Despite their interests in the Highlanders, Southland players are free to play for whichever Super team contracts them, with those who aren't contracted often representing the Highlanders development team known as the Bravehearts. This has seen players such as former player Wharenui Hawera represent the ACT Brumbies. The players from the 2021 Stags squad with Super Rugby experience are: Ethan de Groot Highlanders: 2020–present (14 caps) Greg Pleasants-Tate Blues: 2015 (1 cap) Highlanders: 2016-18 (18 caps) Marty McKenzie Blues: 2013 (3 caps) Chiefs: 2015, 2018-19 (20 caps) Crusaders: 2016-17 (9 caps) Tony Lamborn Blues: 2020 (9 caps) Lisati Milo-Harris Chiefs: 2020 (3 caps) Josh Renton Highlanders: 2015-18 (6 caps) Marty Banks Hurricanes: 2014 (5 caps) Highlanders: 2015-17, 2019, 2022–present (40 caps) Solomon Alaimalo Chiefs: 2017-20 (44 caps) Highlanders: 2021–present (1 cap) Honours NPC South Island Second Division Champions: 1982, 1984 NPC Second Division Champions: 1989, 1994, 1996 Air New Zealand Cup Semifinalists: 2008, 2009 Ranfurly Shield 1920, 1929, 1937, 1938, 1959, 2009, 2011 Captains Southland's Captains since 1976 are: D Saunders 1976, 1978–79 Frank Oliver 1977 Brian McKechnie 1979, 1982–83 Ken Stewart 1980-81 Paul Macfie 1984-85 Trevor Bokser 1986-87 Murray Brown 1988-90 David Henderson 1991-92, 1994–95 Paul Henderson 1993 Simon Culhane 1996-97 Davin Heaps 1998 Brett McCormack 1999 Brendon Timmons 2000-01 Steve Jackson 2002-03 Clarke Dermody 2004-07 Jamie Mackintosh 2008–15 Brayden Mitchell 2016–17 Flynn Thomas & James Wilson 2018–19 Tony Lamborn 2020–present Coaches Southland's Coaches Since 1976 are: Bob Donnelly 1976 Jack Smith 1977-79 Robin Archer 1980-82 Jack Borland, Harold Miller & Kevin Laidlaw 1983 Laidlaw 1984-85 John McAlley 1986-87 Barry Leonard 1988-92 Keith Robertson 1993-97 Robert Telfer 1998-99 Leicester Rutledge 2000-01 Phil Young 2002-04 Simon Culhane & David Henderson 2005-11 Henderson 2012-13 Brad Mooar 2014-15 Hoani MacDonald 2016–17 Dave Hewett 2018–19 Dale MacLeod 2020—present Rugby Southland centurions The following players have played over a hundred games for the Southland senior team. Listed in chronological order from Ack Soper in 1966 to most recently Tim Boys in 2014 the 15 are: Ack Soper - Country Pirates (103 games) Greg Spencer - Pirates (107 games) Gerald Dermody - Tokanui (120 games) Lin Booth - Star (100 games) Phil Butt - Star (100 games) Leicester Rutledge - Wrights Bush (113 games) Paul Laidlaw - Nightcaps (105 games) Brent Shepard - Woodlands (103 games) Simon Culhane - Invercargill (105 games) Jason Rutledge - Woodlands (138 games) Jimmy Cowan - Mataura (111 games) Jamie