Waikato (often known as the Waikato Mooloos) are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Hamilton, New Zealand. The union was originally established in 1921, with the National Provincial Championship established in 1976. They now play in the reformed National Provincial Championship competition. They play their home games at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton in the Waikato region. The team is affiliated with the Chiefs Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are red, yellow and black.
Current squad
The Waikato Mooloos squad for the 2026 Hilux NPC season is:
Props
Hookers
Locks
Loose forwards
Halfbacks (scrum-halves)
First five-eighths (fly-halves)
Midfielders (centres)
Outside backs
Honours
Waikato have been overall Champions on three occasions, winning the titles in 1992, 2006 and 2021. Their full list of honours include:
National Provincial Championship Second Division North Island Winners: 1980
National Provincial Championship Second Division Winners: 1986
National Provincial Championship First Division Winners: 1992
Air New Zealand Cup Winners: 2006
Mitre 10 Cup Championship Division Winners: 2018
Bunnings NPC Premiership Division Winners: 2021
Current Super Rugby players Players named in the 2025 Waikato Mooloos squad, who also earned contracts or were named in a squad for any side participating in the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season.
Player Team Austin Anderson Jahrome Brown Liam Coombes-Fabling George Dyer Samipeni Finau Luke Jacobson Sefo Kautai Taha Kemara Anton Lienert-Brown Damian McKenzie Laghlan McWhannell Ollie Norris Cortez Ratima Xavier Roe Xavier Saifoloi Daniel Sinkinson Bailyn Sullivan Samisoni Taukei'aho Aki Tuivailala Mason Tupaea Quinn Tupaea Gideon Wrampling Malachi Wrampling-Alec
References
External links Official site