Hemopo Cunningham

Hemopo Cunningham
Born (2001-08-11) 11 August 2001
New Zealand
Height187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight100 kg (220 lb; 15 st 10 lb)
SchoolRotorua Boys' High School
Rugby union career
Position Lock / Flanker
Current team Blues, Taranaki
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2021– Taranaki 22 (5)
2026– Blues
Correct as of 10 November 2025

Hemopo Cunningham (born 11 August 2001) is a New Zealand rugby union player, who plays for the Blues and Taranaki. His preferred position is lock or flanker.[1]

Early career

Cunningham attended Rotorua Boys' High School where he played for the first XV.[2] In 2019, he represented the New Zealand Maori U18 team before joining up with the Taranaki academy.[3] He plays his club rugby for Stratford-Eltham in the Taranaki region.[4][5]

Professional career

Cunningham has represented Taranaki in the National Provincial Championship since 2021, being named in the squad for the 2025 Bunnings NPC.[6] He was named in the Blues wider training group for the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Hemopo Cunningham". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  2. ^ "Super 8 Rugby: Meet the Rotorua Boys' High School and Tauranga Boys' College first XV teams battling for victory". NZ Herald. 25 May 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  3. ^ "Bayleys Academy Year 1 Intake 2020". Tarnaki Rugby. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  4. ^ "Stratford-Eltham reject underdog tag for Taranaki club rugby final". Stuff.co.nz. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  5. ^ "Rugby: Cunningham recovering from neck injury". Sports News Taranaki. 22 August 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  6. ^ "Barnes satisfied with depth and balance of Taranaki squad". Taranaki Daily News. 7 July 2025. Archived from the original on 8 July 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  7. ^ "Blues confirm 2026 wider training group". Blues (Press release). 7 November 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2025.