The Hurricanes are pleased to confirm that outside back Josh Moorby will return to the side on a two-year deal from next season.
Moorby returns following a season-long spell in France with Top 14 club Montpellier after having previously played for the Hurricanes between 2022 and 2024. During that period, the 27-year-old made 38 appearances and scored 21 tries for the club.
"The Hurricanes are my rugby family,” Moorby said.
“They gave me my first chance at Super Rugby. I’m still grateful for that, and for this opportunity from Clark and management to be part of the Hurricanes again in 2026.
“I enjoyed my experience overseas further developing my game and growing as a person. I’m excited to bring what I’ve learned over the past year onto the field in the upcoming season.”
Born in Te Awamutu and a product of Hamilton Boys’ High School, Moorby joined the Hurricanes after a stint with the Highlanders as injury cover during the 2021 Super Rugby season.
His Super Rugby Pacific debut came the following year, when he scored in his first appearance for the Hurricanes against Moana Pasifika in Auckland.
Moorby went on to claim the Hurricanes Rookie of the Year award after bagging nine tries in 10 matches that season, for which he was rewarded with a contract extension and a maiden call-up to the Māori All Blacks for their two-match series against Ireland in 2022.
In total, Moorby – of Ngāti Maniapoto descent – has played three times for the Māori All Blacks, most recently during last year’s tour of Japan, while he represented Southland, Northland, and Waikato in the NPC between 2019 and 2024.
Now back in New Zealand, Moorby has returned to play for Waikato in this year’s NPC.
While in France, Moorby featured prominently for Montpellier alongside a host of international stars throughout their 2024-25 campaign. He played 15 times in the domestic Top 14 competition and made one appearance against Welsh side Ospreys in Europe’s Challenge Cup tournament.
Given his game-breaking qualities from wing or fullback, and the experience he gained while playing abroad, Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw is excited by Moorby’s return to the club.
“We’re delighted to have Josh back. He’s a player that we loved having in the team in 2024. It really strengthens our outside backs, adding to the players we’ve already got,” Laidlaw said.
“To have him come back from overseas with different experiences, different coaches, players, competitions and areas of the game means we can learn from him. It’s exciting and we can't wait to see him back in the club in November.”
Catch Josh and your Hurricanes in action next season when memberships go on sale from 1 September!
Josh Moorby
Date of Birth: 11 July 1998 (27-years-old)
Place of Birth: Te Awamutu, New Zealand
Iwi: Ngāti Maniapoto
Position: Outside Back
Height: 1.88m
Weight: 96kg
Hurricanes Number: #290
Hurricanes Caps: 38
Hurricanes Points: 105 (21 tries)
Playing Career: Southland (2019-2021), Hurricanes (2022-2024), Māori All Blacks (2022-2024), Northland (2022-2023), Waikato (2024-present), Montpellier (2024-2025)
