Hurricanes name first team of 2026 ahead of pre-season clash against Blues

Hurricanes name first team of 2026 ahead of pre-season clash against Blues

The first Hurricanes team of the year has been named for their opening pre-season clash of 2026 ahead of Friday’s match against the Blues in Auckland.

Up to 39 Hurricanes will take to the field in the four-quarter match at Sacred Heart College, with numerous players set to feature for the club for the first time.

The starting side sees Hawke’s Bay pair Pouri Rakete-Stones and Jacob Devery join last year’s All Blacks squad member Tevita Mafileo in the front row, supported by wider training group lock Taine Roiri and Hugo Plummer in the second row.

Wider training group pair Matolu Petaia and Cooper Flanders will start at blindside flanker and openside flanker, respectively, while the uncapped Arese Poliko is at No 8.

In the halves, Manawatū duo Jordi Viljoen and Brett Cameron reprise their NPC partnership at halfback and first-five, with second-five Jone Rova partnering centre Bailyn Sullivan in the midfield.

The back three is made up by Fehi Fineanganofo at left wing, Tonga international Taniela Filimone at right wing, and reigning Surf To Peak champion Callum Harkin at fullback.

An extensive reserves list features 24 players, all of whom will get game time throughout the remaining three quarters.

Among those to start from the bench include newly-signed Japan captain Warner Dearns, recently-returned outside back Josh Moorby, and All Blacks XV contingent Xavier Numia, Siale Lauaki, and Devan Flanders.

Devery will captain the Hurricanes throughout the first two quarters, with Devan Flanders to take over the leadership duties during the second half.

"We’ve had a big pre-season, so we’re keen to get into some rugby, and we feel like the team is ready to play some live rugby against a good Blues side,” Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw said.

“We’ve enjoyed the pre-season and the integration of new players and welcoming back our All Blacks this week. The boys who have been here since the end of November and have put the work in get a real opportunity to see if they can do it under game pressure over the next two weeks.

“It’s an important part of the pre-season that we head into now leading up to our season-opener against Moana Pasifika.”

Kick-off for Friday’s match in Auckland is scheduled for 1:30pm.

HURRICANES TEAM TO PLAY BLUES

1. Pouri Rakete-Stones
2. Jacob Devery (c)
3. Tevita Mafileo
4. Taine Roiri
5. Hugo Plummer
6. Matolu Petaia
7. Cooper Flanders
8. Arese Poliko
9. Jordi Viljoen
10. Brett Cameron
11. Fehi Fineanganofo
12. Jone Rova
13. Bailyn Sullivan
14. Taniela Filimone
15. Callum Harkin

Reserves: Raymond Tuputupu, Vernon Bason, Xavier Numia, Tony Tafa, Siale Lauaki, Logan Wallace, Warner Dearns, Johnny Falloon, Sam Thomson, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Devan Flanders (c), Brad Shields, Mosese Bason, Brayden Iose, Ereatara Enari, Jai Tamati, Lucas Cashmore, Josh Gray, Riley Higgins, Josh Timu, Josh Moorby, Anaru Paenga-Morgan, Will Cole, Drew Wild