12 season. Known as the Waikato Chiefs in the early years

2002

Winger Roger Randle sets the franchise record for most tries in a season (12) from 11 appearances.

2004

Chiefs qualify for a Super Rugby semi-final for the first time

2009

Become finalists for the first time but lose to the Bulls 61-17

2012

Dave Rennie was named as head coach and Wayne Smith as assistant coach
Chiefs claimed their first title by beating the Sharks 37-6 at home.

2013

Chiefs became the fourth team ever to win back-to-back titles
Win the BNZ Cup for being the New Zealand team with the best record in intra-conference matches.
Taranaki shifts affiliation from Hurricanes to join Chiefs

2016

First NZ Super Rugby franchise to defeat an international team when they defeat Wales 40-7.
Gallagher comes on board as principal partner, naming rights sponsor and front-of-jersey sponsor of the Chiefs

2019

Wales head coach Warren Gatland named as Gallagher Chiefs head coach.
Chiefs break record for most consecutive playoff appearances by a Super Rugby team (8)

2021

Loose Forward Liam Messam sets the franchise record for most games played (183)
Clayton McMillan named as Interim Head Coach for Gallagher Chiefs. The team went on to face Crusaders for the Super Rugby Aotearoa final.
Chiefs Manawa play first women’s Super Rugby match against the Blues at Eden Park

2022

Super Rugby Aupiki competition was established with Chiefs Manawa taking out the inaugural title under coach Allan Bunting going unbeaten all season.

2023

Gallagher Chiefs win a franchise record 10 games in a row, one more than the 2012 season 9 games in a row.
Gallagher Chiefs host Super Rugby Pacific final for the first time since 2013 at FMG Stadium Waikato
All Black and Gallagher Chiefs captain Sam Cane celebrates his 150th game at the Super Rugby Pacific final becoming the second most capped Chief of all time.
Chiefs Manawa continued their unbeaten streak until the Super Rugby Aupiki final against Matatū where they were defeated 33-31.

2024

Gallagher Chiefs set franchise record for most tries in a game (10) and biggest winning margin (68-12) against Moana Pasifika at FMG Stadium Waikato

Matapono & uara

mission & VALUES

Winning with purpose

Kaitiakitanga

Guardianship and Protection

We are committed to protecting and enhancing the people, places, and traditions that shape our identity.

At Chiefs Rugby we act with responsibility and care – whether it’s fostering sustainable practices, nurturing our communities, or honouring the legacy of our region. By embracing kaitiakitanga, we ensure that our actions today create a positive impact for future generations, both on and off the field.

Whanaungatanga

We build strong relationships, we appreciate and value people

Fostering relationships and a sense of belonging is at the heart of the club.

We are dedicated to creating meaningful connections – our team, our fans, our sponsors and across our communities. Collaboration, inclusivity, and mutual support are integral to the way we operate and by cultivating a spirit of unity, we strengthen the bonds that make us more than just a club – we are a whānau.

Rangatiratanga

Leading with integrity

We are inspired to lead with integrity, uphold our values and empower those around us.

Ranagtiratanga challenges us to set and maintain the highest of standard, take ownership of our actions and create opportunities for growth and innovation, on and off the field.

Home Jersey
Away Jersey
Training Jersey
Rau Huia

our jersey story

Takimano home

United as one Takimano will be worn by both the Gallagher Chiefs and Chiefs Manawa teams.  

Every element of our 30th year home jersey has been designed with care and woven with whakapapa – a narrative of pride, identity, and power.

Awa (sacred waterways) flow through the design to represent the connection between regions, players and fans each carrying mana from one season to the next.  

The taniwha, appears across the back as a guardian presence – a reminder of the warrior that emerges every time the jersey is worn.

Waikato taniwharau, he piko, he taniwha, he piko, he taniwha. Waikato of one hundred Chiefs at every bend (of the river) a Chief.

our jersey story

Ahikaa Away

The light in the dark, the flames of the home fires that guide us and show the way home.

Incorporating the same design as Takimano, but in white – our away jersey is the light that reminds and guides us home. Sitting at the front of the jersey, the wharenui anchors our identity and carries the legacy of those who shaped us.

At the core of the design the heart symbolises care for the club and guardianship of it’s legacy.

Huia birds are again represented as a symbol of leadership, presitige and mana.

Kei ngā topito o te ao, oku nei hoa. My friends will come from all four corners of the world to build our house.

our jersey story

Rua Taniwha training

This jersey showcases the care and preparation required to succeed. Embodying the work that is undergone to prepare for a not just a game, but a battle

Kō bearers (warriors of cultivation) are depicted front and center, a male and female for our Gallagher Chiefs and Chiefs Manawa. Reflecting the balance our players need on and off the field to be both Rongo (peaceful) and Tū (warlike).

The figures grasp a kete (traditional woven basket) – a symbol of wisdom, knowledge, and resilience. Rua Taniwha shows us that we all have something valuable to offer – every player, family member and fan contributes to our collective strength.

our jersey story

Rau huia jersey

A new jersey introduced for the 2025 season Rau Huia is an ode to our regions.

A re-imagining of our training jersey embedding the same Taniwha depicted wrapped around our regions and holds onto the six feathers of the Huia in the centre of the jersey that symbolise the 2024 provincial unions of the Chiefs region – Waikato, Taranaki, Bay of Plenty, Thames Valley, Counties Manukau and King Country.

The jersey was worn in 2025 during Super Rugby Pacific Culture Round, and will be worn again in the Anzac day clash against the Western Force at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui