Chiefs and Highlanders in transfer tug-of-war for All Blacks contender Josh Jacomb
Wednesday, 3 September 2025
Josh Jacomb is contracted to the Chiefs for one more year.
Highlanders are in the market for a top-quality No 10.
Next season will be pivotal in deciding All Blacks’ depth at No 10.
The Chiefs and Highlanders are locked in a battle for the services of Taranaki and Chiefs No 10 Josh Jacomb, The Post understands.
Jacomb, 24, is under contract at the Chiefs for one more season, creating a delicate situation on which multiple parties were reluctant to comment.
But well-placed sources have told The Post that Jacomb is interested in a move to the Highlanders, where he would likely be the first-choice No 10, as he pushes for a place in the All Blacks.
Highlanders chair Peter Kean was coy when asked whether the southerners were keen on Jacomb, but did not deny it.
Chiefs chief executive Simon Grafhuis was contacted but the Hamilton club opted not to comment on the situation.
The New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association said they haven’t become involved “at this stage”, but it appears that door is still open if a resolution can’t be found.
The Post also understands that Jacomb has already turned down a significant offer from a club in Japan as he chases an All Blacks jersey.
There is a precedent for players moving before the end of their contracts, albeit under different circumstances to the Jacomb case.
The Chiefs signed Brodie McAlister from the Crusaders before his contract expired, but the Crusaders were well already stocked at hooker.
The Chiefs have Damian McKenzie as their first-choice No 10, but if he were to get injured Jacomb would be critical for their hopes of winning Super Rugby Pacific next year.
Bay of Plenty playmaker Kaleb Trask is contracted until the end of 2025, although it is understood that he is moving on from the Chiefs.
Steamers No 10 Lucas Cashmore, 23, is another talented playmaker in the Chiefs region but over the past two years with the Blues and Hurricanes, respectively, he was used sparingly - getting only two Super Rugby appearances off the bench for the Blues.
The Chiefs’ reluctance to release Jacomb, therefore, is a logical position and they are understood to be on solid ground contractually after he signed a two-year extension last year.
But the issue appears to rest on whether Jacomb has set his mind on a move to put himself in the shop window for the All Blacks’ selectors.
New Zealand Rugby signalled to The Post in April that the All Blacks could use the tour of South Africa next year as the opportunity to identify and develop the next cab off the rank at No 10.
Jacomb is in a contest with Ruben Love, Rivez Reihana, Taha Kemara and Stephen Perofeta for that coveted role and needs to show he can translate his dominance at provincial rugby level over to Super Rugby Pacific next year.
Jacomb has been the standout No 10 in the NPC for the past two seasons and played a more significant role for the Chiefs this year.
Jacomb played in all 17 games in Super Rugby Pacific, averaging 42 minutes a game.
However, in the hard-fought quarterfinal against the Blues and the final against the Crusaders, Jacomb was restricted to 12 minutes off the bench on each occasion.
The Chiefs’ have re-signed McKenzie until 2029, signalling that the All Black is their long-term No 10, while talented Tasman outside back Kyren Taumoefolau could develop into their No 15 after switching from Moana Pasifika.
The Highlanders have a gap in their roster after the exit of Ajay Faleafaga, who has taken up a contract in Japan.
The Highlanders used Cameron Millar and Taine Robinson at No 10 in Super Rugby Pacific, but neither commanded the jersey and the Dunedin-based club looks weaker in the position than their rivals.
The recruitment of Jacomb could improve their attack, raising the stakes in a transfer battle that is rarely seen in New Zealand rugby.