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Hurricanes sign outside back who scored four tries in one NPC game
By Finn Morton
Fresh off a standout season with North Harbour in New Zealand’s NPC, dynamic outside back Kade Banks has penned a deal with the Hurricanes. Banks has committed to last year’s table-toppers for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
Banks’ journey to Super Rugby has been anything but straightforward. This is a story of resilience and determination, with Banks continuing to pursue his rugby dream without a clear pathway to an academy or a provincial union out of high school.
The Mahurangi College graduate got a chance to impress after earning selection for Harbour’s Sevens side, which later opened the door to U19s opportunities with Mahurangi and Harbour. Banks ended up committing to the province at NPC level as well.
On September 26, 2020, Banks debuted for Harbour in the team’s 11-10 loss to Southland at Rugby Park, Invercargill. Banks played another couple of games that season before earning a maiden start the following campaign at home to Waikato.
Banks later debuted for the Blues in Super Rugby Pacific against the Highlanders earlier this year. The 24-year-old scored in that fixture, but wasn’t called upon by coach Vern Cotter for the remainder of the team’s run to a drought-breaking title.
But, another opportunity awaits, with Banks set to ply his trade down in the capital. With winger Josh Moorby moving on after signing with French club Montpellier, there seems to be a chance to challenge for a spot in the matchday 23.
“I started playing rugby at the age of four, and it’s been a part of my life for as long as I can remember,” Banks said in a statement. “It hasn’t been the most straightforward journey, but in some ways, it makes me appreciate it even more.
“It’s been my childhood dream to play Super Rugby,” he added. “It’s been a bit of a journey to get here, but to have the opportunity to play for the ‘Canes is a massive honour. I can’t wait to add to the legacy of the jersey.”
In the NPC this season, the try-scoring phenomenon was nothing short of sensational. The winger – who started eight of nine appearances on the right edge – crossed for 10 tries, which included a four-try haul in the 43-29 win over Waikato at North Harbour Stadium.
Harbour did end up missing the finals after recording just three wins from 10 fixtures, but those results were headline-grabbing. They got the job done 43-29 over eventual semi-finalists Waikato, 58-19 over Manawatu and a big 65-19 demolition of Canterbury.
Banks played a telling part in any of Harbour’s successes in 2024.
“Kade is a talented young player, who’s really impressed us throughout the NPC season,” Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw explained.
“He’s shown that he not only has the ability to beat defenders and line break but can also finish. With his kicking game and ability to cover fullback, we’re excited to see what he can bring to the backline in 2025.”
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That’s not the only way to look at it. Every year there are players with breakout seasons in the feeder comp. Those players are fairly limited in what options they have because the Super sides operate as ‘clubs’ where they have people contracted for multiple years and no space available unlike contracting setups in the NFL. Going to four would force an improvement in player retention imo.
As per above I think there is a lot of intelligence in doing that. I reckon I could come up with a dead wood list of 30 names for you. But yes, it certainly means they would need to factor in a better way of making sure the right players are retained. I like small squads myself, but every year teams are needing to go well beyond their numbers and pick from those that remained in NZ after missing out on Super contracts, so just compensating by having fewer teams but larger squads would certainly be viable, especially the way they are injurying their players currently.
Why not just give them Moana figuretively speaking to have as their fourth side (so they need to drop a side so it can be 5 teams on each side of the ditch, with Drua having Fiji games as well)? That’s the point of my reply, that the Aussies should have actually consolidated to 3 teams years ago, not four, pertinent because the 11 teams currently is not ‘it’. Hey, if they can get a Jaguares, or (South) American team in with even half of Argentina’s test stars and most of all the others, as a 12th team willing to play within 10 hours flight, then great, that’s obviously the way to go. But weve heard nothing. I can’t see a 6th NZ team as they’ve refused profusely and it would take too much of a restructural step for them to accept imo.
Yep, that’s right, the 12 number is also not ‘it’. 10 rather than 12 gives them more flexibility imo. It could all change depending on what this new test window global season bs is going to be.
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