- Chiefs (rugby union)
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Chiefs 
Union New Zealand Rugby Union Founded 1996 Location Hamilton, New Zealand Region Bay of Plenty
Counties Manukau
King Country
Thames Valley
WaikatoGround(s) Waikato Stadium
Bay Park
(Capacity: 25,800)
(Capacity: 16,500)Coach(es) Dave Rennie Captain(s) Liam Messam League(s) Super Rugby 2011 10th 
1st kit2nd kitOfficial website www.chiefs.co.nz The Chiefs (formerly known as the Waikato Chiefs) are a professional Rugby union team based in Hamilton, New Zealand. Their home ground is Waikato Stadium. The Chiefs play in black, red and yellow coloured jerseys. The team competes in the Super Rugby competition (known as the Super 12 from 1996 to 2005 and Super 14 from 2006-2010) and is one of the competition's five New Zealand sides.
Until 2004, the Chiefs were the only New Zealand side to never have qualified for the Super 12 semi-finals. In that year the Chiefs earned their first semi-final berth, and in the end achieved 4th place (defeated 37-20 in the semi-final by the ACT Brumbies). They had their best finish in 2009, making the final but finding themselves on the short end of a record 61–17 defeat by the Bulls.
Contents
History
The Chiefs were founded in 1995 for the inaugural Super 12 season in 1996. Prior to the Super 12, the Super 10 competition had been in place, which NPC teams took part in (including Waikato). In the first year of competition the Chiefs placed 6th in the overall standings, missing out on making the finals; winning 6 of their 11 regular season matches. The following season the Chiefs placed 11th, winning 4 games and losing 7. In 1998 the Chiefs performed closer to the standard of their 1996 season and placed at 7th in the final standings. In 1999 the franchise were able to do one better and claimed 6th position on the ladder but were still yet to make the Super 12 finals.
In 2000 the Chiefs won 3 of their regular season games and finished in 10th place by the end of the season. The following season the team equalled their best position again - finishing 6th. In 2002 the team won 4 games and lost 7 to finish in 8th position, and the season after, 2003, fell to a 10th finish. But the season after the Chiefs won 7 regular season games and came in at 4th on the season table - claiming their first semi-final spot in their history. The Chiefs lost the semi-final against the Brumbies. In 2005 the team finished 6th. In 2006 the Super 12 expanded to the Super 14 with the addition of a new Australian and South African team. The Chiefs won 7 of their 13 games and drew once with 5 losses to come 7th. In 2009 the Chiefs made their second ever semi final, defeating the Hurricanes 14 - 10 to advance to the final for the first time. They lost the 2009 final to the Bulls by the biggest-ever margin 61-17.
Franchise area
The team represents the provincial unions of Bay of Plenty, Counties Manukau, King Country, Thames Valley and Waikato. Originally the Chiefs also represented North Harbour and Northland, because when the Super 12 was created in 1995, a large contingent of New Zealand players came from Auckland, North Harbour and Counties Manukau.
Had the Auckland Blues been allowed to represent Auckland, North Harbour, Counties Manukau and Northland, they would have in effect been able to play a team of All Blacks in all but name. In an effort by the NZRU to make things more fair, the Chiefs were given North Harbour and Northland, while the Blues were given Counties Manukau and Thames Valley. By 1999, clear regional All Blacks dominance no longer existed, so the Chiefs arranged a swap with the Blues. North Harbour and Northland were "returned" to the Blues in exchange for Counties Manukau and Thames Valley.
Super Records and Achievements
Super 12 Placings
Super 12 Results Year Played Win Draw Loss PF PA Diff BP Points Place Playoffs 1996 11 6 0 5 291 269 +22 4 28 6th 1997 11 4 0 7 272 295 -23 3 19 11th 1998 11 6 0 5 279 291 -12 5 29 7th 1999 11 5 0 6 248 301 -53 6 26 6th 2000 11 3 0 8 257 352 -95 8 20 10th 2001 11 6 0 5 301 330 -29 4 28 6th 2002 11 4 0 7 323 341 -18 8 24 8th 2003 11 2 0 9 257 274 -17 9 17 10th 2004 11 7 0 4 274 251 +23 5 33 4th Lost semi-final to Brumbies 2005 11 5 1 5 272 250 +22 6 28 6th Super 14 Placings
Super 14 Results Year Played Win Draw Loss PF PA Diff BP Points Place Playoffs 2006 13 7 1 5 325 298 +27 6 36 7th 2007 13 7 1 5 373 321 +52 10 40 6th 2008 13 7 0 6 348 349 -1 6 34 7th 2009 13 9 0 4 338 236 +102 9 45 2nd Lost in the final against Bulls 2010 13 4 1 8 340 418 -78 8 26 11th 2012 squad
The squad for the 2012 season:[1]
Props
Ben Afeaki- Shane Cleaver
- Toby Smith
Sona Taumalolo- Ben Tameifuna
Hookers
- Hikawera Elliot
Mahonri Schwalger
Locks
- Craig Clarke
- Brodie Retallick
- Romana Graham
- Michael Fitzgerald
Loose Forwards
- Fritz Lee
- Sam Cane
- Alex Bradley
- Tanerau Latimer
- Liam Messam
- Kane Thompson
- Scott Waldrom
Half Backs
- Brendon Leonard
- Tawera Kerr-Barlow
First-Fives
- Aaron Cruden
- Andrew Horrell
Centres
- Richard Kahui
- Asaeli Tikoirotuma
- Sonny Bill Williams
- Jackson Willison
Wingers
- Lelia Masaga
- Declan O'Donnell
Nemani Maritino
Full Backs
- Robbie Robinson
- Tim Nanai-Williams
2012 Wider Training Group
2012 Wider training group to be announced later on at the start of the season.
In for 2012
- Shane Cleaver from Taranaki
- Aaron Cruden from Hurricanes
- Michael Fitzgerald from Manawatu
- Nemani Maritino from Hawke's Bay
- Brodie Retallick from Hawke's Bay
- Robbie Robinson from Highlanders
- Ben Tameifuna from Hawke's Bay
- Asaeli Tikoirotuma from Manawatu
- Kane Thompson from Hawke's Bay
- Mahonri Schwalger from Highlanders
- Sonny Bill Williams from Crusaders
Out for 2012
- Colin Bourke to Overseas
- Ben May to Hurricanes
- Aled de Malmanche to
Stade Français - Nathan White to
Leinster - Isaac Ross to
NTT Shining Arcs - Hayden Triggs to Japan (club TBC)
- Taniela Moa to Pau
- Mike Delany to Panasonic Wild Knights
- Stephen Donald to
Bath Rugby - Dwayne Sweeney to Kyuden Voltex
- Tana Umaga (retirement)
- Sitiveni Sivivatu to Clermont
- Mils Muliaina to NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes
- Culum Retallick to Highlanders
Players and coaches of note
Notable players
- Sosene Anesi
- Isaac Boss
- Colin Bourke
- Ben Castle
- Michael Collins
- Loki Crichton
- Simms Davison
- Aled de Malmanche
- Mike Delany
- Stephen Donald
- Jono Gibbes
- David Hill
- Marty Holah
- Glen Jackson
- Ian Jones
- Richard Kahui
- Byron Kelleher
- Sione Lauaki
- Brendon Leonard
- Walter Little
- Jonah Lomu
- Keith Lowen
- Taniela Moa
- Mils Muliaina
- Caleb Ralph
- Mark Ranby
- Bruce Reihana
- Keith Robinson
- Mark Robinson
- Sitiveni Sivivatu
- Dwayne Sweeney
- Sailosi Tagicakibau
- Tana Umaga
- Sonny Bill Williams
Coaches: 1996 - Present
- Brad Meurant (1996 - 1997)
- Ross Cooper (1998 - 2000)
- John Mitchell (2001)
- Kevin Greene (2002 - 2003)
- Ian Foster (2004 - 2011)
- Dave Rennie (2012 -
Captains: 1996 - Present
- Richard Turner (1996)
- Ian Jones (1997)
- Errol Brain (1998)
- Michael Collins (1999)
- Glenn Taylor (2000)
- Deon Muir (2001 - 2002)
- Jono Gibbes (2002 - 2008)
- Mils Muliaina (2008 - 2010)
- Liam Messam (2010 - present)
Notes and references
- ^ "Chiefs Player Profiles". rugby.com.au. http://www.rugby.com.au/investec_super_14/team__player_profiles/chiefs/player_profiles,125890.html. Retrieved 2008-02-09.
External links
Chiefs franchise area Super Rugby Team ChiefsITM Cup teams Heartland teams Stadiums Super Rugby SANZAR • Super Rugby franchise areas • Trophy • ChampionsTeams Super 12 Seasons Super 14 Seasons Super Rugby Seasons 2011 • 2012Rugby union in New Zealand Governing body National teams New Zealand • Junior All Blacks • New Zealand Māori • 7's • U-21 • U-19 • U-20 • Schoolboys • Women'sCompetitions Super Rugby • ITM Cup • Heartland Championship (Meads Cup • Lochore Cup) • Ranfurly Shield • Hanan Shield • Pub Charity Sevens • Women's NPCRelated articles International playersCategories:- Super 14 teams
- New Zealand rugby union teams
- Sport in the Waikato Region
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