Chiefs (Super Rugby) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Chiefs

Union	New Zealand Rugby Union
Founded	1996
Location	Hamilton, New Zealand
Region	Bay of Plenty Counties Manukau East Coast King Country Thames Valley Waikato Taranaki
Ground(s)	FMG Stadium Waikato (Capacity: 25,000)
Coach(es)	Vacant
Captain(s)	Luke Jacobson
Most caps	Liam Messam (182)
Top scorer	Damian McKenzie (1247)
League(s)	Super Rugby Pacific
2025	1st overall Playoffs: Runners-up
Team kit 2nd kit
Official website

The Chiefs are a professional rugby union team from New Zealand. They are based in Hamilton, in the Waikato region. You might also hear them called the Gallagher Chiefs because of their sponsor.

The Chiefs play in the exciting Super Rugby Pacific competition. This is a big rugby tournament for teams from New Zealand and other Pacific nations. The Chiefs are one of five New Zealand teams in this league. Their main home stadium is FMG Stadium Waikato.

The Chiefs represent seven different rugby areas in New Zealand. These include Bay of Plenty, Waikato, and Taranaki. They also have teams for different age groups and genders. There's the men's Chiefs team, the women's team called Chiefs Manawa, and a men's under-20s team.

The Chiefs wear red, black, and yellow uniforms. Their jerseys often feature cool Māori designs. This shows how important Māori culture is to the club. It's a big part of their team spirit and values.

For a long time, the Chiefs didn't make it to the semi-finals of the Super Rugby competition. But in 2004, they finally broke through! They reached the semi-finals for the first time. In 2009, they even made it to the final, but they lost to the Bulls.

Then came their big moment! In 2012, the Chiefs had an amazing season. They won their first-ever Super Rugby title, beating the Sharks 37–6. The very next year, in 2013, they did it again! They won back-to-back titles, defeating the Brumbies 27–22. This made them only the fourth team to win two titles in a row.

The Chiefs Rugby Club also started a women's team in 2021, now known as the Chiefs Manawa. This team quickly became champions! They won the first-ever Sky Super Rugby Aupiki competition in 2022. They were also runners-up in 2023 and 2024.

Team History: The Chiefs' Journey

The Chiefs team started in 1996. Back then, they were called the Waikato Chiefs. They joined the first-ever Super 12 season. In their very first year, they finished 6th, which was pretty good!

Early Years and First Semi-Finals

For a few years, the Chiefs didn't make it to the finals. But they kept trying! In 2004, they finally reached their first semi-final. This was a big step for the team. They finished fourth that year.

In 2006, the competition grew and became the Super 14. The Chiefs kept improving. In 2009, they made it all the way to the final for the first time! Even though they lost to the Bulls, it was a huge achievement.

Winning Back-to-Back Titles

The year 2012 was a game-changer for the Chiefs. They got new coaches like Dave Rennie and new star players. These changes worked wonders! The Chiefs finished at the top of their New Zealand group. They won their semi-final and then hosted the final at home.

In the 2012 final, the Chiefs played incredibly well. They beat the Sharks 37–6 to win their first-ever Super Rugby title! It was an amazing victory.

They didn't stop there! In 2013, the Chiefs won the Super Rugby title again. They defeated the Brumbies 27–22 in another home final. This made them one of the few teams to win two titles in a row. They also won the BNZ Cup, a special trophy for the best New Zealand team in their conference.

Playing International Teams

In 2016, the Chiefs made history. They played against the Wales national team and won 40-7! This was the first time a New Zealand Super Rugby team had beaten an international touring side.

In 2017, they played against the famous British and Irish Lions team. They lost that game, but it was still a great experience.

Recent Seasons and Challenges

The Chiefs continued to be a strong team, often reaching the playoffs. In 2019, they had a tough start but fought back to make the quarter-finals.

The 2020 season was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. A new local competition, Super Rugby Aotearoa, was created. The Chiefs had a tough time in this new league in 2020, not winning any games. However, they bounced back in 2021, reaching the final of Super Rugby Aotearoa.

In the 2023 season, the Chiefs were incredible! They won 13 out of 14 regular season games. They hosted the final at home, but unfortunately, they lost a close game to the Crusaders. They also reached the final in 2024, showing their consistent strength.

Where the Chiefs Play and Who Owns Them

Chiefs' Home Region

The Chiefs represent a large area of New Zealand. Since 1999, they have included rugby areas like Bay of Plenty, Counties Manukau, and Waikato.

When Super Rugby first started, the rules about which players could play for which team were a bit different. To make things fair, some regions were swapped between teams. For example, North Harbour and Northland were with the Chiefs for a few years. Then, they moved to the Blues, and the Chiefs got Counties Manukau and Thames Valley.

Later, in 2013, the Taranaki region joined the Chiefs. They used to be part of the Hurricanes team. More recently, in 2025, the East Coast region also switched to the Chiefs.

Who Owns the Chiefs?

The Chiefs team is owned by the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU). But in 2013, they changed how the team was run. They created a new company called 'Chiefs Rugby Club Limited Partnership'. This company now operates the club.

This new company is owned partly by the local rugby unions in the Chiefs' area (50%). The other half (50%) is owned by private investors. This helps bring more money and support into the sport.

Where the Chiefs Play Their Games

The Chiefs play their home games at several stadiums across their region. Their main home ground is FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton. Here are some of the stadiums they use:

Hamilton	New Plymouth	Rotorua	Pukekohe	Mount Maunganui
FMG Stadium Waikato	Yarrow Stadium	Rotorua Int'l Stadium	Navigation Homes Stadium	ASB Baypark Stadium
Capacity: 25,000	Capacity: 26,000	Capacity: 26,000	Capacity: 12,000	Capacity: 19,800

Developing Future Stars: The Chiefs' Development Team

The Chiefs also have a special "development team." This team helps train and grow new rugby talent. It's sometimes called the Chiefs Development XV or the Chiefs Taua.

This squad includes young players who are showing great promise. It has players who are already signed with the Chiefs, others in a wider training group, and top players under 20 years old. They play in different competitions to gain experience.

Chiefs' Trophies and Achievements

The Chiefs have won many awards and titles over the years. Here are some of their biggest achievements:

Super Rugby Titles

• Champions (2 times)
  • 2012, 2013
• Runners-up (3 times)
  • 2009, 2023, 2024
• Playoffs Appearances (12 times)
  • 2004, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022

Other Super Rugby Honours

• Super Rugby Aotearoa Runners-up (1 time)
  • 2021
• New Zealand Conference Champions (2 times)
  • 2012, 2013
• BNZ Cup Winner (2 times)
  • 2013, 2014

Brisbane Global Tens

• Champions (1 time)
  • 2017

Chiefs' Performance Records

Season Standings: How the Chiefs Finished Each Year

This table shows how the Chiefs have performed in the regular season each year.

Results Against Other Teams

Here's how the Chiefs have performed against different opponents in Super Rugby.

Super Rugby
Opposition	Span	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Win%
Blues	1996–2025	44	25	1	18	56.8%
Crusaders	1996–2025	51	22	0	29	43.1%
Highlanders	1996–2025	42	24	1	17	57.1%
Hurricanes	1996–2025	47	21	2	24	44.7%
Brumbies	1996–2025	32	15	1	16	46.9%
Force	2006–2025	16	14	0	2	87.5%
Rebels	2011–2024	11	10	0	1	90.9%
Reds	1996–2025	30	17	0	13	56.7%
Waratahs	1996–2025	29	15	0	14	51.7%
Bulls	1996–2019	23	13	2	8	56.5%
Cheetahs	1997–2017	11	7	3	1	63.6%
Lions	1996–2018	20	13	0	7	65.0%
Sharks	1998–2019	23	12	0	11	52.2%
Southern Kings	2013–2016	2	2	0	0	100.0%
Stormers	1996–2019	22	12	0	10	54.5%
Jaguares	2016–2019	4	2	0	2	50.0%
Sunwolves	2017–2020	4	3	0	1	75.0%
Fijian Drua	2022-2025	4	3	0	1	75.0%
Moana Pasifika	2022–2025	7	7	0	0	100.0%
Overall	1996–2025	422	237	10	175	56.2%
Updated to: 2 June 2025

Meet the Chiefs: Current Squad

Here are the players in the Chiefs squad for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season:

Chiefs' Coaches and Management

Head Coach

• Clayton McMillan

Assistant Coaches

• David Hill (assistant coach)
• Roger Randle (attack coach)
• Graham Dewes (scrum coach)
• Jono Gibbes (forwards coach)
• Marty Bourke

Management Team

• Martyn Vercoe (Team Manager)

Strength and Conditioning Team

• Christos Argus
• Scott Joblin
• Logan Posthumus

Medical Team

• Teresa Te Tamaki (physio)
• Brandon Olsen (physio)
• Andrew Tai Kie (Doctor)

Performance Analysts

• Alistair Beeton
• Jesse-James Tipene
• Sam Dobson

Past Leaders: Former Coaches and Captains

Chiefs' Coaches Through the Years

Chiefs coaches by date, matches and win percentage*

Coach	Period	G	W	D	L	%
Brad Meurant	1996-1997	&&&&&&&&&&&&&022.&&&&&022	&&&&&&&&&&&&&010.&&&&&010	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00	&&&&&&&&&&&&&012.&&&&&012	&&&&&&&&&&&&&045.45000045.45
Ross Cooper	1998–2000	&&&&&&&&&&&&&033.&&&&&033	&&&&&&&&&&&&&014.&&&&&014	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00	&&&&&&&&&&&&&019.&&&&&019	&&&&&&&&&&&&&042.42000042.42
John Mitchell	2001	&&&&&&&&&&&&&011.&&&&&011	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.&&&&&06	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.&&&&&05	&&&&&&&&&&&&&054.55000054.55
Kevin Greene	2002–2003	&&&&&&&&&&&&&022.&&&&&022	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.&&&&&06	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00	&&&&&&&&&&&&&016.&&&&&016	&&&&&&&&&&&&&027.27000027.27
Ian Foster	2004–2011	&&&&&&&&&&&&0106.&&&&&0106	&&&&&&&&&&&&&053.&&&&&053	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.&&&&&05	&&&&&&&&&&&&&048.&&&&&048	&&&&&&&&&&&&&050.&&&&&050.00
Dave Rennie	2012–2017	&&&&&&&&&&&&0104.&&&&&0104	&&&&&&&&&&&&&071.&&&&&071	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&03.&&&&&03	&&&&&&&&&&&&&030.&&&&&030	&&&&&&&&&&&&&068.27000068.27
Colin Cooper	2018–2019	&&&&&&&&&&&&&034.&&&&&034	&&&&&&&&&&&&&018.&&&&&018	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&02.&&&&&02	&&&&&&&&&&&&&014.&&&&&014	&&&&&&&&&&&&&052.94000052.94
Warren Gatland	2020	&&&&&&&&&&&&&014.&&&&&014	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.&&&&&04	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00	&&&&&&&&&&&&&010.&&&&&010	&&&&&&&&&&&&&028.57000028.57
Clayton McMillan	2021–present	&&&&&&&&&&&&&091.&&&&&091	&&&&&&&&&&&&&066.&&&&&066	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00	&&&&&&&&&&&&&025.&&&&&025	&&&&&&&&&&&&&072.53000072.53
Totals (1996–present)		&&&&&&&&&&&&0422.&&&&&0422	&&&&&&&&&&&&0237.&&&&&0237	&&&&&&&&&&&&&010.&&&&&010	&&&&&&&&&&&&0175.&&&&&0175	&&&&&&&&&&&&&056.16000056.16
Updated to: 2 June 2025

Notes:

• These are for official Super Rugby competition matches only, including finals.

Chiefs' Team Captains

• Richard Turner (1996)
• Ian Jones (1997)
• Errol Brain (1998)
• Michael Collins (1999)
• Glenn Taylor (2000)
• Deon Muir (2001–2002)
• Jono Gibbes (2002–2008)
• Mils Muliaina (2008–2011)
• Liam Messam (2011–2015)
• Craig Clarke (2012–2013)
• Aaron Cruden (2014–2017)
• Brodie Retallick (2014, 2019)
• Sam Cane (2016–2023)
• Charlie Ngatai (2018)
• Brad Weber (2021–2023)
• Luke Jacobson (2024- present)

See also

In Spanish: Chiefs (rugby) para niños