The Gallagher Chiefs are nearing their Super Rugby Pacific round one clash with the Blues on February 15 at Eden Park, kicking off their 2025 season.
Yarrow Stadium in Taranaki hosted their first pre-season match last weekend. The Chiefs walked away with a 43-40 victory against the Hurricanes.
Their second and final pre-season match will be at Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe on Saturday. They will face Moana Pasifika at 2pm.
A livestream will be available via chiefspass.com.
A strong Chiefs squad has been preparing in recent weeks and there’s a sprinkling of Thames Valley connections within the team.
Pāuanui’s Xavier Roe is once again in the halfback stocks alongside the world class Cortez Ratima and Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi.
Roe is also the brother-in-law of Thames Valley Swamp Fox 1068 and fellow halfback Richard Judd.
All Blacks lock Josh Lord is eager for the season after several injuries in past years.
Lord said his body is feeling good and he’s ready for some game time.
“I’m just looking forward to playing a bit of footy again. I’ve had a few injuries in the last few years. So touch wood I can get through a few games, play a few in a row, and hopefully look forward to competing for the title,” Lord said.
“The body is feeling good. I came in a little bit earlier just to keep the body moving and not slowing down. My mind is feeling pretty good too. I had a nice break, so I’m freshened up.”
He also has a thin connection to the valley.
Although a product of the King Country, his father Matt’s rugby journey started with Thames Valley.
Matt became the 863rd Thames Valley representative at Whangamatā on August 9, 1997, against Counties Manukau.
A flanker and lock out of the Thames Rugby & Sports Club, he represented the Swamp Foxes on 10 occasions across two seasons.
He then moved on to a higher division gig with North Harbour which led to a sole appearance off the bench for Blues against the Crusaders in 2002.
Despite the appearance for the Auckland-based franchise, Lord assures that his dad is a Chiefs supporter through and through.
“Dad was born in Taumarunui, but he went to high school at St Patrick’s College, Silverstream in Wellington. After that, he went to have a crack at footy up in Thames Valley. He worked at a meat works there with one of my uncles I believe,” Lord said.
“Then he ended up getting the gig at Harbour. He was there for a few years and then he ended up in England.
“I know he always mentioned how enjoyable Heartland rugby was.
“Especially club rugby – just the social aspect of playing footy with some of your best mates. You go out there Tuesday, Thursday train and then Saturday you go out there and play a game you love.”
Both Roe and Lord attended Hamilton Boys’ High School and have become stalwarts of Waikato and Taranaki rugby respectively.
Although the likes of 2024 All Blacks Player of the Year Wallace Sititi is out due to injury, the Chiefs squad contains plenty of depth heading into the season.
Key losses are hooker Tyrone Thompson to the Newcastle Knights (NRL) and Josh Ioane to Connacht in Ireland.
All Blacks Sevens speedster Leroy Carter, lock Fiti Sa and rampaging loose forward Malachi Wrampling could potentially make their Super Rugby Pacific débuts this season.
Forwards Jahrome Brown (Brumbies) and Brodie McAlister (Crusaders) will look to make their first appearances for the franchise after moving from elsewhere.
The wider training squad contains solid backup too.
Former Blues lock James Thompson and five-cap 2023-2024 Chiefs winger Peniasi Malimali are among the crew.
Charlie Sinton, fresh out of Tauranga Boys’ High School, is one to watch after posting a bronco time of 4min 20sec last month.
To put that into perspective, All Blacks Beauden Barrett and Cam Roigard have the best-known bronco time of current New Zealand Super Rugby players – 4min 12sec.
In 2024, Sinton captained both the TBHS First XV and New Zealand Secondary Schools.
The Gallagher Chiefs are looking fresh and will hope to go one better in 2025, to be crowned Super Rugby Pacific champions.
