Downer Partners with the Taranaki Rugby Academy to Back the Future
Taranaki Rugby is proud to announce Downer as the partner of the Taranaki Rugby Academy, backing the next generation of the region's rugby talent on and off the field.
The Downer Taranaki Rugby Academy brings together 55 athletes across the Male Academy, Female Academy, and Pre-Academy pathways. These are young men and women from across the region, given the tools, environment, and support to develop their game and grow as people.
Eight athletes are based in Hamilton, studying through Waikato University or WINTEC while remaining connected to the Downer Taranaki Academy and returning home for the representative season.
Downer has 190 staff based in Taranaki and in partnership with the New Plymouth District Council holds a 10-year New Plymouth Infrastructure Partnership. The collaborative partnership manages and maintains local roads, parks, reserves, water and wastewater networks, and small-to-medium bridges across North Taranaki.
Downer has built a significant local footprint across the Taranaki region, delivering community projects and infrastructure that people here rely on every day.
Downer Taranaki Regional Manager Wade Donovan says the partnership is one the team is proud of.
"It's a natural fit for Downer. Our shared passion for growing talent, building clear development pathways, and backing communities makes this just the start of a highly rewarding partnership with Taranaki Rugby."
Taranaki Rugby Academy Manager Teihorangi Walden set out the Downer Taranaki Rugby Academy programme's purpose at the recent launch evening.
"At the heart of what we do is growing the whole athlete. We provide support across six key pillars: technical, tactical, mental skills, nutrition, personal development, and video analysis. Our goal is to create a strong pathway through the Downer Taranaki Rugby Academy that helps our athletes reach higher honours, while also developing good people off the field. I want to acknowledge Wade and the team at Downer for their support. Having Downer behind our athletes means a great deal to this group."
Former Yarrows Taranaki Bulls flanker & All Black #1059, Chris Masoe reflected on his rugby journey at the Downer Taranaki Rugby Academy launch
Since 1998, the programme has been the engine room of Taranaki Rugby's talent pipeline. Today, 80% of the current contracted Yarrows Taranaki Bulls squad have come through the Downer Taranaki Rugby Academy.
All Blacks locks Josh Lord and Tupou Vaa'i, Black Fern Iritana Hoihia, current Bulls Captain Kaylum Boshier, and last year's Duane Monkley Medal winner Josh Jacomb all progressed through the programme. So too have JJ Pokai, Adam Lennox, Daniel Rona, and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens in more recent years.
The 2026 cohort has wasted no time adding to that list. Dane Johnston and Haki Wiseman are both in the New Zealand Under 20s squad for the Junior World Cup in Georgia next month, with Wiseman, who has already debuted for the Bulls, named captain.
Downer Taranaki Rugby Academy members Haki Wiseman (L) & Dane Johnston (R) representing the New Zealand Under 20 team
The female pathway has matched it. Four Central Roofing Taranaki Whio and Downer Taranaki Rugby Academy products, Kelsyn McCook, Rosie Moffitt, Hayley Coogan, and Louise Blyde, were named in the New Zealand Universities Women's squad who played Samoa last month. All four are now studying in Canterbury. Blyde has since been called into the Chiefs Manawa squad and Moffitt into the Matatū squad for Super Rugby Aupiki.
Behind the scenes, the programme is supported by dedicated staff. George Miles leads the Pathways Strength & Conditioning space, working with athletes to build the physical foundations needed to compete at the next level. Kate Duncan drives Personal Development across the programmes, helping athletes develop the skills, habits, and self-awareness that carry them forward both on and off the field.
Downer's involvement also extends into the community several other initiatives including the Play It Forward initiative, which will see Yarrows Taranaki Bulls players and Downer deliver practical projects at local clubs, schools, and community spaces across the region.
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