the chiefs rugby club, in partnership with classic sportswear, has unveiled its unique 2026 collection honouring 30 years of chiefs rugby
The range was unveiled at a special event held at the University of Waikato with amongst players, coaches, staff and partners. The new kit celebrates 30 years of Chiefs rugby and the deep connection between the club, it’s people and its whenua.
our jerseys. our legacy.
The 2026 Chiefs collection has been designed by long-time designer Dave Burke, who has been working with the Club since 2014. The range was created in collaboration with Classic Sportswear, Chiefs Cultural Advisor Ora Kihi, and former Head Coach Clayton McMillan to honour the Club’s legacy and celebrate its 30-year journey.
Each jersey carries whakapapa, a woven narrative of pride, identity, and power. The designs speak to key values at the heart of the Chiefs Rugby Club, including kotahitanga (unity and collective strength), kaitiakitanga (guardianship and protection), poutokomanawa (the heart that connects earth and sky), tūrangawaewae (a place to stand) and whānaungatanga (family and belonging).
This collection acknowledges those who started the journey and those who now navigate its next direction. Every line, pattern and motif is intentional, recognising the people, places, and stories that have shaped Chiefs Rugby.
Waikato taniwharau, he piko, he taniwha, he piko, he taniwha.
Waikato of one hundred Chiefs, at every bend of the river a Chief.
Takimano and ahikaa.
The 2026 home jersey, TAKIMANO, represents being “united as one” – acknowledging that as Chiefs we are all caretakers of this kaupapa: fans, staff, players, and whānau together.
The away jersey, AHIKAA, speaks to the light in the dark – the flames of the home fires that guide our people and show the way back home.
Across the collection, awa (sacred waterways) flow through the designs to represent the connection between regions, players and fans, carrying mana from one season to the next. The taniwha, long a powerful symbol for the Chiefs, appears as a guardian presence – a reminder of the fire in the belly and the inner warrior every time the jersey is worn.
Both Takimano and Ahikaa share additional design elements:
Te Whare (Our House) – Sitting at the front of the jersey, the wharenui anchors our identity and carries the legacy of those who shaped us. Our home, our foundation. It’s where we find our stories, our people and our identity, a space filled with wairua
Te Manawa (The Beating Heart)
At the core of the design the heart symbolises care for the club and guardianship of it’s legacy. It reminds the wearer to uphold the values, standards and spirit of those who came before. It shows the passion for the game that we all share.
“Kei ngā topito o te ao, oku nei hoa”—“My friends
will come from all four corners of the world to
build our house.”
Huia (Sacred Feathers)
Among Māori the feathers of the Huia were sacred and revered as a treasured taona worn by great Chiefs. They were a significant symbol of leadership, prestige and mana. Sitting on the shoulder, they represent 30 years of guardianship, the caretakers of our jersey.
Mate atu he Toa, ara mai rā he Toa.
When one has moved on, another shall rise.
Rua Taniwha
The 2026 training jersey, RUA TANIWHA, represents the taniwha den – the place where the Chiefs prepare their home. It celebrates the unseen work that happens away from the spotlight: the preparation, connection and mahi that allow the team to perform when it matters most.
Design elements on the training jersey tell stories of:
The kō, symbolising cultivation and the hard work required to grow and prepare.
The kete, representing shared wisdom and the idea that with your food basket and my food basket, the people will thrive.
Wai hononga, the connecting waterways that link our communities.
The taniwha within, sitting at the core as a symbol of courage and guardianship.
Patterns such as poutama, mangopare and niho taniwha reinforce key themes of aspiration, resilience, strength and unity – values that are central to Chiefs Rugby.
A collection that connects our provinces
The collection also acknowledges the Chiefs’ wider whānau across its provincial partners – Waikato, Taranaki, Bay of Plenty, Thames Valley, East Coast (Ngāti Porou), Counties Manukau, and King Country. Throughout the jerseys, these relationships are represented through flowing waterways and colour details, symbolising that all these regions stand together every time a Chiefs jersey is pulled on.
More to come….
Guests at the launch were also treated to a special first look at the limited-edition Chiefs heritage jersey, which will be released to the public in January 2026. The heritage design draws on 30 years of Chiefs history and celebrates the players, coaches, staff, whānau and supporters who have carried the jersey since 1996.
Whether you’re in the stands at FMG Stadium Waikato, watching from across Chiefs Country, or backing the team from overseas, this collection is designed to be worn with pride – a visible sign of our shared legacy and our kotahitanga as Chiefs whānau.
Explore the 2026 range and shop the new merch today via the Chiefs online store.
2026 Members can access the store at 10am, with the general public at 6pm.
