Taranaki (National Provincial Championship)
NZ rugby union club, based in New Plymouth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Taranaki (often known as the Taranaki Bulls) are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in New Plymouth, New Zealand. They represent the Taranaki region and compete National Provincial Championship. The union was originally established in 1889, with the National Provincial Championship established in 1976.
Taranaki Bulls logo | ||
| Union | Taranaki Rugby Football Union | |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname | Bulls | |
| Founded | 1885 | |
| Location | New Plymouth, New Zealand | |
| Ground | Stadium Taranaki (Capacity: 30,000) | |
| CEO | Jimmy Fastier | |
| Coach | Jarrad Hoeata | |
| Captain | Kaylum Boshier | |
| Most appearances | Kieran Crowley (199) | |
| Top scorer | Kieran Crowley (1,723) | |
| Most tries | Kieran Crowley (64) | |
| League | National Provincial Championship | |
| 2025 | 5th Quarter-finals | |
| ||
| Official website | ||
| www | ||
The team is governed by the Taranaki Rugby Football Union, and typically play their home games at Stadium Taranaki in New Plymouth. 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 2026 Hilux NPC is:
| 2026 Taranaki squad | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Props
Hookers
Locks
|
Loose forwards
Halfbacks (scrum-halves)
First five-eighths (fly-halves)
|
Midfielders (centres)
Outside backs
|
| (c) denotes the team captain. Bold denotes internationally capped players. ST denotes a short-term signing. DEV denotes a development squad member.  denotes an injured player.
|
Honours
Taranaki have been overall Champions twice, winning the title in 2014 and 2023. They are also the current holders of the Ranfurly Shield having won the shield during the 2024 Bunnings NPC.[7] Their full list of honours include:[8][9]
- National Provincial Championship Second Division North Island
- Winners: 1976, 1982, 1983, 1984
- National Provincial Championship Second Division
- Winners: 1985, 1992, 1995
- ITM Cup Premiership Division
- Winners: 2014
- Bunnings NPC Championship Division
- Winners: 2021
- Winners: 2023
Current Super Rugby players
Players named in the 2025 Taranaki Bulls squad, who also earned contracts or were named in a squad for any side participating in the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season.[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]