Hurricanes have signed NPC winner Teejay Clarke for the 2025 Super Rugby season

Following a string of impressive performances with the Wellington Lions in the National Provincial Championship (NPC), defender TJ Clarke has taken a major step forward by signing with the Hurricanes for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season.

Clarke made his Lions debut in the first round of last year’s NPC season, but the outside back has only managed to win the first XV three times. That changed in 2024, with coach Alando Soakai starting Clarke in 11 of the Lions’ 12 games.

The 22-year-old started the season in sensational form and never looked back, scoring a try in each of the Lions’ matches in the first six rounds. Clarke added another to his personal tally against Hawke’s Bay in round nine before reaching the final.

With Clark at fullback, the Wellingtonians prevailed over Counties Manukau and Waikato en route to the NPC final. Clark ended up playing 92 minutes in one of the most incredible deciders in NPC history as the Lions clinched the title 23-20 in extra time.

Born and raised in the Chatham Islands, Clark has had a unique journey to get to this point with the Hurricanes. The New Zealander moved to Perth and then Sydney before returning to Wellington to play for St Pat’s Silverstream.

There he met fellow Hurricanes Riley Higgins and Peter Lakai. The trio won the College First XV final together before playing club rugby for Petone and then helped the Lions to their sixth provincial NPC title in their history.

“We moved to Sydney when I was about twelve and my brother Sam and I were selected to play rugby league for Endeavor Sports High School,” Clarke said in a statement.

“I didn’t really get back into rugby until I came home and started playing for St Pat’s Silverstream.

“That’s what rugby is all about,” he added. “It’s all about the relationships you make. To be able to play with Riley and Peter among all these different graduates is really special, especially since they are such quality players.”

This is another exciting line of business for the Hurricanes as they continue to improve the quality of their team heading into the 2025 season. Midway through last month, the Canes announced they had signed North Harbor player Cade Banks to a one-year contract.

Banks was one of the standout players of the NPC campaign, scoring 10 tries, including four tries in the home win over Waikato in round three. With Banks and Clarke looking to compete for places in the Canes’ outside defence, expect fireworks next season.

“We’ve seen Teejay play very well in the NPC over the last couple of years and he’s had a stellar performance for Wellington this year,” Hurricanes coach Clarke Laidlaw explained. “He feels like a really good addition, he’s young, hungry and wants to get stuck in.

“He fits the mold and style we want to play at full-back or on the wing. Teejay has a good left boot and is a great attacker.”