All Blacks rookie set for stint on the sidelines as Hurricanes start campaign with Jordie Barrett as captain
Hurricanes utility backs Ruben Love and Jordie Barrett (inset).
Ahead of Friday’s Super Rugby Pacific clash with Moana Pasifika, the Hurricanes have announced that Ruben Love is set for a lengthy stint on the sidelines due to injury.
After having a bye in the opening round of the Super Rugby Pacific season, the Hurricanes will kick off their 2026 campaign at their Sky Stadium home in Wellington against Moana, who are on a high courtesy of an impressive away win over the Fijian Drua in Lautoka last weekend.
It was revealed last week that Love sustained an ankle injury during a training session, and the Hurricanes have now confirmed that the rookie All Blacks utility back will now be sidelined for between four and six weeks.
“He stood on a foot and rolled his ankle, totally innocuous,” Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw told Stuff of Love’s training incident.
Love is equally at home at full-back or fly-half, and Laidlaw has a pragmatic view on the 24-year-old’s injury.
“It could have been a lot worse,” he said.
Meanwhile, Laidlaw has included three newbies in his matchday squad for the Moana clash with Japan captain Warner Dearns making his debut in the second-row alongside Hugo Plummer.
Loose forward Arese Poliko and wider training group utility forward Matolu Petaia are set to make their Hurricanes debuts off the replacements bench.
Asafo Aumua back in action for the Hurricanes
There is also plenty of excitement as All Blacks hooker Asafo Aumua returns to action for the Hurricanes after struggling with a hamstring injury and concussion last year that ruled him out of making any All Blacks squads.
He is joined in the front-row by Xavier Numia and Siale Lauaki, who are the starting props, while Brayden Iose lines up at number eight with Peter Lakai and Devan Flanders pack down on the flanks.
In the backline, Jordie Barrett is back from his sabbatical at Irish province Leinster and will captain the side from inside centre, while Bailyn Sullivan joins him in midfield and will wear the number 13 jersey.
Brett Cameron is joined by Ere Enari to form the half-back combination with Callum Harkin lining up at full-back, while Josh Moorby and Fehi Fineanganofo complete the run-on side as the starting wings.
Amongst the replacements, Poliko and Petaia are named alongside All Blacks duo Cam Roigard and Billy Proctor, both of whom are in line for their first matches of 2026.
Elsewhere, Brad Shields has recovered from a finger injury to earn a spot in the reserves, while Jacob Devery, Pouri Rakete-Stones, and Tevita Mafileo will provide front-row back-up.
“It’s an exciting week to name our first team for our first home game of the year,” said Laidlaw.
“After having to sit and watch the competition last week, it’s exciting to finally get a chance play live in front of our home supporters.
“It was a huge crowd against Moana last year, so hopefully we can create that again and put in a performance that gets our fans excited and gets them coming back for the rest of the season.”
Despite playing for Japan, Dearns is no stranger to New Zealand as he was born in Wellington and raised in Hawke’s Bay. The 23-year-old is set to play his first official Hurricanes match since it was confirmed that he would join the club from reigning Japan Rugby League One champions Toshiba Brave Lupus on a season-long sabbatical deal last June.
Laidlaw is excited to have all three debutants in the Hurricanes’ ranks.
“The debutants are all a bit different. Warner has just arrived and is an exciting addition to the squad. He’s fitted in really well and we’re excited to get him into the competition and start growing his game,” he said.
“Matolu’s come in from the wider training group probably earlier than he expected, but with a few niggles up front, he gets his chance. We’ve been really impressed by his work ethic and his physicality through the pre-season, so he gets an opportunity off the bench.
“Arese was here all of last year. He’s had to show some real patience, but I think the whole team can’t wait to watch him play. He’s a really good guy on and off the field, he’s had a strong two NPCs behind him with Taranaki, and we expect him to come on and make an impact.
“All three of them have had slightly different routes to get on the field, but we’re all really looking forward to watching them make their debuts.”
Hurricanes team to face the Moana Pasifika
Hurricanes: 15 Callum Harkin, 14 Josh Moorby, 13 Bailyn Sullivan, 12 Jordie Barrett (c), 11 Fehi Fineanganofo, 10 Brett Cameron, 9 Ere Enari, 8 Brayden Iose, 7 Peter Lakai, 6 Devan Flanders, 5 Warner Dearns, 4 Hugo Plummer, 3 Siale Lauaki, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia
Replacements: 16 Jacob Devery, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Tevita Mafileo,19 Matolu Petaia, 20 Brad Shields, 21 Arese Poliko, 22 Cam Roigard, 23 Billy Proctor
Date: Friday, February 20
Venue: Sky Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 19:05 local (06:05 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: George Myers (Australia), Matt Kellahan (Australia)
TMO: Graham Cooper (Australia)
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