The Chiefs or the Waikato Chiefs is a professional rugby union team which competes in Super Rugby every year. They are officially known as Gallagher Chiefs after the sponsor's name. The Waikato Chiefs team was founded back in 1996 with a background from Hamilton, New Zealand. The team name Waikato is after their home ground name “Waikato Stadium”, it has a seating capacity of 26,000 people. The loose forward of the team Sam Cane and the lock position Brodie Retallick are the Captains of the team. Liam Justin Messam is the Most caps player with 182 total. Damian McKenzie with 1062 is the top scorer for the team. Clayton McMillan is the head coach of the rugby union.
Team performance record last year
Chiefs Super Rugby Past Title Wins |
||
---|---|---|
Year |
Place |
Win/Lose for Title |
2023 |
2nd |
Lost final to Crusaders |
2022 |
3rd |
Lost semifinal to Crusaders |
2021 |
2nd |
Lost final to Crusaders |
2020 |
5th |
No playoffs, round-robin only |
2020 |
5th |
Season cancelled due to COVID-19 |
2019 |
7th |
Lost quarterfinal to Jaguares |
2018 |
5th |
Lost quarterfinal to Hurricanes |
2017 |
6th |
Lost semifinal to Crusaders |
2016 |
6th |
Lost semifinal to Hurricanes |
2015 |
5th |
Lost qualifier to Highlanders |
2014 |
5th |
Lost qualifier to Brumbies |
2013 |
1st |
Defeated Brumbies in the final |
2012 |
1st |
Defeated Sharks in final |
2009 |
2nd |
Lost the final to the Bulls |
2004 |
4th |
Lost semi-final to Brumbies |
In the last 7 years, they reached the quarter-finals almost every time and twice they won the title of Super Rugby. They reached the finals three times in the history of the game and won 2 times, losing the final in 2009.
The Chiefs Rugby Union players for the upcoming season of 2024:
Props | Hookers | Locks | Loose forwards | Halfbacks | Five-eighths | Centres | Outside backs |
Sione Ahio | Bradley Slater | Naitoa Ah Kuoi | Kaylum Boshier | Cortez Ratima | Josh Ioane | Anton Lienert-Brown | Liam Coombes-Fabling |
George Dyer | Samisoni Taukei'aho | Josh Lord | Samipeni Finau | Xavier Roe | Damian McKenzie | Rameka Poihipi | Peniasi Malimali |
Kauvaka Kaivelata | Tyrone Thompson | Manaaki Selby-Rickit | Tom Florence | Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi | Kaleb Trask | Daniel Rona | Etienne Nanai-Seturo |
Ollie Norris | Jimmy Tupou | Luke Jacobson | Quinn Tupaea | Emoni Narawa | |||
Reuben O'Neill | Tupou Vaa'i | Simon Parker | Gideon Wrampling | Shaun Stevenson | |||
Jared Proffit | Wallace Sititi | ||||||
Aidan Ross | Malachi Wrampling-Alec |
The upcoming season of Super Rugby is near, fans get ready to witness Chiefs Super Rugby 2024 matches as its schedule is announced by SANZAAR.
Date & Month | Against | GMT | Place |
23 Feb | VS Crusaders | 11:05 | FMG Stadium Waikato |
03 Mar | VS Brumbies | 08:00 | AAMI Park |
09 Mar | VS Reds | 13:35 | Suncorp Stadium |
16 Mar | VS Fijian Drua | 11:05 | FMG Stadium Waikato |
23 Mar | VS Highlanders | 08:35 | FMG Stadium Waikato |
29 Mar | VS Crusaders | 11:05 | Apollo Projects Stadium |
06 Apr | VS Moana Pasifika | 12:05 | FMG Stadium Waikato |
13 Apr | VS Hurricanes | 12:05 | Sky Stadium |
26 Apr | VS NSW Waratahs | 14:35 | Allianz Stadium |
04 May | VS Western Force | 12:05 | FMG Stadium Waikato |
10 May | VS Moana Pasifika | 12:05 | Go Media Stadium |
17 May | VS Melbourne Rebels | 14:35 | AAMI Park |
24 May | VS Hurricanes | 12:05 | FMG Stadium Waikato |
01 Jun | VS Blues | 12:05 | TBD |