Double delight for the Gallagher Chiefs as All Blacks Leroy Carter and Simon Parker have extended their commitment to New Zealand Rugby and the club through to the end of 2028.
The pair have also re-signed with their respective provinces - Bay of Plenty and Northland.
Carter, 26, is a Tauranga Boys College product who debuted for the Steamers in 2019 and was a standout player for the All Blacks Sevens for three years, nominated for World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year in 2023 after being part of New Zealand’s World Series winning squad.
He committed fulltime to XVs last year with immediate success, scoring nine tries for the Chiefs and named the Chiefs Rookie of the Year for 2025. He made his All Blacks debut - and scored a try - against South Africa in Wellington, finishing the year with six Test caps.
Rated one of the fastest outside backs in the game, Carter says he never considered moving from the Chiefs. “I don’t want to play for another club, so it was a pretty easy decision. It’s a club I grew up wanting to play for, and it’s a dream come true, so I’m excited to put pen to paper pretty early-doors, and I’m looking forward to it."
Staying with the Chiefs was an easy call for Northland’s Parker too, who also enjoyed a stellar DHL Super Rugby Pacific season last year that pushed him into the All Blacks as well.
“I guess this is the sort of stage you start thinking about what’s next,” Parker, 25, says. “You don’t want to leave it too late, obviously. So it was a bit of a no-brainer for me and my family, we’ve got our family roots planted where we are, so it’s quite nice to have some security that’s where you’re going to be for the next couple of seasons.”
Born in Mangawhai, Parker went to secondary school at St Peter’s School in Cambridge where he boarded with fellow All Black Cam Roigard.
Playing for New Zealand Secondary Schools in 2017 and the New Zealand Under-20 team in 2019, he debuted for Waikato in 2019 before returning to his home province, Northland, in 2024. He debuted for the Chiefs since 2020 and has been a stalwart ever since. He made his test debut against Argentina last year and has played eight tests.
Gallagher Chiefs Head Coach Jono Gibbes is delighted the pair will be with the club for three more years.
“It’s great to see these two recommit to the Chiefs. They are outstanding team members who bring that special X-factor to what they do on the field. They’re a big part of the Chiefs future on the field and off it.”
