Wikipedia

Counties Manukau (National Provincial Championship)

Counties Manukau (often known as the Counties Steelers) are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Pukekohe, New Zealand. The union was originally established in 1955, with the National Provincial Championship established in 1976. They now play in the reformed National Provincial Championship competition. They play their home games at Navigation Homes Stadium in Pukekohe in the Auckland region. The team is affiliated with the Chiefs Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are black, white and red.

Counties Manukau
CMRFU official emblem
UnionCounties Manukau Rugby Football Union
NicknameSteelers
Founded1955; 71 years ago (1955)
LocationPukekohe, Auckland, New Zealand
GroundNavigation Homes Stadium (Capacity: 12,000)
CoachReon Graham
CaptainJimmy Tupou
Most appearancesAlan Dawson (201)
Top scorerDanny Love (698)
Most triesAlan Dawson (58)
LeagueNational Provincial Championship
20258th
Quarter-finals
Team kit
Official website
www.steelers.co.nz

Current squad

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The Counties Manukau Steelers squad for the 2026 Hilux NPC season is:

2026 Counties Manukau 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.
WTG denotes a wider training group member.
Injured denotes an injured player.
  1. ↑ Ngatai-Tafau wasn't named in the original Counties Manukau squad, but was announced in the side for Round 3.[1]
Source: [2]

Honours

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Counties Manukau have been overall Champions on one occasion, winning the title in 1979. Their full list of honours include:[3][4]

National Provincial Championship First Division
  • Winners: 1979
National Provincial Championship Second Division
  • Winners: 1993
ITM Cup Championship Division
  • Winners: 2012

Current Super Rugby players

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Players named in the 2025 Counties Manukau Steelers squad, who also earned contracts or were named in a squad for any side participating in the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11]

Player Team
Riley Hohepa Hurricanes
Ioane Moananu Crusaders
Alamanda Motuga Moana Pasifika
Etene Nanai-Seturo Chiefs
Tevita Ofa Moana Pasifika
Dalton Papali'i Blues
Cam Roigard Hurricanes
Hoskins Sotutu Blues
Jonathan Taumateine Moana Pasifika
Zuriel Togiatama Drua
Jimmy Tupou Chiefs
Emosi Tuqiri Drua

References

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  1. ↑ @countiesrugby; (12 August 2026). "Our boys hitting the paddock this Sunday against Tasman". Retrieved 13 August 2026 – via Instagram.
  2. ↑ "2026 Steelers Squad Annoucement". Counties Manukau Rugby Union (Press release). 14 July 2026. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "National Provincial Championship winners, 1976–2014". Te Ara. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  4. ↑ "Mitre 10 Cup". Rugby Heartland. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  5. ↑ "Game Readiness and Maturity Key in 2025 Hurricanes Squad". Hurricanes (Press release). 12 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  6. ↑ "2025 Crusaders squad announced". crusaders.co.nz (Press release). 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  7. ↑ "Moana Pasifika name squad for 2025". Moana Pasifika (Press release). 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  8. ↑ "Gallagher Chiefs name cohesive 2025 squad" (Press release). Chiefs. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  9. ↑ @moanapasifika; (20 January 2025). "Tevita Ofa secured for the remainder of '25 replacing the injured Neria Fomai". Retrieved 20 January 2025 – via Instagram.
  10. ↑ "We're ready to take the handbrake off". Blues (Press release). 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  11. ↑ "Fijian Drua unveil 2025 squad" (Press release). Fijian Drua. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
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