Taranaki (National Provincial Championship) Explained

Teamname:Taranaki
Union:Taranaki Rugby Football Union
Nickname:Bulls
Location:Westown, New Plymouth, New Zealand
Ground:Yarrow Stadium
Capacity:30,000
Ceo:Mike Sandle[1]
Coach:Neil Barnes
Captain:Kaylum Boshier
Appearances:Kieran Crowley (199)
Top Scorer:Kieran Crowley (1,723)
Most Tries:Kieran Crowley (64)
League:Bunnings NPC
Season:2023
Position:2nd
Champions
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Url:https://www.trfu.co.nz/

Taranaki (often known as the Taranaki Bulls) are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in New Plymouth, New Zealand. The union was originally established in 1889, with the National Provincial Championship established in 1976. They now play in the reformed National Provincial Championship competition. They play their home games at TET Stadium & Events Centre in Inglewood and Yarrow Stadium in the Taranaki region. The team is affiliated with the Chiefs Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are amber and black.

Current squad

The Taranaki Bulls squad for the 2023 Bunnings NPC is:[2]

Taranaki Bulls squad
Props

Hookers

Locks

Loose forwards

Half-backs (scrum-halves)

First five-eighths (fly-halves)

Midfielders (centres)

Outside backs

(c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes player is internationally capped, REP denotes a replacement squad player. ST denotes a short-term squad member.

Honours

Taranaki have been overall Champions twice, winning the title in 2014 and 2023. Their full list of honours include:[3] [4]

National Provincial Championship Second Division North Island
National Provincial Championship Second Division
ITM Cup Premiership Division
Bunnings NPC Championship Division
Bunnings NPC

Current Super Rugby players

Players named in the 2023 Taranaki Bulls squad, who also earned contracts or were named in a squad for any side participating in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season.[5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

PlayerTeam
Beauden Barrett
Jordie Barrett
Scott Barrett
Kaylum Boshier
Josh Lord
Kini Naholo
Reuben O'Neill
Stephen Perofeta
Jared Proffit
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Ricky Riccitelli
Daniel Rona
Bradley Slater
Tupou Vaa'i

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: New Taranaki Rugby boss Mike Sandle happy to be coming home . 9 March 2022. 9 March 2022 .
  2. Web site: Just in case you missed the series launch Here is our full Yarrows Taranaki Bulls squad for the 2023 @bunningsnpc . @yarrowstaranakibulls . 3 July 2023 . 13 August 2023.
  3. Web site: National Provincial Championship winners, 1976–2014. Te Ara. 17 September 2020.
  4. Web site: Mitre 10 Cup. Rugby Heartland. 17 September 2020.
  5. 2023 Squad announced . Blues . 26 October 2022 . 26 October 2022.
  6. Hurricanes 2023 squad announced . Hurricanes . 26 October 2022 . 26 October 2022.
  7. 2023 Squad announced . Crusaders . 26 October 2022 . 26 October 2022.
  8. Gallagher Chiefs squad announced for 2023 . Chiefs . 26 October 2022 . 26 October 2022.
  9. Team Naming: Whitelock Back for Waratahs Game . Crusaders . 25 May 2023 . 25 May 2023.
  10. Gallagher Chiefs motivated for first game at home . Chiefs . 8 March 2023 . 8 March 2023.