The last few years have arguably been one of the most successful periods in the history of the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls. Approaching the 2025 season, the question is, can it continue?
It’s been an impressive run, particularly for a provincial union from outside the main centres.
The team enjoyed an unbeaten season in 2021, before winning the region’s second-ever Bunnings NPC title in 2023. They followed that up by finishing second on the points table last year (losing to Waikato in the quarter finals), and come into 2025 as holders of the coveted Ranfurly Shield.
Taranaki Head Coach Neil Barnes makes no bones about his ambitions for this year.
“I’m happy with how well our team played as a whole last season. It was great to finish second after the round robin and hold the Ranfurly Shield, but I’m furious we didn’t finish the job – playing well below our best in that quarter final and losing by a point. Making our province proud is important to us, and we need to be way better than that to make this happen.
“We have a local team and play an expansive, attractive style of game. Add to that having the Ranfurly Shield to play for, it can only add more excitement and entertainment for our fans to enjoy.”
TRFU CEO Jimmy Fastier says they’ve made a conscious effort to take the Log o’ Wood around the region since winning it in October.
“We’ve been able to share New Zealand rugby’s most prized possession with all parts of Taranaki. It’s been to rest homes, schools, beach carnivals; not just around New Plymouth but the whole region. We’ve really seen the interest the Shield can generate in the community.”
That theme will continue, with Manaia to host a Ranfurly Shield defence for the first time. The game against Thames Valley on July 19 will be the first hit-out for the full squad, just two weeks before the season starts proper.
“The Yarrows Centenary Match at the Manaia Domain two years ago was fantastic, and we’re excited to be back in the bread capital with Yarrows,” Fastier says.
“We’ll again have a special strip with the blue and black hoops of the Waimate Buffaloes, and there will also be a Division 2 curtain raiser, featuring grassroots club players in a North v South style game.”
There’s plenty of reasons to be optimistic for more success in 2025, with a largely settled squad. The notable losses are experienced campaigners Stephen Perofeta and Ricky Riccitelli, while explosive winger Kini Naholo will also miss the season with injury.
“Ricky’s a local boy who’s played 80-plus matches, wearing his heart on his sleeve in all of them. Stevie came to us as a shy school leaver in 2016 and leaves as a true professional and an All Black. They will be missed,” says Barnes.
“But it means a door opens for someone else. We have a solid core of 17 Super Rugby players in our squad, and there is the opportunity for CMK club rugby players to put their hand up on the national stage; just like Stevie, Ricky and Kini have done.”
The annual Cleland’s Club Day is being held on August 23. It’s a double-header, with the Central Roofing Taranaki Whio playing Tasman the same day. As part of it, Clelands are distributing free tickets for Denis Wheeler Earthmoving Ferdie junior players.
“It’s about connecting the professional game to the grassroots,” Fastier says. “We have so many coaches and club volunteers who play a part in making rugby what it is for the next generation, including laying the foundations for future Bulls and Whio players.
“We think we’ve got the best fans in the country,” he adds. “Last year’s crowd numbers were 42% up on corresponding games last year, which was fantastic. The challenge for us is to give our fans more reasons to come to games, and we do that by playing well and delivering an entertaining match day product.”
Fans have snapped up season memberships, with more than 1,100 sold in early May. Fastier says they have an ambitious target to get that to 1,500 by the time the season kicks off on Sat 2nd August at Stadium Taranaki (formerly Yarrow Stadium).
Memberships start from as little as $40 and include tickets to all five Yarrows Taranaki Bulls home games, all Central Roofing Taranaki Whio Bunnings FPC matches, and free home finals tickets, among other perks.
Reinvigoration
It’s interesting to note that the recent period of success has all come without a fully functional home ground.
Earthquake strengthening has been ongoing at Stadium Taranaki since 2017, including being closed entirely from 2018-2023.
It’s been operating with one stand in the last two years, but this season will be the first in eight years to have both East and West Stands open.
“It’s great to come out the other side with a fully redeveloped venue. This is Taranaki Rugby’s spiritual home, and the Taranaki Regional Council have a vision of it being the best regional stadium in New Zealand. The project team led by Clelands Construction have certainly achieved that,” Fastier says.
The new East Stand gives the chance to bring back its popular corporate offering, formerly dubbed the Legends Lounge. Fastier says it was a pinnacle networking space in Taranaki, where the rugby and business communities combined.
“One thing we haven’t been able to do in recent years is host formal after matches. But we can do them properly now, with a four hour buffet and beverage service, pre-match entertainment and outstanding views from the top of the new East Stand.”
The Yarrows Taranaki Bulls first Ranfurly Shield defence this season — a 78-7 romp against the King Country Rams — was free for fans, and thousands of fans packed out the newly completed Stadium Taranaki on a stormy Wednesday night in June.
But that isn’t the end of construction at Stadium Taranaki just yet. The new stand doesn’t include a training facility like the old one had, so the TRFU is leading the development of a purpose-built space adjacent to its offices, off to the side of the playing field.
The Te Whare Pūngao o Ngā-motu training facility is being funded by the likes of Toi Foundation, NZCT, Grassroots Trust, Air Rescue Services, Four Winds, Pelorus Trust, Pub Charity, We Care Trust and the One Foundation. The TRFU is also contributing some of its cash reserves to the project.
It includes a gym, indoor training space, medical and meeting rooms. The name has been gifted by mana whenua of Ngāmotu, Ngāti Te Whiti, and means the Energy House of New Plymouth.
It doesn’t stop at rugby either. The facility will be owned and managed by the TRFU, but will be open to pathways athletes from a variety of other sports to use as well as community groups throughout the day.
“We see huge benefit in having a range of codes coming together in one environment, collaborating, learning from each other and building relationships that benefit sport in general here in Taranaki,” Fastier says.
Whio out for more
The Central Roofing Taranaki Whio come into 2025 with a point to prove. A new-look coaching group of head coach Ben Siffleet and assistants Tim Stuck and Moana Jane Scott have spent the last few months with an extended squad, focusing on culture and conditioning.
“We’ve had a really balanced women’s club competition this year, which tells us players are developing and there’s good competition for places. Ben Siffleet has led a strong preseason which focused on skills and conditioning and building a tight squad culture,” Fastier says.
The Whio look set to be without halfback Iritana Hohaia, who has been a staple selection in the Black Ferns in the lead up to the Women’s World Cup, and seems likely to be there when it kicks off in August.
“We’re thrilled for Iritana. She works incredibly hard, and is a fantastic example to our local women, who can see the pathway from secondary school and club rugby all the way to the top of the game,” says Fastier. “We’ve seen the impact of previous World Cups on the interest in women’s rugby and I’m sure this year will be no different.”
Sidebar:
2025 Bunnings NPC fixtures:
v Northland, Stadium Taranaki, Saturday August 2, 7.05pm
v North Harbour, AWAY, Saturday August 9, 2.05pm
v Auckland, AWAY, Saturday August 16, 4.35pm
v Waikato, Stadium Taranaki, Saturday August 23, 2.05pm
v Counties Manukau, AWAY, Saturday August 30, 2.05pm
v Bay of Plenty, Stadium Taranaki, Sunday September 7, 2.05pm
v Otago, AWAY, Saturday September 13, 4.05pm
v Hawke’s Bay, Stadium Taranaki, Friday September 19, 7.05pm
v Wellington, Stadium Taranaki, Saturday September 27, 2.05pm
v Canterbury, AWAY, Saturday October 5, 4.35pm
Whio fixtures sidebar:
2025 Farah Palmer Cup fixtures:
v Northland, Stadium Taranaki, Saturday August 9, 2.05pm
v North Harbour, AWAY, Saturday August 16, 2.05pm
v Tasman, Stadium Taranaki, Saturday August 23, 11.35am
v Wellington, AWAY, Sunday August 31, 11.35am
v Otago, AWAY, Saturday September 6, 2.05pm