The Hurricanes are pleased to announce that Jone Rova has signed a two-year contract in a deal that will keep him at the club until 2027.
A member of this year’s wider training group, Rova’s elevation to the full squad bolsters next year’s midfield cohort, where he will join All Blacks pair Jordie Barrett and Billy Proctor, and All Blacks XV representatives Bailyn Sullivan and Riley Higgins.
“I’m really looking forward to next season with the Hurricanes. Getting the chance to learn and compete alongside some of the best is a pretty cool opportunity,” Rova said.
“After spending some time in the environment this year and seeing what this organisation is all about, I’m really grateful for the chance to be part of it over the next couple of years.”
Hailing from the Fijian village of Vusaratu, Rova moved to New Zealand with his family at the age of eight, settling first in Taumarunui, where his father worked as a school teacher.
After later relocating to Taranaki, Rova attended New Plymouth Boys’ High School, where he was named as the school’s Sportsman of the Year in 2020 and was selected for that year’s New Zealand Schools team.
The former Chiefs U18 representative shifted south to link up with Canterbury the following year. While in Christchurch, his efforts for the Crusaders U20 side earned him selection in the New Zealand U20 team for the 2022 Oceania Rugby U20 Championship.
Making his New Zealand U20 debut against Fiji, Rova became the first rugby international from Vusaratu as he scored a try against his countrymen and faced his cousins Luke and Waisea Tudulu during the 74-5 victory on the Sunshine Coast.
Rova also started in wins over Argentina and Australia as New Zealand went on to claim the Oceania Rugby U20 Championship title.
Later that year, he made his NPC debut with Canterbury and has since made 26 appearances and scored five tries for the red-and-blacks, and was part of the team that won the Ranfurly Shield against Southland earlier this month.
Named in last year’s Crusaders squad, Rova made his Super Rugby Pacific debut against the Fijian Drua in front of family from New Zealand and Fiji in Lautoka.
In total, Rova made three appearances for the Crusaders before joining the Hurricanes this season.
The 23-year-old made his first Hurricanes appearance against Moana Pasifika in March, scoring on debut at North Harbour Stadium, and featured against the same opposition during the final match of the regular season in Wellington.
Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw is pleased to have secured Rova’s services after he caught the attention of assistant coaches Cory Jane and Brad Cooper.
“CJ knew about Jone through the U20s programme and, as a Taranaki boy, Coops had good prior knowledge of him too,” Laidlaw said.
“Jone’s someone that we felt quite lucky to have in the wider training group, having been with the Crusaders and playing for Canterbury.
“I think we’re starting to see him trust himself around his game. He’s started really well in the NPC, getting good game time at both 12 and 13, and we see him as strong competition for the midfield alongside the boys we’ve already got.
“He had a couple of cameos last season that turned heads a little bit and he trained particularly well through the year, so we look forward to welcoming him into the full squad.”
Jone Rova
Date of Birth: 12 July 2002 (23-years-old)
Place of Birth: Vusaratu, Fiji
Village: Vusaratu
Position: Midfielder
Height: 1.85m
Weight: 96kg
Hurricanes Number: #322
Hurricanes Caps: 2 (Debut vs Moana Pasifika, 8 March 2025)
Hurricanes Points: 5 (1 try)
Playing Career: New Zealand U20 (2022), Canterbury (2022-present), Crusaders (2024), Hurricanes (2025-present)
Honours: Oceania Rugby U20 Championship (2022), Ranfurly Shield (2025)
