Two players will celebrate their 20th appearance in the Chiefs Manawa jersey this Friday night in Whangārei in the penultimate regular season fixture of 2026. Chyna Hohepa and Mia Anderson will both suit up in the forward pack as the run out in their milestone matches..
Hohepa, who debuted for the Chiefs in 2021, in the first ever women’s Super Rugby Aupiki game against the Blues, has been a stalwart of the club, being named in the squad every year since. Anderson, who is a Northland local from Kerikeri, got her first shot in 2022 playing 3 games for the club before taking time off to have her son Kairewa with fellow Chief Tepaea Cook-Savage. Anderson returned to the club in 2024 and since then has debuted for the Black Ferns, as well as led the Chiefs Manawa as Captain.
“Mia and Chyna are both massive parts of this squad and this club. They both lead from the front with their actions and are important to the leadership of our group as well as living the values of being a Chief day in and day out. They have huge amounts of respect from the girls, staff, and coaches and we want to go out and do them proud this Friday”. Dwayne Sweeney, Head Coach.
The Chiefs Manawa tight 5 remains the same heading into week 5 with Kaitapu, Green, and Mahutariki-Fakalelu leading from the front of the scrum, with Coates and Hohepa, in her milestone game, joining in the locking duo. Captaining in her 20th match, Anderson will pack down the back of the scrum, alongside Holten and Puni-Lio in the 6 and 7 jerseys respectively.
Dallinger will once again lead the team around the park in the 10 jersey alongside Bayler at halfback. Singh returns to the starting line-up to the left wing alongside an unchanged 12 through 15. The only 2 changes to the bench are Wharekura and Tuliau-Tua’a to the 20 and 23 jerseys rounding out the squad heading north to take on the reigning champion Blues.
“The team heading north this week is a reflection of people working hard in the background and earning their chances while also rewarding consistency. With such a short competition we are still very much in the fight, and want to make our club, and our fans proud with a performance against a very strong Blues side,” said Sweeney.
With the Super Rugby Aupiki season almost nearing its end, there is everything still to play for, with all teams still in contention for the two spots in the Grand Final on July 25th.
Starting XV
- Chyann Kaitapu
- Vici-Rose Green
- Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu
- Jade Coates
- Chyna Hohepa
- Olivia Holten
- Leata Puni-Lio
- Mia Anderson (C)
- Ariana Bayler
- Madison Flutey
- Presayus Singh
- Huia Harding
- Justine McGregor
- Louise Blyde
- Manaia Nuku
Reserves
- Nicole Purdom
- Amber Mundell
- Lonita Ngalu
- Leomie Kloppers
- Jessie Wharekura
- Holli O’Sullivan
- Shoshanah Seumanutafa
- Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a
Unavailable due to injury
- Kaea Nepia
- Kiriana Nolan
- Kennedy Tukuafu
Chiefs Manawa 2026 fixtures
Round One – Sat 13 Jun, 4:05pm
Matatū vs Chiefs Manawa, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch
Round Two – Sat 20 Jun, 2:05pm
Chiefs Manawa vs Blues, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Round Three (Super rugby aupiki ALL IN) – Sat 27 Jun, 5:05pm
Chiefs Manawa vs Hurricanes Poua, Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe
Round Four – Sat 4 Jul, 12:20pm
Chiefs Manawa vs Matatū, Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe
Round Five – Fri 10 Jul, 4:35pm
Blues vs Chiefs Manawa, Semenoff Stadium, Whangārei
Round Six – Sat 18 Jul, 12:20pm
Hurricanes Poua vs Chiefs Manawa, Maidstone Park, Upper Hutt
Super Rugby Aupiki Final – Sat 25 Jul, Kick‑off TBC
Rank 1 vs Rank 2, Venue TBC
Super Rugby Trans‑Tasman Champions Final – Sat 1 Aug, Kick‑off TBC
Super Rugby Aupiki Winner vs Super W Winner – Australian venue
How to watch: Every round of Super Rugby Aupiki, plus the Grand Final and the Trans‑Tasman Champions Final, will be broadcast live on Sky.
