The Hurricanes have re-secured the services of promising loose forward Peter Lakai, for three more seasons until at least the end of 2027.
21-year-old Lakai, on Wednesday was named as one of the Hurricanes Players of the year (alongside Billy Proctor) for 2024. Has formed one part of a formidable group of Hurricanes loosies in 2024, said he was proud to sign on the dotted line, securing his future with the Hurricanes.
“I was born in Auckland, but moved here when I was young, so Wellington is home, the Hurricanes is home. I spent a lot of my childhood supporting the Canes so to run out each week in the jersey means a lot.”
Lakai, of Tongan and Ghanaian decent has long been touted as a future star of NZ Rugby, coming through the Hurricanes development pathway and playing his schoolboy rugby at St Pat’s Silverstream under the tutelage of former Hurricane, Tim Mannix.
Selected in the New Zealand U20 side straight out of high school, An NPC debut followed, becoming one of Wellington’s youngest debutants, aged just 18 against Southland in 2021.
Two more years in the U20s followed, culminated by being named co-captain of the side which attended the 2023 U20 World Championship in South Africa.
In 2022, he joined the Hurricanes on a National Development Contract aimed at helping young players prepare for the rigours of professional rugby. He followed that up winning the NZ Rugby Age-Grade Player of the Year and finishing in the top three for the Duane Monkley Medal in the NPC, all of that aged just 19.
Head Coach, Clark Laidlaw, who coached Lakai with the New Zealand Under 20s, said he was impressed with the level of maturity he has shown, having been in the spotlight since such a young age.
“Peter is an impressive athlete, but more-so as a person he shows great humility and maturity for someone so young. He’s had three years in the U20 system and with the Hurricanes which has helped him to develop his game on and off the field, and his performances for the team are a by-product of the work which he has done.”
Hurricanes Recruitment and Development Manager, Darren Larsen said Lakai epitomises what the Hurricanes look for, in someone coming through the development pathway.
“The Hurricanes Pathways Programme is designed to development people first and then rugby players – on field success comes from their development as young men first. Peter has the foundations to go on to become a great Hurricane and help inspire the next generation.”
Since debuting for the Hurricanes against the Reds in round one of the 2023 season, Lakai has shown his versatility at both openside flanker and number 8.
“I enjoy being able to play both positions. I have some of the best players in the country to learn off and to be able to work with them each day. They help push me to be better.”
Inspired by Hurricanes Centurions, Ardie and Julian Savea growing up, the powerful loosie says he still has a lot of areas of his game to work on but loves the challenge of professional rugby.
“It’s a constant learning curve, the players in our team have so much experience and talent, so you can’t help but want to learn and grow areas of your game.”
With a high percentage of players locked in for next season, the coaching group will be watching the Bunnings Warehouse NPC closely this coming season to finish their recruitment for 2025 and beyond.
Head Coach, Clark Laidlaw said it was great to have a lot of continuity into 2025. “The core of our squad is really starting to come of age and has been developing over the past few seasons, we’ve been lucky enough to see it come to fruition, with some strong performances in 2024, so 2025 will be an exciting one, that’s for sure.”
Peter Lakai
- Hurricane #302
- High School: St Patrick’s Silverstream
- Club: Petone
- Province: Wellington
- Representative Teams: New Zealand Under 20 (2021-2023)