Three 1990s Te Awamutu Sports Chiefs players. Bruce Reihana (left), Ian Foster and Deon Muir. Photo / Supplied
Since the inaugural season of Super Rugby in 1996, Te Awamutu Sports, and the Te Awamutu area clubs in general, have had quite a selection of Super Rugby players, whether they are from here or have played/coached in the region.
Current All Blacks coach Ian Foster was one of Te Awamutu's first Super Rugby players.
The Waikato centurion represented the Chiefs on eight occasions in 1996, starting every game.
Foster's debut season saw him score 94 points.
Between 1996 and 1998 he appeared 26 times for the franchise, starting 22 of those matches.
Steve Gordon (Chiefs), Deon Muir (Crusaders) and Rhys Duggan (Hurricanes) also all played Super Rugby in 1996.
Gideon Wrampling is Te Awamutu's latest Chiefs debutant after making his debut earlier in 2021.
Gallagher Chiefs head coach Warren Gatland and Hurricanes assistant coach Chris Gibbes both have connections to Te Awamutu but haven't been considered for the below selection as they did not play Super Rugby or were not players involved in a team.
Waikato flanker Mitch Jacobson was born in Te Awamutu and represented the Chiefs and Sunwolves, he never played rugby in the Te Awamutu region though.
TE AWAMUTU AREA SUPER RUGBY REPRESENTATIVES:
FRASER ARMSTRONG – Te Awamutu Sports
BORN: 1992, Te Awamutu
SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Hurricanes (2018-Present)
SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 36
SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 0
STEVEN BATES – Te Awamutu Sports
BORN: 1980, Auckland
SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Chiefs (2002-2007)
SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 57
SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 35
SAM BIDDLES – Te Awamutu Sports
BORN: 1981, Dargaville
SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Blues, Chiefs (2006-2007)
SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 2
SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 0
HUGH BLAKE – Pirongia
BORN: 1991, Dunedin
SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Highlanders Development (2012-2013)
SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 0
SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 0
RHYS DUGGAN – Te Awamutu Sports
BORN: 1972, Rotorua
SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Hurricanes, Chiefs, Highlanders (1996-2005)
SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 73
SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 30
IAN FOSTER – Te Awamutu Sports
BORN: 1965, Putāruru
SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Chiefs (1996-1998)
SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 26
SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 167
ROBBIE FRUEAN – Te Awamutu Sports
BORN: 1988, Wellington
SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Hurricanes, Crusaders, Chiefs (2009-2015)
SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 71
SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 80
JONO GIBBES – Te Awamutu Sports/Te Awamutu College
BORN: 1977, Henderson, Auckland
SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Chiefs (2001-2008)
SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 68
SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 33
STEVE GORDON – Te Awamutu College
BORN: 1967, Te Awamutu
SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Chiefs, Highlanders (1996-1997)
SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 12
SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 0
MITCH GRAHAM – Ōhaupō coach
BORN: 1991, Putāruru
SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Chiefs (2015-2016)
SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 26
SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 5
CHYNA HOHEPA – Kihikihi/Te Awamutu College
BORN: 1989, Te Awamutu
SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Chiefs (2021)
SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 1
SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 0
RICHARD JUDD – Te Awamutu Sports
BORN: 1992, Thames
SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Hurricanes (2018-2019)
SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 9
SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 0
SIONE LAUAKI – Te Awamutu Sports
BORN: 1981, Ha'apai, Tonga – 2017, Auckland
SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Chiefs (2004-2010)
SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 70
SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 70
KEITH LOWEN – Pirongia
BORN: 1974, Huntly
SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Blues, Chiefs (1999-2005)
SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 55
SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 62
BEN MAY – Te Awamutu Sports
BORN: 1982, Blenheim
SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Crusaders, Chiefs, Hurricanes (2007-2020)
SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 134
SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 20
CHRIS MIDDLETON – Te Awamutu Sports
BORN: 1987, Porirua
SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Chiefs Development (2011)
SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 0
SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 0
JOSH MOORBY – Te Awamutu Sports
BORN: 1998, Te Awamutu
SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Highlanders (2021)
SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 0
SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 0
DEON MUIR – Te Awamutu Sports
BORN: 1973, Rotorua
SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Crusaders, Chiefs (1996-2002)
SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 37
SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 25
ALBERT NIKORO – Te Awamutu Sports
BORN: 1992, Auckland
SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Blues (2012-2014)
SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 5
SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 3
BRUCE REIHANA – Te Awamutu Sports/Te Awamutu College
BORN: 1976, Thames
SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Chiefs (1997-2002)
SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 58
SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 123
TETI TELA – Te Awamutu Sports
BORN: 1991, Levuka, Fiji
SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Queensland Reds (2018-2019)
SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 3
SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 0
NATHAN WHITE – Te Awamutu Sports/Te Awamutu College
BORN: 1981, Hāwera
SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Chiefs (2006-2011)
SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 41
SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 0
JACKSON WILLISON – Te Awamutu Sports coach
BORN: 1988, Hamilton
SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Chiefs, Blues (2009-2014)
SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 61
SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 45
GIDEON WRAMPLING – Te Awamutu Sports
BORN: 2001, Auckland
SUPER RUGBY TEAM/S: Chiefs (2021)
SUPER RUGBY CAPS: 1
SUPER RUGBY POINTS: 0
The prisoner was there for 'medical oversight'.