Bunnings NPC
Watch: Oli Mathis shows blistering speed in Waikato NPC defeat
4
{{item.n}}
Waikato
Waikato News
Bunnings NPC
Opinion
The five top performers from round one of the NPC
2
Watch: All Blacks Sevens ace scores stunning double in NPC nail-biter
4
The $1 contract behind former All Black's NPC return after 3251 days
1
Latest
Eight All Blacks released to play opening round of NPC
Bunnings NPC
Interview
The Waikato young gun solving one of rugby players' 'obvious problems'
20-year-old sparks 'New Zealand's answer to Kwagga Smith' hype
Bunnings NPC
Opinion
NPC semi-finals: Former Wales international and flanker-turned-wing star
The teams are in: Lineups confirmed for unpredictable NPC semi-finals
Why NPC table-toppers Wellington aren’t ‘too comfortable' before semis
Waikato Matches
Sun 17 Aug, 2025
Waikato Forwards
Name
Position
Waikato Backs
Name
Position
Waikato Rugby Team
The Waikato rugby team, which is also known as the Waikato Mooloos, is a professional rugby team based in Hamilton, New Zealand. The team competes in the Bunnings NPC competition and is affiliated with the Chiefs Super Rugby franchise.
Discover more about the Waikato rugby team with rugby gurus RugbyPass. On this page you'll find a detailed history of the side and an analysis of the current Waikato squad. You'll also be able to see the team's latest results and upcoming fixtures.
The history of the Waikato rugby team dates back to 1921, when the Waikato rugby union was founded. However, the modern version of the Waikato rugby team was formed in 1976, when the team joined the newly formed National Provincial Championship. This competition is now known as the Bunnings NPC for sponsorship reasons.
Since they joined the competition, the Waikato rugby team has been relatively successful. They've won the overall title three times, in 1992, 2006 and 2021. Added to this, they've also won a number of divisional titles over the years.
Today, the Waikato rugby team plays in the premiership division of the Bunnings NPC. They play their home games at FMG Stadium Waikato, which has a capacity of 25,000.
As one of the premier teams in the competition, the current Waikato squad is packed with star names and international talents, including All Blacks Liam Messam, Anton Lienert-Brown and Damian McKenzie.
In addition to this, more than 15 members of the Waikato rugby team are contracted to play in Super Rugby. The vast majority of these players feature for the Chiefs, but James Tucker and Sefo Kautai play for the Brumbies, while Ayden Johnstone represents the Highlanders.