The 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season was the 31st season of Super Rugby, an annual rugby union competition organised by SANZAAR between teams from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and a combined team from Samoa, Tonga and other Pacific Island nations. It was the 30th anniversary of the competition, having been established in 1996. The fixtures were released on 28 August 2025 and featured the return of Super Round in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The defending champions were the Crusaders, who won their 13th title in 2025. The Hurricanes won the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific title, defeating the Chiefs emphatically in the final to win their second Super Rugby championship.
Format and competition Unchanged from last season (2025), eleven teams competed in a round-robin format, playing fourteen matches each (seven home, seven away), with two byes. Teams faced four "rivals" twice and six others once. The top six advanced to the qualifying finals: 1st vs 6th, 2nd vs 5th, and 3rd vs 4th. The winners and the highest-seeded losing team progressed to the semi-finals. Newly introduced for 2026, rather than losing one seeding rank as in the 2025 season, the highest-ranked losing team entered as the fourth seed, playing away in the semi-finals.
Standings were based on competition points: four for a win, two for a draw, and none for a loss. Bonus points were awarded for scoring three or more tries than the opponent or for losing by seven points or fewer.
Law changes In February 2026, just weeks before the start of the season, it was revealed that some of the existing laws pertaining to restarts, kicking/territory, rucks, and the television match official (TMO), would be amended in order to reduce stoppages, keep the ball-in-play longer, and simplify the viewing experience. The law changes, as laid out by The Sydney Morning Herald, were:
It will no longer be mandatory for the referee to issue a yellow or red card to a player on the defending team when awarding a penalty try. Any sanction will be at the discretion of the referee. (Law 8.3) Accidental offsides and teams delaying playing the ball away from a ruck will result in free kicks rather than scrums. (Law 10.5 and Law 15.17) After the referee has called "use it" at the ruck, no additional players from the team in possession may join the ruck. (Law 15.17) Teams will be permitted to pass the ball back into their half before kicking a 50:22. (Law 18.8a) Players will be allowed to take quick taps within one metre either side of the mark, or anywhere behind the mark, if they are within that two-metre channel running parallel to the touchlines. (Law 20.2) The television match official (TMO) will only intervene unprompted if the referee has overlooked an act of serious foul play (yellow card level or above), or a clear and obvious infringement leading to a try.
These changes were reported to have "emphatic support" amongst Super Rugby clubs, match officials and stakeholders. Sports news website Planet Rugby gave a positive assessment about law changes that give referees more discretion and help speed the game up, particularly removing the mandatory card for penalty tries, tightening the "use it" ruck law to kill caterpillars, and allowing more flexibility for quick taps.
Teams and personnel
Overview Union Team Stadia information Coach Captain Stadia Capacity Australia 25,011 Stephen Larkham 20,500 Simon Cron Jeremy Williams 16,000 52,500 Les Kiss Fraser McReight 42,500 Dan McKellar Matt Philip Fiji 11,000 Glen Jackson 13,500 15,446 New Zealand 50,000 Vern Cotter 25,800 Jono Gibbes Luke Jacobson 17,104 Rob PenneyDavid Havili 30,000 30,748 Jamie Joseph Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington 34,500 Clark Laidlaw 19,700 Pacific Islands 14,000 Tana Umaga Miracle Faiʻilagi 12,000 26,000
Locations
Regular season Standings
Competition rules Competition points breakdown: * 4 competition points for a win * 2 competition points for a draw * 1 competition bonus point for a loss by seven points or less * 1 competition bonus point for scoring at least three tries more than the opponent in a match Tiebreaker rules: If, at any stage, teams have the same number of competition points, the following tiebreaker rules apply (in this order) to determine their standing: * Most wins from all matches* Highest difference between total points for and total points against from all matches (points difference)* Most tries scored from all matches* Highest difference between total tries for and total tries against from all matches* Coin toss
Round-by-round The table below shows each team's progression throughout the season. For each round, their cumulative points total is shown with the overall log position in brackets: Team progression Team R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 (SR) R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 QF SF Final 1 (7th) 5 (5th) 6 (5th) 10 (4th) 15 (2nd) 20 (2nd) 25 (2nd) 25 (2nd) 25 (3rd) 29 (3rd) 33 (3rd) 38 (2nd) 38 (3rd) 38 (3rd) 38 (3rd) 38 (4th) Lost Lost DNQ 5 (1st) 10 (1st) 14 (1st) 15 (1st) 15 (3rd) 19 (3rd) 20 (3rd) 20 (4th) 24 (4th) 25 (4th) 25 (5th) 25 (6th) 29 (5th) 29 (5th) 33 (5th) 34 (6th) Lost DNQ DNQ 4 (4th) 8 (3rd) 8 (3rd) 13 (2nd) 13 (4th) 13 (6th) 17 (5th) 22 (3rd) 27 (2nd) 31 (1st) 36 (1st) 36 (3rd) 40 (2nd) 45 (2nd) 46 (2nd) 51 (2nd) Won Won Lost 1 (6th) 1 (8th) 5 (7th) 5 (8th) 9 (8th) 14 (5th) 14 (6th) 19 (5th) 20 (6th) 21 (6th) 26 (4th) 27 (5th) 32 (4th) 32 (4th) 36 (4th) 41 (3rd) Won Lost DNQ 0 (9th) 0 (10th) 4 (10th) 4 (9th) 8 (9th) 8 (9th) 8 (9th) 8 (10th) 12 (9th) 16 (8th) 16 (9th) 20 (7th) 20 (9th) 20 (10th) 21 (10th) 21 (10th) DNQ DNQ DNQ 0 (11th) 0 (11th) 4 (9th) 4 (10th) 4 (10th) 4 (10th) 4 (10th) 9 (9th) 10 (10th) 14 (10th) 14 (10th) 18 (10th) 18 (10th) 22 (9th) 26 (8th) 30 (7th) DNQ DNQ DNQ 4 (5th) 5 (6th) 5 (8th) 9 (7th) 9 (7th) 9 (8th) 14 (8th) 14 (8th) 15 (7th) 16 (9th) 20 (7th) 20 (9th) 24 (7th) 24 (8th) 24 (9th) 24 (9th) DNQ DNQ DNQ 0 (8th) 5 (4th) 6 (4th) 11 (3rd) 15 (1st) 20 (1st) 25 (1st) 25 (1st) 30 (1st) 31 (2nd) 36 (2nd) 40 (1st) 45 (1st) 50 (1st) 55 (1st) 55 (1st) Won Won Won 4 (3rd) 4 (7th) 4 (11th) 4 (11th) 4 (11th) 4 (11th) 4 (11th) 4 (11th) 4 (11th) 4 (11th) 4 (11th) 4 (11th) 4 (11th) 4 (11th) 5 (11th) 9 (11th) DNQ DNQ DNQ 0 (10th) 0 (9th) 5 (6th) 9 (6th) 13 (5th) 18 (4th) 18 (4th) 18 (6th) 22 (5th) 22 (5th) 23 (6th) 27 (4th) 27 (6th) 28 (6th) 32 (6th) 37 (5th) Lost DNQ DNQ 5 (2nd) 10 (2nd) 10 (2nd) 10 (5th) 10 (6th) 10 (7th) 14 (7th) 14 (7th) 14 (8th) 19 (7th) 19 (8th) 20 (8th) 21 (8th) 26 (7th) 27 (7th) 28 (8th) DNQ DNQ DNQ Key: Win Draw Loss Bye DNQ = Did not qualify
Matches
Finals series
Qualifying finals
Semi-finals
Final
Statistics
Leading point scorers No. Player Team Points Average Details 1 Ruben Love 138 11.50 3 , 57 , 3 , 0 2 Damian McKenzie 135 12.27 5 , 46 , 6 , 0 3 Ryan Lonergan 107 7.13 5 , 35 , 4 , 0 4 Sid Harvey 98 8.91 6 , 22 , 8 , 0 5 Ben Donaldson 93 7.75 1 , 32 , 8 , 0 6 Cam Millar 91 7.58 0 , 29 , 11 , 0 7 Fehi Fineanganofo 85 6.07 17 , 0 , 0 , 0 Josh Moorby 85 5.31 17 , 0 , 0 , 0 9 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula 84 6.46 1 , 20 , 13 , 0 10 Taha Kemara 82 6.31 1 , 34 , 3 , 0
Leading try scorers No. Player Team Tries Average 1 Fehi Fineanganofo 17 1.21 Josh Moorby 17 1.06 3 Samisoni Taukei'aho 12 0.86 4 Kyren Taumoefolau 10 0.77 Carlo Tizzano 10 0.83 6 Charlie Cale 9 1.00 Caleb Clarke 9 0.64 Cam Roigard 9 0.64 9 Chay Fihaki 8 0.67 Max Jorgensen 8 0.57 AJ Lam 8 0.50 Sevu Reece 8 0.57 Tim Ryan 8 0.62 Quinn Tupaea 8 0.53
Discipline PlayerTeam Red Yellow Round (vs. opponent) Jona Nareki 1 1 Round 13 (vs. ) Round 2 (vs. ) Faletoi Peni 1 1 Round 16 (vs. ) Round 16 (vs. ) Malachi Wrampling 1 1 Qualifying Final (vs. ) Round 6 (vs. ) Daniel Lienert-Brown 1 0 Round 15 (vs. ) Kurtis MacDonald 1 0 Round 13 (vs. ) Augustine Pulu 1 0 Round 5 (vs. ) Isikeli Rabitu 0 3 Round 10 (vs. ) Round 12 (vs. ) Round 14 (vs. ) Dominic Gardiner 0 2 Round 2 (vs. ) Round 4 (vs. ) William Havili 0 2 Round 5 (vs. ) Round 7 (vs. ) Tom Savage 0 2 Round 9 (vs. ) Round 10 (vs. ) Glen Vaihu 0 2 Round 7 (vs. ) Round 10 (vs. ) Isaia Walker-Leawere 0 2 Round 5 (vs. ) Round 9 (vs. ) Tevita Alatini 0 1 Round 1 (vs. ) Miles Amatosero 0 1 Round 11 (vs. ) Henry Bell 0 1 Round 9 (vs. ) Angus Blyth 0 1 Round 4 (vs. ) Kaylum Boshier 0 1 Round 1 (vs. ) Finlay Brewis 0 1 Round 5 (vs. ) Joe Brial 0 1 Round 15 (vs. ) Kyle Brown 0 1 Qualifying Final (vs. ) Tahlor Cahill 0 1 Round 10 (vs. ) Jock Campbell 0 1 Round 6 (vs. ) Elia Canakaivata 0 1 Round 5 (vs. ) Nick Champion de Crespigny 0 1 Round 10 (vs. ) Caleb Clarke 0 1 Round 4 (vs. ) Liam Coombes-Fabling 0 1 Semi-final (vs. ) Mesake Doge 0 1 Round 5 (vs. ) Ilaisa Droasese 0 1 Round 9 (vs. ) Chay Fihaki 0 1 Round 5 (vs. ) Fehi Fineanganofo 0 1 Round 9 (vs. ) Charlie Gamble 0 1 Round 15 (vs. ) David Havili 0 1 Round 11 (vs. ) Noah Hotham 0 1 Round 3 (vs. ) AJ Lam 0 1 Round 10 (vs. ) Veveni Lasaqa 0 1 Round 6 (vs. ) Vaiuta Latu 0 1 Round 1 (vs. ) Tomás Lavanini 0 1 Round 14 (vs. ) Johnny Lee 0 1 Round 8 (vs. ) Lachlan Lonergan 0 1 Round 15 (vs. ) Jonah Lowe 0 1 Round 11 (vs. ) Ioane Moananu 0 1 Round 11 (vs. ) Cadeyrn Neville 0 1 Round 2 (vs. ) Sam Nock 0 1 Round 1 (vs. ) Ollie Norris 0 1 Round 7 (vs. ) Xavier Numia 0 1 Round 6 (vs. ) Reuben O'Neill 0 1 Round 2 (vs. ) Semisi Paea 0 1 Round 11 (vs. ) Brandon Paenga-Amosa 0 1 Round 2 (vs. ) Stephen Perofeta 0 1 Round 3 (vs. ) George Poolman 0 1 Round 4 (vs. ) Ngane Punivai 0 1 Round 15 (vs. ) Pouri Rakete-Stones 0 1 Round 15 (vs. ) Jone Rova 0 1 Round 14 (vs. ) Lukhan Salakaia-Loto 0 1 Qualifying Final (vs. ) Pete Samu 0 1 Round 7 (vs. ) Jack Sexton 0 1 Round 13 (vs. ) Antonio Shalfoon 0 1 Round 2 (vs. ) James Slipper 0 1 Round 16 (vs. ) Zarn Sullivan 0 1 Round 10 (vs. ) Timoci Tavatavanawai 0 1 Round 13 (vs. ) Codie Taylor 0 1 Round 5 (vs. ) Xavier Tito-Harris 0 1 Round 15 (vs. ) Jeffery Toomaga-Allen 0 1 Round 13 (vs. ) Maika Tuitubou 0 1 Round 15 (vs. ) Mesake Vocevoce 0 1 Round 1 (vs. ) Joey Walton 0 1 Round 16 (vs. ) Etonia Waqa 0 1 Round 9 (vs. ) Harry Wilson 0 1 Round 8 (vs. )
Awards
Player of the Year + Player of the Year Award Player Votes Position Team Winner Ben Donaldson 39 Fly-half Quinn Tupaea() Max Jorgensen 39 Fullback / Wing Anton Segner 41 Loose forward Timoci Tavatavanawai 43 Midfielder Quinn Tupaea 43 Midfielder
Team of the Year + Team of the Year Player1 Ethan de Groot (Highlanders)2 Samisoni Taukei'aho (Chiefs)3 Xavier Numia (Hurricanes)4 Jeremy Williams (Force)5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Reds)BR Anton Segner (Blues)BR Leicester Faingaʻanuku (Crusaders)BR Fraser McReight (Reds)9 Ryan Lonergan (Brumbies)10 Ben Donaldson (Force)11 Max Jorgensen (Waratahs)12 Quinn Tupaea (Chiefs)13 Timoci Tavatavanawai (Highlanders)14 Caleb Tangitau (Highlanders)15 Jock Campbell (Reds)
Players Squads The following squads have been named. Players listed as WTG are players named in the wider training groups. Players listed as Dev are players named in development groups. Players listed in italics denote non-original squad members:
+ squad Forwards Ben Ake • Torian Barnes • Josh Beehre • Che Clark • Tristyn Cook • Sam Darry • Kurt Eklund • Josh Fusitu'a • Sam Matenga • Laghlan McWhannell • Jed Melvin • James Mullan • Eli Oudenryn • Dalton Papali'i • Terrell Peita • Marcel Renata • Anton Segner • Bradley Slater • Hoskins Sotutu • Patrick Tuipulotu • Mason Tupaea • Ofa Tuʻungafasi • Malachi Wrampling • Flyn Yates • Did not play • Cam Christie • Jordan Lay • Cameron Suafoa Backs Pita Ahki • Kade Banks • Beauden Barrett • Finlay Christie • Caleb Clarke • Corey Evans • Cole Forbes • Taufa Funaki • AJ Lam • Sam Nock • Stephen Perofeta • Payton Spencer • Zarn Sullivan • Xavi Taele • Cody Vai • Did not play • James Cameron • Rico Simpson WTG Torian Barnes • Sam Matenga • Jed Melvin • Eli Oudenryn • Mason Tupaea • Did not play • Hemopo Cunningham • Tima Faingaʻanuku • Esile Fono • Leo Gordon • Jack Lee • Josh Renton • Harlyn Saunoa Coach Vern Cotter