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Rugby Transfers: All Blacks hopeful swaps Crusaders for Chiefs, Springboks forward signs new Bulls deal and Wallabies great extends Brumbies stay Check out the latest round-up of rugby transfers and contract renewals from across the globe, focusing on New Zealand, South African and Australian players. The Chiefs have bolstered their backline stocks by signing exciting fly-half Taha Kemara on a one-year contract for the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season. It will be a homecoming for the 23-year-old, who has represented Waikato in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship (NPC) since 2022. The All Blacks hopeful has been a key playmaker for the Crusaders at Super Rugby level since 2023 but believes now is the right time to return to the Waikato region to be nearer to family. “It’s something that is really special to me,” said Kemara. “When I was year 7 I used to come and kick a ball here by myself and picture playing at a packed-out Waikato Stadium for the Chiefs. “It’s about making that kid proud, making his dream come true.” “That’s something I vividly remember, and I think that this whole journey to get here is for that year 7 kid who dreamt big hoping he could put on a Chiefs jersey. I hope I get to inspire kids like that.” Kemara has previously been part of the Chiefs environment after playing for the Hamilton-based outfit’s U20 and he was awarded that team’s player of the year award in 2022. Chiefs head coach Jono Gibbes recognised the strength Kemara will bring to his team. “It ticks all the boxes for us with his quality, Super Rugby experience and values,” he said. “Taha is a great young player with a good head on his shoulders. Wanting to be near family and continue to play the game that he loves is a strong foundation for any Chiefs player.” Kemara, who has also represented New Zealand’s U20 side and Māori All Blacks, will join the Chiefs when they assemble for pre-season later this year. All Blacks XV back-row joins the Hurricanes Meanwhile, Super Rugby Pacific champions the Hurricanes have confirmed that they have signed hard-working loose forward Oliver Haig from the Highlanders for the 2027 season. The 24-year-old has signed with the Dunedin-based outfit following four seasons with the Highlanders and is excited to continue his Super Rugby Pacific career in Wellington. “I’m excited to be joining the Hurricanes in 2027. They’re a quality team with great coaches and players who all look like they play with enjoyment and passion. I look forward to going up to Wellington and getting stuck in,” said Haig. Born in Perth and raised in England, Haig relocated to Dunedin as a 14-year-old and established himself as a top prospect while representing Otago Boys’ High School, during which time he was named in the 2020 New Zealand Barbarians U18 side. He progressed to the New Zealand U20 team in 2022, winning the Oceania Rugby U20 Championship title in Australia alongside future Hurricanes team-mates Peter Lakai, Siale Lauaki, Raymond Tuputupu, Harry Godfrey and Jone Rova. Later that year, Haig made his NPC debut with Otago. He has since made 33 appearances for the province and was part of their side that clinched the Ranfurly Shield in a famous win over Canterbury and reached last year’s NPC final. In 2023, Haig joined the Highlanders as injury cover and made his Super Rugby Pacific debut against the Western Force. He was elevated to a full contract the following year and has represented them in 32 matches up to now. Haig’s performances for the Highlanders saw him earning selection to the All Blacks XV in 2024. While with the national development side, he featured in a win over Munster and provided injury cover for the All Blacks ahead of a Test against Japan in Yokohama. Rugby Transfers: PREM outfit add Test ace to ranks as latest France star tipped for Toulouse exit Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw is excited to have Haig in his squad for next season after he played under assistant coaches Cory Jane and Jamie Mackintosh while with the All Blacks XV. “When the team lost a number of players that had Super Rugby experience, it was important that we brought some players in who are ready for Super Rugby and are able to play from round one,” said Laidlaw. “That makes the opportunity to bring Oli here really exciting. He’s played a number of games for the Highlanders and represented the All Blacks XV, where he probably played his best rugby that caught our attention. “Both CJ and Whoppa worked with him at the All Blacks XV and they rated his ability to play at that level, so we think he can really add to the team. He fits the game style we want to play in the loose forwards and we see him as somebody that can hit the ground running and add to the group for 2027.” Springboks hooker signs new Bulls deal In other news, the Bulls have confirmed that Springbok hooker Johan Grobbelaar has signed a contract extension keeping him at Loftus Versfeld-based club until 2030. Grobbelaar’s long-term commitment reinforces the men from Pretoria’s strategy of retaining world-class talent and core leadership as they compete across the United Rugby Championship (URC) and Investec Champions Cup. Having risen through the ranks at the Bulls after making his senior debut in 2017, the 28-year-old has become a cornerstone of the 2025/26 season’s URC runners-up’s forward pack. Renowned for his pinpoint set-piece delivery, tireless work rate, and breakdown threat, the Paarl Gymnasium product has amassed over 100 appearances in the blue jersey. Grobbelaar’s consistent excellence at domestic and international level has earned him a Springboks call-up and he is currently part of South Africa’s national squad for their Greatest Rivalry series against the All Blacks. Bulls chief executive Edgar Rathbone highlighted the significance of securing Grobbelaar’s services for the long haul. “Johan embodies everything we stand for at the Vodacom Bulls,” he said. “He is a warrior on the field, a natural leader in the environment, and a loyal servant to this union who has consistently delivered at the highest level year after year. “To have a player of his calibre and international pedigree commit his best years to Loftus until 2030 is a massive statement of intent for our franchise. We are thrilled that ‘Grobbies’ will continue to be a pillar of our pack as we pursue silverware in the years ahead.” Wallabies veteran extends Brumbies stint The ACT Brumbies have announced that the most capped player in Super Rugby history, Wallabies front-row James Slipper, has agreed terms on a new contract for the 2027 season. The 36-year-old, who made his senior debut for the Reds in 2010, will run out for his 17th year of Super Rugby in 2027. To put that into perspective, when he made his professional debut, South Africa was still in Super Rugby and ex-Wallabies star Stirling Mortlock was captain of the Brumbies. Since then, Slipper has rewritten the record books throughout an extraordinary career. With a record 212 Super Rugby appearances, he stands alone as the tournament’s most capped player of all time, while his 154 Test caps for the Wallabies have him sitting atop Australia’s Test record books, second only to ex-Wales and British & Irish Lions lock Alun Wyn Jones in international rugby history. Age, however, seems to have had little effect on the Brumbies front-rower. During the Brumbies’ 2026 Super Rugby Pacific campaign, Slipper played 694 minutes, made 112 tackles, gained 85 metres on attack and beat five defenders. But perhaps fittingly, one of his most memorable moments came in his 200th appearance, when he crossed for a try to cap a remarkable away win for the Brumbies over the Crusaders. Top 10 full-backs in rugby: Springboks star in ‘form of his life’ ahead of ‘competitive animal’ While other teams are looking backwards to bring in greats, the Brumbies have a living legend already in the building — and, thankfully, he’s still focused on doing well for the Canberra-based outfit. “I still love coming in every day and competing with this group. We’ve built something really special at the Brumbies, and I still get a lot of enjoyment out of being part of it,” said Slipper. “The body still feels good, I’m enjoying my footy and I feel like I’ve still got plenty to contribute, both on the field and around the group. As long as that’s the case, I’m excited to keep pulling on the Brumbies jersey. “We’ve got a great coaching staff, a playing group that’s hungry to keep improving and I genuinely believe we’ve got what it takes to compete for championships over the next few years. That’s something I want to be a part of.” Brumbies head coach Stephen Larkham is delighted that Slipper has signed a new deal and said the veteran prop’s impact extended far beyond his remarkable longevity. “Slips is still playing outstanding rugby. He was one of our most consistent performers throughout 2026 and he’s shown he can continue to make a big impact for this team,” he said. “What he brings away from game day is just as important. He’s an exceptional leader, he drives standards every day and the knowledge he passes on to our younger players is invaluable. “Our players, members and fans love what Slips represents. He’s become synonymous with the Brumbies through his toughness and consistency, and we’re excited they’ll get to see him pull on the jersey for another season.” Slipper is still eager to continue with his international career, with the front-row stalwart set to continue training with the Brumbies and ensuring he is ready to go if a Wallabies opportunity arises. Teenager joins Exeter Chiefs from South Sydney Rabbitohs Exeter Chiefs have announced that they have signed winger Charlie Poynton from NRL heavyweights South Sydney Rabbitohs for the 2026/27 season. The 19-year-old, who was born in New Zealand, is looking forward to plying his trade with the PREM Rugby outfit. “Signing with Exeter Chiefs was an opportunity that really excited me. The club has a great reputation and a strong vision for the future, and after speaking with the coaches and everyone involved, I felt it was the right environment for me to continue developing both as a player and as a person,” said Poynton. “I’m looking to make the most of the opportunity, keep improving every day and establish myself as a player at this level. I want to contribute to the team wherever I can, help the Chiefs achieve their goals and hopefully be part of a successful period for the club. I’m really excited to get started and see what we can get done this year.” Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for world-class coverage you can trust. Poynton signed with the Sydney-based New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) in October 2025 having impressed in their junior system in the SG Ball Cup and Jersey Flegg Cup competitions. Educated at Barker College, he is adept on the wing or at full-back and was part of the NSW Waratahs senior academy, aligned with their partner club, Manly Marlins. At international level, Poynton was called up to the Australia U18s development squad in July 2024 by head coach Shannon Fraser. Chiefs’ director of rugby Rob Baxter said: “Charlie is an exciting, young English-qualified player who has been playing for Manly Marlins over in Australia. “He’s had a bit of time playing rugby league as well, so we see him as a very multi-talented player who can slot in at 15 or wing. Those are slots where we haven’t got too many options, as with Paul Brown-Bampoe injured and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso not available to play until later following the internationals break. “We felt it was important to try to strengthen that position while we could. When Charlie became available, we looked at the qualities he could bring and the opportunities this could create for him. We felt it was a great fit.” READ MORE: Newcastle Red Bulls’ new era gathers speed as All Blacks snub named club captain