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The Chiefs (formerly known as the Waikato Chiefs) are a professional rugby union team based in Hamilton, New Zealand. Their home ground is Waikato Stadium.
The team competes in the Super 14 competition (known as the Super 12 from 1996 to 2005) and has been the least successful of the competition's five New Zealand sides. Until 2004, the Chiefs were the only New Zealand side to never have qualified for the Super 12 semi-finals. In that year the Chiefs earned their first semi-final berth, and in the end achieved 4th place (defeated 37-20 in the semi-final by the ACT Brumbies).
[edit] History and team composition
The team represents the provincial unions of Counties Manukau, Waikato, Thames Valley, King Country, and Bay of Plenty.
Originally the Chiefs also represented North Harbour and Northland, because when the Super 12 was created in 1995, a large contingent of All Blacks came from Auckland, North Harbour and Counties Manukau. Had the Blues been allowed to represent Auckland, North Harbour, Counties Manukau and Northland, they would have in effect been able to play a team of All Blacks in all but name. In an effort by the NZRU to make things more fair, the Chiefs were given North Harbour and Northland, while the Blues were given Counties Manukau and Thames Valley.
By 1999, clear regional All Blacks dominance no longer existed, so the Chiefs arranged a swap with the Blues. North Harbour and Northland were "returned" to the Blues in exchange for Counties Manukau and Thames Valley.
[edit] Super Rugby positions
[edit] 2007 Super 14 Squad
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- Tanerau Latimer (Bay of Plenty)
- Sione Lauaki (Waikato)
- Tasesa Lavea (Auckland)
- Brendon Leonard (Waikato)
- Toby Lynn (Waikato)
- Lelia Masaga (Counties Manukau)
- Liam Messam (Waikato)
- Mils Muliaina (Waikato)
- Jamie Nutbrown (Bay of Plenty)
- Kristian Ormsby (Counties Manukau)
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- Keith Robinson (Waikato)
- Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato)
- Dwayne Sweeney (Waikato)
- Niva Ta'auso (Counties Manukau)
- Anthony Tahana (Bay of Plenty)
- Tane Tu'ipulotu (Wellington)
- Craig West (Waikato)
- Nathan White (Waikato)
- Murray Williams (Bay of Plenty)
- Tom Willis (Waikato)
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[edit] Notable Former players
[edit] External links
