TK Howden

Standing close to 1.96m, Te Kamaka "TK" Howden is a towering loose forward who has made the blindside flank his own at the Highlanders. Born in Feilding, New Zealand, on 28 January 2001, he combines genuine lineout presence with the engine of a specialist back-rower. Howden arrived in Dunedin after a standout 2024 NPC campaign with Manawatu, where his form earned him provincial Player of the Year honours and a move to Super Rugby Pacific. A New Zealand Under-20 representative and a Māori All Black, he has the pedigree to back up his physical tools. His height makes him a valuable option at the lineout, both as a target and a disruptor, while his work rate sees him heavily involved in the collision areas — carrying hard, competing at the breakdown and putting in the defensive shift expected of a modern blindside. For the Highlanders, a franchise long built around forward graft, Howden's blend of size, athleticism and set-piece value makes him an important part of the pack.