The Hurricanes are pleased to confirm that Kini Naholo has signed a contract extension that will keep him at the club until 2027.
Naholo’s recommitment to the Hurricanes represents a statement of intent as the side builds towards next year’s Super Rugby Pacific campaign, which the prolific 26-year-old wing is expected to play a major role in after starring throughout this season.
Prior to sustaining a major knee injury – a ruptured ACL against the Chiefs in May – Naholo had scored 10 tries in as many matches throughout the 2025 campaign, and he hopes to carry that rich vein of form into next year once he returns to action.
“I’m grateful for the trust, support, and belief that the club has shown in me,” Naholo said.
“I’m excited to continue this journey and give everything I’ve got for the team, fans, and the jersey.”
The Fijian-born younger brother of World Cup-winning former All Blacks wing Waisake Naholo, Kini first rose to prominence as a standout for the Hastings Boys’ High School First XV in 2017.
Scoring 40 tries that season, he helped guide Hastings Boys’ to the National Top Four title and was selected for both the Hurricanes U18 and New Zealand Schools teams.
The following year, Naholo made his NPC debut with Taranaki, and has gone on to build an impressive strike rate with the Bulls, scoring 26 tries in 41 matches while playing a key role as they won the 2023 NPC title and claimed the Ranfurly Shield in 2024.
After making solitary appearances for the Chiefs – against the Hurricanes – in 2020, and for the Crusaders in their title-winning 2022 season, Naholo has thrived since joining the Hurricanes ahead of the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
In his debut season at Sky Stadium, he scored nine tries in 10 matches and was rewarded for strong performances in 2024 with a call-up to the All Blacks XV to play in both matches on last year's tour of Japan.
Now with 21 tries in 32 matches since relocating to Wellington, Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw is thrilled that Naholo will remain at the club after fielding interest from overseas.
“It’s huge news for us that Kini has decided to stay in the country. Certainly, at one point, he was looking at heading offshore,” Laidlaw said.
“Through unfortunate circumstances, his season was cut short, but he was a massive part of what we were doing at the start of the year and a massive part of the future, so we’re extremely fortunate and grateful that he’s decided to stay with the club and continue his development here.
“We’ve got high hopes that he gets through this injury, that he returns next season, and can play as well as he was before he got injured.”
Laidlaw noted that Naholo’s growth as a professional has enabled him to fully realise his potential as a powerful and well-rounded winger.
“Kini’s shown a real maturity around his preparation and his body,” Laidlaw said.
“He’s really reaping the rewards of his consistency in his performances and preparation over the last two or three years, particularly working with assistant coach Cory Jane around his defence and his wing play.
“He’s got a massive point of difference for us around being able to use his power with line breaking and breaking in behind defences, so we’re super pumped to have him signed on.
“He’s started the rehab from his injury really well, he’s getting after it every day, so we just need to support him over the next few months as he works to get back on the field in the New Year.”
Catch your Hurricanes in action next season when memberships go on sale from 1 September!
Kini Naholo
Date of Birth: 16 April 1999 (26-years-old)
Place of Birth: Sigatoka, Fiji
Village: Nadroumai Village, Sigatoka
Position: Wing
Height: 1.78m
Weight: 92kg
Hurricanes Number: #305
Hurricanes Caps: 32 (Debut vs Waratahs, 17 May 2023)
Hurricanes Points: 105 (21 tries)
Playing Career: Taranaki (2018-present), Chiefs (2020), Crusaders (2022), Hurricanes (2023-present), All Blacks XV (2024)
Honours: Super Rugby Pacific (2022), NPC (2023), Ranfurly Shield (2024-2025)
