Seven fresh faces for the Highlanders for the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season

The southern side are the first cab off the rank in today's hour-by-hour roll-out of the New Zealand-based squads for next year.

Highly-touted halfback Dylan Pledger headlines the newcomers - while All Blacks front-rower Angus Ta'avao joins from the Blues.

Olympic medal-winning New Zealand sevens player Andrew Knewstubb and veteran Argentina lock Tomas Lavinini have also been recruited by coach Jamie Joseph.

Ethan de Groot and Fabian Holland remain the Highlanders only two All Blacks, but the group does include six members of the All Blacks XV squad.

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