Highlanders 2026

KiwiMurph

I'm not surprised about DMac - the only reason he hung around NZ following 2023 RWC was that Mo'unga went overseas

jimmyb

What may have been a good idea is that if Mounga is coming back, and wants to sign a shitty little one year deal. Why not put him in a team that actually needs a 10? Say ok mate, if you want to come back, why not head down south and help a team that desperately needs a 10. Can’t see how that wouldn’t help NZ rugby as a whole

Nepia

@jimmyb said in Highlanders 2026:

What may have been a good idea is that if Mounga is coming back, and wants to sign a shitty little one year deal. Why not put him in a team that actually needs a 10? Say ok mate, if you want to come back, why not head down south and help a team that desperately needs a 10. Can’t see how that wouldn’t help NZ rugby as a whole

I don't think you quite understand the balance here, Mo dictates ot NZR what he wants to do, not the other way round.

jimmyb

@Nepia said in Highlanders 2026:

@jimmyb said in Highlanders 2026:

What may have been a good idea is that if Mounga is coming back, and wants to sign a shitty little one year deal. Why not put him in a team that actually needs a 10? Say ok mate, if you want to come back, why not head down south and help a team that desperately needs a 10. Can’t see how that wouldn’t help NZ rugby as a whole

I don't think you quite understand the balance here, Mo dictates ot NZR what he wants to do, not the other way round.

Chairman Mounga

gt12

@KiwiMurph said in Highlanders 2026:

I'm not surprised about DMac - the only reason he hung around NZ following 2023 RWC was that Mo'unga went overseas

None of this is surprising.

I don’t mind it, if we win the WC in 2027 or at least are drawn after regular time in the final.

If we don’t get that far though, all of this shit will have devalued things for, what?

We can point to Foster’s shitty record etc etc but he was two missed kicks - basically a fluffybunny hair - away from winning the whole lot.

So, anything less than 1995 after regular time - which would still be above Foster, is the start point.

African Monkey

@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2026:

@Nogusta DMac signed a new contract until 2029.

Doesn't mean shit if he has an out clause in it, like I would suspect most AB players would these days.

Players ain't hanging around these days for the love of playing Super Rugby, and yes,our contract model in this country may be a little dated....

Bovidae

@African-Monkey said in Highlanders 2026:

@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2026:

@Nogusta DMac signed a new contract until 2029.

Doesn't mean shit if he has an out clause in it, like I would suspect most AB players would these days.

I was just answering the question, not commenting on the specifics of his contract. I agree, that the NZR contract model is too AB-centric.

upthelanders

Veveni Lasaqa’s brother very impressive on debut for BOP today. Go get him Jamie!

jimmyb

@upthelanders said in Highlanders 2026:

Veveni Lasaqa’s brother very impressive on debut for BOP today. Go get him Jamie!

Another wing? Thank the lord you’re a selector! That’s exactly what we need

upthelanders

Yes you can never have enough wings.
Nareki will pick up his annual Knee Injury.
Tangitau is injury prone.
Would be a good young talent to pick up.

Bovidae

@upthelanders said in Highlanders 2026:

Veveni Lasaqa’s brother very impressive on debut for BOP today.

I watched him play for the BOP U19s against the Waikato U19s a couple of weeks back, which tells you how young he is.

jimmyb

@upthelanders said in Highlanders 2026:

Yes you can never have enough wings.
Nareki will pick up his annual Knee Injury.
Tangitau is injury prone.
Would be a good young talent to pick up.

Yes I agree. Sorry, I was in such a foul mood after the ABs game that anything seemed like a terrible idea

upthelanders

Is the Xavier Tito-Harris signing confirmed? Or still rumours at this point..

SouthernMann

@upthelanders said in Highlanders 2026:

Is the Xavier Tito-Harris signing confirmed? Or still rumours at this point..

Only signings formally announced are the young fellas, Angus T and the Argie. Doesn't mean it hasn't been penned. But everything is a rumour until it isn't...

handa457

Correct me if I'm wrong but presently the roundup from this thread is

One more prop to be signed. No Oil so far.
Lucas Casey being chased.
Hugh Renton may not be returning
TUJ to the blues?
Felitoni Peni being chased by Highlanders
Reesjan Pasetoa being looked at
Xavier Titio Harris signing
Manson & Lowe likely not returning.
Jacomb being chased.

Do we have any updated oil on squad beyond this? Or updates on these rumours?

jimmyb

@handa457 said in Highlanders 2026:

Correct me if I'm wrong but presently the roundup from this thread is

One more prop to be signed. No Oil so far.

Lucas Casey being chased.

Hugh Renton may not be returning

TUJ to the blues?

Felitoni Peni being chased by Highlanders

Reesjan Pasetoa being looked at

Xavier Titio Harris signing

Manson & Lowe likely not returning.

Jacomb being chased.

Do we have any updated oil on squad beyond this? Or updates on these rumours?

Had to google Ressjan Pasetoa. Does he exclusively play 10? Because it looks like he doesn’t place kick?

handa457

@jimmyb plays 10/12. I'm assuming if the rumours are true, he and Peni are likely being considered for the same spot. Given Peni covers the same.

SouthernMann

I doubt Peni wants to play for the Landers if he has a choice up north. It is where his family is.

SouthernMann

Tito-Harris follows two Super teams on Insta. The Blues and the Landers.

Landers92

Got confirmation. Xavier Tito-Harris has signed with the Highlanders on a 2 year deal.

The Silver Fern

Highlanders 2026