The Spirit runs deep.
Otago have been rewarded for their recent success after eight Spirit players picked up Super Rugby Aupiki contracts for the upcoming season.
They include Black Fern Maia Joseph, who trained with the Spirit early last year before missing the Farah Palmer Cup due to the Rugby World Cup.
She will be joined at Matatu by returning players Charlotte Va’afusuaga, Sarah Jones, Abigail Paton, who has also been named in the United States squad for the Pacific Four series, and Eilis Doyle.
Outstanding midfielder Naomi Sopoaga earns her first fulltime contract after being called into the South Island side for one game last season.
Fearless hooker Tegan Hollows, who previously played for Matatu, has been picked up by the Hurricanes Poua, alongside Spirit captain Greer Muir.
Muir, who also previously played for Matatu in 2022, had a standout 2025 season at the end of which she was named the Spirit MVP and forward of the year.
Matatu are without Black Ferns Amy Rule, Georgia Ponsonby and Alana Bremner, who forfeited their New Zealand contracts to play domestically in England.
There is still plenty of international experience in the team with Chelsea Bremner, Marcelle Parkes, Amy du Plessis, Grace Brooker — who will captain the side and had a stint playing AFL last year — Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Laura Bayfield, Lucy Jenkins and Pip Love still there.
Black Ferns Sevens star Alena Saili, a double Olympic gold medallist, makes the switch to rugby and Poppy Baxter brings New Zealand under-18 sevens experience.
Former Mainland Tactix defender Paris Lokotui picks up her first contract after making the switch to rugby this season. She has been named in the locks and loose forwards crew.
They join fellow Matatu newcomers Maia Davis and Wikitoria Rogers, while Elinor-Plum King makes the shift south from the Poua.
Former Matatu prop Ashley Palu has popped up at the Poua, Kaea Nepia signed with the Chiefs Manawa and Hollyrae Mete-Renata joins the Blues.
