Rugby: Te Awamutu area Super Rugby players

Three 1990s Te Awamutu Sports Chiefs players. Bruce Reihana (left), Ian Foster and Deon Muir. Photo / Supplied

Since the inaugural season of Super Rugby in 1996, Te Awamutu Sports, and the Te Awamutu area clubs in general, have had quite a selection of Super Rugby players, whether they are from here or have played/coached in the region.

Current All Blacks coach Ian Foster was one of Te Awamutu's first Super Rugby players.

The Waikato centurion represented the Chiefs on eight occasions in 1996, starting every game.

Foster's debut season saw him score 94 points.

Between 1996 and 1998 he appeared 26 times for the franchise, starting 22 of those matches.

Steve Gordon (Chiefs), Deon Muir (Crusaders) and Rhys Duggan (Hurricanes) also all played Super Rugby in 1996.

Gideon Wrampling is Te Awamutu's latest Chiefs debutant after making his debut earlier in 2021.

Gallagher Chiefs head coach Warren Gatland and Hurricanes assistant coach Chris Gibbes both have connections to Te Awamutu but haven't been considered for the below selection as they did not play Super Rugby or were not players involved in a team.

Waikato flanker Mitch Jacobson was born in Te Awamutu and represented the Chiefs and Sunwolves, he never played rugby in the Te Awamutu region though.

TE AWAMUTU AREA SUPER RUGBY REPRESENTATIVES:

FRASER ARMSTRONG – Te Awamutu Sports

Te Awamutu Sports prop Fraser Armstrong in the thick of the action against Hamilton Marist in 2013. Photo / File

BORN: 1992, Te Awamutu

SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Hurricanes (2018-Present)

SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 36

SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 0

STEVEN BATES – Te Awamutu Sports

Former All Black Steven Bates playing for Te Awamutu Sports. Photo / File

BORN: 1980, Auckland

SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Chiefs (2002-2007)

SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 57

SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 35

SAM BIDDLES – Te Awamutu Sports

Sam Biddles playing for Te Awamutu Sports in 2005. Photo / File

BORN: 1981, Dargaville

SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Blues, Chiefs (2006-2007)

SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 2

SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 0

HUGH BLAKE – Pirongia

Hugh Blake, Highlanders Super Rugby head-shots for 2013. Photo / Highlanders Rugby

BORN: 1991, Dunedin

SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Highlanders Development (2012-2013)

SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 0

SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 0

RHYS DUGGAN – Te Awamutu Sports

Te Awamutu Sports' Rhys Duggan. Photo / Supplied

BORN: 1972, Rotorua

SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Hurricanes, Chiefs, Highlanders (1996-2005)

SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 73

SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 30

IAN FOSTER – Te Awamutu Sports

Te Awamutu Sports' Ian Foster. Photo / Supplied

BORN: 1965, Putāruru

SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Chiefs (1996-1998)

SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 26

SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 167

ROBBIE FRUEAN – Te Awamutu Sports

Robbie Fruean playing for Te Awamutu Sports. Photo / Hamish Forsman

BORN: 1988, Wellington

SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Hurricanes, Crusaders, Chiefs (2009-2015)

SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 71

SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 80

JONO GIBBES – Te Awamutu Sports/Te Awamutu College

Jono Gibbes playing for Te Awamutu Sports. Photo / File

BORN: 1977, Henderson, Auckland

SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Chiefs (2001-2008)

SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 68

SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 33

STEVE GORDON – Te Awamutu College

Steve Gordon during an All Blacks training session in 1991. Photo / Photosport

BORN: 1967, Te Awamutu

SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Chiefs, Highlanders (1996-1997)

SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 12

SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 0

MITCH GRAHAM – Ōhaupō coach

Former Chiefs prop Mitch Graham (right) was one of the Ōhaupō rugby coaches in 2021. Photo / Jesse Wood

BORN: 1991, Putāruru

SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Chiefs (2015-2016)

SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 26

SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 5

CHYNA HOHEPA – Kihikihi/Te Awamutu College

Chyna Hohepa takes the ball up for Kihikihi in the championship final against Hamilton Marist in 2021. Photo / Arthur Uden

BORN: 1989, Te Awamutu

SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Chiefs (2021)

SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 1

SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 0

RICHARD JUDD – Te Awamutu Sports

Richard Judd playing for Te Awamutu Sports. Photo / Hamish Forsman

BORN: 1992, Thames

SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Hurricanes (2018-2019)

SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 9

SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 0

SIONE LAUAKI – Te Awamutu Sports

Chiefs player Sione Lauaki makes a break during 2006. Photo / File

BORN: 1981, Ha'apai, Tonga – 2017, Auckland

SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Chiefs (2004-2010)

SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 70

SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 70

KEITH LOWEN – Pirongia

One-test All Black Keith Lowen came off the bench for Pirongia against Te Rapa in 2020. Photo / Jesse Wood

BORN: 1974, Huntly

SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Blues, Chiefs (1999-2005)

SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 55

SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 62

BEN MAY – Te Awamutu Sports

Chiefs' props Nathan White (left) and Ben May (centre) in the pack of Te Awamutu Sports forwards during 2011. Photo / File

BORN: 1982, Blenheim

SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Crusaders, Chiefs, Hurricanes (2007-2020)

SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 134

SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 20

CHRIS MIDDLETON – Te Awamutu Sports

Lock Chris Middleton runs the ball out of defence for Te Awamutu Sports against Hinuera in 2012. Photo / File

BORN: 1987, Porirua

SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Chiefs Development (2011)

SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 0

SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 0

JOSH MOORBY – Te Awamutu Sports

Josh Moorby takes the ball up for Te Awamutu Sports in 2017. Photo / Justin Miezenbeek

BORN: 1998, Te Awamutu

SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Highlanders (2021)

SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 0

SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 0

DEON MUIR – Te Awamutu Sports

39-year-old Deon Muir playing for Te Awamutu Sports in 2012. Photo / File

BORN: 1973, Rotorua

SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Crusaders, Chiefs (1996-2002)

SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 37

SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 25

ALBERT NIKORO – Te Awamutu Sports

Albert Nikoro, Blues head-shots for 2013. Photo / William Booth / Photosport

BORN: 1992, Auckland

SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Blues (2012-2014)

SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 5

SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 3

BRUCE REIHANA – Te Awamutu Sports/Te Awamutu College

Bruce Reihana playing for Te Awamutu Sports. Photo / File

BORN: 1976, Thames

SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Chiefs (1997-2002)

SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 58

SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 123

TETI TELA – Te Awamutu Sports

Teti Tela poses during the 2018 Queensland Reds Super Rugby head-shots session. Photo / Jono Searle/Getty Images

BORN: 1991, Levuka, Fiji

SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Queensland Reds (2018-2019)

SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 3

SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 0

NATHAN WHITE – Te Awamutu Sports/Te Awamutu College

Te Awamutu Sports' Waylon Tangohau (left) and Nathan White in 2018. Photo / File

BORN: 1981, Hāwera

SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Chiefs (2006-2011)

SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 41

SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 0

JACKSON WILLISON – Te Awamutu Sports coach

2021 Te Awamutu Sports coach Jackson Willison. Photo / Justin Miezenbeek

BORN: 1988, Hamilton

SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Chiefs, Blues (2009-2014)

SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 61

SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 45

GIDEON WRAMPLING – Te Awamutu Sports

Gideon Wrampling in his debut match for Te Awamutu Sports against University. Photo / Justin Miezenbeek

BORN: 2001, Auckland

SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Chiefs (2021)

SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 1

SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 0