2026 Super Rugby Pacific Season Begins This Week

The 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season begins this week, marking the competition's 30th anniversary with a packed opening round featuring derbies across New Zealand and Australia. The defending champion Crusaders face the Highlanders in Dunedin on Friday, February 13, at Forsyth Barr Stadium, kicking off at 7:05 p.m. local time. Other matches include the Blues hosting the Chiefs in Auckland, the New South Wales Waratahs against the Queensland Reds in Sydney, and the Western Force taking on the ACT Brumbies in Perth, all on the weekend. The Fijian Drua will host Moana Pasifika in Lautoka on Saturday, while the Hurricanes receive a bye in round one.

The 11-team tournament, featuring franchises from New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific Islands, runs for 19 weeks, with teams playing 14 regular-season matches, seven home and seven away. The top eight sides advance to a three-week finals series culminating in a grand final in June. A highlight will be the Super Round in Christchurch at the new One NZ Stadium, showcasing multiple fixtures over three days. Broadcast options include Stan Sport in Australia, Sky in New Zealand, Sky Sports streaming in the UK, and ESPN via FuboTV in the...