Higgins signs on with Hurricanes for next two seasons

Riley Higgins scoring one of his two tries in this year’s Jubilee Cup final. Norths beat Petone 23-20. PHOTO: Car

Earlier this season, Riley Higgins joined a select group by making his Super Rugby debut before his National Provincial Championship one.

Higgins came off the bench against the Fijian Drua in Wellington, also becoming one of the youngest debutants in Hurricanes history.

He went on to make eight Premier club rugby appearances for Petone in his second season out of school in 2022. He made seven starts at second five and one off the bench, scoring 13 tries. Higgins, along with Petone and former St Pat’s Silverstream teammate and No. 8 Peter Lakai were Club Rugby’s two players of the season.

The Hurricanes have announced that Higgins has signed his first professional Super Rugby contract with them, for 2023 and 2024.

On signing his first professional Super Rugby contract, Riley said:

“Yeah, it’s a special moment for me. I think last year, the NDC [National Development Contract] was a great stepping stone into the professional environment, but I am definitely excited to finally get a proper contract with the Hurricanes.”

“Even though I grew up in Christchurch, I was born in Palmy [Palmerston North] and I have always supported the Hurricanes, so it’s a great feeling to be here now,” said Higgins.

Identified by the Hurricanes in 2019 as emerging talent, Higgins progressed through the Wellington and Hurricanes development pathways, named in the Hurricanes U18s and New Zealand Schools in 2020, followed by the Hurricanes U20s and New Zealand U20s in 2021 and 2022.

“Riley has come through the academy system and is a good, strong midfielder who we’ve got a lot of time for. He has a bright future ahead of him,” said Hurricanes Head Coach, Jason Holland.

“Just like many young players, you wait for your time, and work away behind the scenes and now he’s got to that stage. He’s since gone from strength to strength, showing real potential. He’s worked really hard for his spot and is ambitious.”

The former St Patrick’s College Silverstream player was named Wellington U19s co-captain in 2021 and Wellington U19s skipper in a couple of fixtures at the start of the 2022 season.

He signed his first professional rugby contract with the Wellington Lions NPC side earlier this year, and has since played six matches for the side, dotting down three times, amassing 15 points.

Riley Higgins trytime for St Pat’s Silverstream against Palmerston North Boys’ High School in 2020. 

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The Hurricanes have also announced the re-signing of 45-test All Black Jordie Barrett until 2025.

The Taranaki representative says he is grateful to extend his contract with the Hurricanes and is honoured to don the swirl once again.

“It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to live and play rugby in New Zealand. That is a dream I’ve had since I was a young kid,” said Barrett.

“I feel as though the Hurricanes franchise is in a really good place at the moment and I feel like the All Blacks are building towards something special.”