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Southland (National Provincial Championship)

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For the Southland Rugby governing body, see Rugby Southland.

Southland
Official emblem
UnionRugby Southland
Nickname(s)Stags
Founded1887; 137 years ago (1887)
LocationGeorgetown, Invercargill, New Zealand
Ground(s)Rugby Park Stadium (Capacity: 18,000)
CEOHua Tamariki[1]
Coach(es)Matt Saunders[2]
Captain(s)Josh Bekhuis
Most appearancesJason Rutledge (143)
Top scorerSimon Culhane (980)
Most triesBruce Pascoe (46)
League(s)Bunnings NPC
202412th
Team kit
Official website
www.rugbysouthland.co.nz

Southland (often known as the Southland Stags) are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Invercargill, New Zealand. The union was originally established in 1887, with the National Provincial Championship established in 1976. They now play in the reformed National Provincial Championship competition. They play their home games at Rugby Park Stadium in Invercargill in the Southland region. The team is affiliated with the Highlanders Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are maroon and gold.

Current squad

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The Southland Stags squad for the 2024 Bunnings NPC is:[3]

Southland Stags 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 internationally capped.
  • INJ denotes a player ruled out for the season with injury.
  • REP denotes a replacement squad player.
  1. ^ Paranihi wasn't named in the original Southland squad, but was announced in the side for Round 3.[4]
  2. ^ Maiava wasn't named in the original Southland squad, but was announced as a late inclusion in the side for Round 2.[5]
  3. ^ Harvey wasn't named in the original Southland squad, but was announced in the side for Round 7.[6]

Honours

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Southland have never been overall Champions. Their full list of honours, though, include:[7][8]

National Provincial Championship Second Division South Island
  • Winners: 1982, 1984
National Provincial Championship Second Division
  • Winners: 1989, 1994, 1996

Current Super Rugby players

[edit]

Players named in the 2023 Southland Stags squad, who also earned contracts or were named in a squad for any side participating in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season.[9][10][11][12]

Player Team
Marty Banks Highlanders
Josh Bekhuis Highlanders
Ethan de Groot Highlanders
Scott Gregory Highlanders
Mike McKee Moana Pasifika
Jack Taylor Highlanders
Matt Whaanga Highlanders

References

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  1. ^ "State Of The Union – Chairman Murray Brown". Rugby Southland. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  2. ^ "SBS Bank Southland Stags coaching lineup confirmed for 2024 season". Rugby Southland (Press release). 4 April 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  3. ^ "SBS Bank Southland Stags Squad Named for 2024 Bunnings NPC". Rugby Southland. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  4. ^ @southlandstags (22 August 2024). "Here we have it ... Your SBS Bank Southland Stags are running out on home turf this weekend against Taranaki!". Retrieved 30 August 2024 – via Instagram.
  5. ^ "Stags fall short in pursuit of coveted Ranfurly Shield". stuff.co.nz. 18 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Bekhuis to captain Stags against Auckland". Stuff. 21 September 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  7. ^ "National Provincial Championship winners, 1976–2014". Te Ara. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Mitre 10 Cup". Rugby Heartland. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  9. ^ "Highlanders 2023 Squad Announcement" (Press release). Highlanders. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  10. ^ "Highlanders Named to Play Force in Invercargill" (Press release). Highlanders. 17 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  11. ^ "Highlanders named to play Fijian Drua" (Press release). Highlanders. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  12. ^ "Match Centre - Super Rugby - Highlanders vs. Reds". SANZAAR. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
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