All Blacks and Highlanders prop Ethan de Groot re-signs until 2026

Happy Highlander Ethan de Groot says he didn’t even bother looking at other options before re-signing with the Highlanders, Southland and New Zealand Rugby until 2026.

The 24-year-old is in excellent form for the Highlanders after bouncing back from a setback in his young All Blacks career last year, something that he readily admits “put a lot of fire in the belly”.

But since being omitted for the series against Ireland, de Groot has become fitter and is now a key member of a Highlanders pack that is starting to gather admirers.

“I like what we’re building down here, especially the new coaching group,” de Groot said on Tuesday. “I think ‘Derms’ [Clarke Dermody] is doing a great job at the moment.

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“I don’t know where anywhere else is like and I don’t see myself being anywhere else. I’m happy to be here.”

The Southlander was omitted from the All Blacks squad to face Ireland last year, but subsequently won a recall and was a key part of the side’s improved set-piece work in the second half of 2022.

He has carried that standard into Super Rugby Pacific, with the Highlanders scrum edging New Zealand opponents early in the campaign despite issues with the rest of their game.

De Groot said the Highlanders pack was reaping the rewards from doing its homework, and had a not-so-secret set-piece weapon in powerhouse lock Pari Pari Parkinson.

“I think it’s planning well through the week,” he said. “Our review on what teams are doing, what refs are wanting, what pictures they want.

“And then also Jermaine [Ainsley], my tighthead, he’s unreal at the moment – and then our hookers.

“[But] but the guys in behind like Pari Pari, he’s a freak. He’s a 130-kilo lock. It’s pretty tough to push him back, and then there’s guys like Josh Dickson.”

The feats of the Highlanders forwards haven’t gone unnoticed by the backs, with Ainsley confirming that Aaron Smith had delivered on his promise to shout milkshakes for the big boys for winning an important scrum penalty against Moana Pasifika on Friday.

Ainsley himself is in career-best form, and said the Highlanders front-rowers had set themselves a high bar of being one of the best units in Super Rugby.

“As a front row, we talk about it,” Ainsley said. “And then we just translate back to the back five, ‘This is how I want to scrum, I want to be dominant’.”

“Everyone just buys into it. It’s the same with lineout when the locks come to us and they say they want to be the best lineout.

“As props make sure that we do everything we can, so I think it’s just a collective buy-in.”

The Highlanders pack will be well tested by the Hurricanes on Saturday, with their set-piece work noticeably improved this year under former Highlanders prop Jamie Mackintosh.

De Groot will butt heads with All Blacks tighthead Tyrel Lomax, who also recently re-signed with NZ Rugby until 2026.

Ainsley confirmed that he was also contracted beyond the Rugby World Cup – through to 2024 – as he chases an All Blacks jersey.

“Looking at the team and the future, it’s pretty bright, I reckon,” Ainsley said.

“There are good players coming through and it’s something to get excited about.

“So, when it comes to that time to make the decision [on re-signing beyond 2024], I think our potential coming through is pretty exciting.”