An action-packed off-season of Super Rugby Pacific signings has seen Wallabies, All Blacks and Flying Fijians pulling on new club colours, Sevens stars switching formats and a new generation of rookies ready to make their mark on the competition.
All 11 Super Rugby Pacific squads are locked in and among the 428 contracted players, 14 players have transferred clubs with 37 rookies set to join Super Rugby squads for the first time.
Beauden Barrett is back from Japan to bolster the defending champion Blues, who have also picked up a pair of All Blacks Sevens stars in Che Clark and Payton Spencer, son of All Blacks great Carlos Spencer.
2023 World Rugby Player of the Year Ardie Savea will combine forces with his brother Julian at Moana Pasifika, alongside powerful Wallabies prop Pone Fa’amausili also making the move to Auckland.
The NSW Waratahs’ high-profile recruitment drive was headlined by the capture of 21-year-old Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, joined by fellow Wallabies Taniela Tupou, Andrew Kellaway, Rob Leota, Isaac Kailea and Darby Lancaster.
The Western Force secured Wallabies talent for the season ahead in the form of hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa from Montpellier, lock Darcy Swain from the ACT Brumbies and winger Dylan Pietsch from the Waratahs, while the Brumbies bagged a pair of former Rebels in centre David Feliuai and lock Tuaina Taii Tualima.
Two former Queensland Reds are on their way back to Brisbane with Wallabies lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and winger Filipo Daugunu returning to the club where they made their Super Rugby debuts.
The Highlanders have swooped on Blues duo and former New Zealand Under-20 representatives Soane Vikena and Caleb Tangitau, the latter having also played for the All Blacks Sevens.
The Fijian Drua squad for 2025 features a remarkable 33 players with Test experience for Fiji and boasts a trio of Sevens stars who claimed silver at the Paris Olympics - Ponipate Loganimasi, Iosefo Masi and Selestino Ravutaumada.
All Blacks Sevens representative Leroy Carter has joined the Chiefs, while it’s a homecoming for Waikato-born flanker Jahrome Brown as he makes the move to Hamilton from the Brumbies.
Also packing his bags and crossing the ditch is former Wallabies and Reds playmaker James O’Connor, who brings his 127 games of Super Rugby experience to the Crusaders.
Headlining the Hurricanes’ signings are All Blacks Sevens speedster Fehi Fineanganofo and Manu Samoa scrumhalf Ere Enari from Moana Pasifika.
Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley said: “Off the back of a great weekend of international rugby for Southern Hemisphere teams, the 11 squads announced today are stacked with world-class talent that is set to light up Super Rugby Pacific in 2025.
“From stunning recruitment coups such as Ardie Savea to Moana Pasifika and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to the Waratahs, to Sevens speedsters making the switch, I believe there are reasons for every fan to be excited about their team’s prospects next season.
“With the clubs now in pre-season training and Round 1 just three months away, the countdown to kick-off on 14 February is well and truly on.”
Hurricanes
Key Gains: Tom Allen, Kade Banks, Lucas Cashmore, Tjay Clark, Ereatara Enari, Fehi Fineanganofo, Zach Gallagher, Riley Hohepa, Arese Poliko, Will Tucker
Brumbies
Key gains: Tevita Alatini, David Feliuai, Lachlan Hooper, Kadin Pritchard, Tuaina Tualima, Shane Wilcox
Crusaders
Key Gains: James O’Connor, Kyle Preston, Xavier Saifoloi, Aki Tuivailala
Waratahs
Key gains: Ale Aho, James Hendren, Andrew Kellaway, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Taniela Tupou
Chiefs
Key gains: Jahrome Brown, Leroy Carter, Brodie McAlister, Fita Sa
Reds
Key gains: Josh Canham, Filipo Daugunu, Trevor King, Will McCulloch, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
Moana Pasifika
Key gains: Solomon Alaimalo, Pone Fa’amausili, Losi Filipo, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Patrick Pellegrini, Ardie Savea, Tito Tuipulotu
Fijian Drua
Key gains: Inia Tabuavou, Vuate Karawalevu, Ponipate Loganimasi
Highlanders
Key Gains: Te Kamata Howden, Sosefo Kautai, Michael Manson, Lui Naeata, Caleb Tangitau, Soane Vikena, Josh Whaanga
Western Force
Key gains: Nick Champion de Crespigny, Nic Dolly, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Mac Grealy, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Dylan Pietsch, Darcy Swain, Matt Proctor
Blues
Key Gains: Ben Ake, Cameron Christie, Che Clark, James Mullan, Reon Paul, Payton Spencer, Xavi Taele
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