Super Rugby Pacific 2026
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waiopehu oldboy
Rocky Elsom (76)
Super Round will be held over Easter (3 - 5 April) just a few weeks after the new stadium opens & not all the infrastructure in place. Risky IMO.
Looking on the brighter side, they're going to relegate the "Lucky Loser" to fourth seed for the SF which at least shows they listened to the feedback after last year's debacle.
www.stuff.co.nz
Looking on the brighter side, they're going to relegate the "Lucky Loser" to fourth seed for the SF which at least shows they listened to the feedback after last year's debacle.
Stuff
www.stuff.co.nz
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waiopehu oldboy
Rocky Elsom (76)
Super Round confirmed but for ANZAC rather than Easter. Crusaders get the Friday night, 'canes v Brums on ANZAC Day. Remaining fixtures etc all TBA.
www.stuff.co.nz
Obviously I want it to be hugely successful but I know people in the hospo industry down there & at least some are doubtful the wider accommodation/ transport/ hospo sector will be ready in time.
Stuff
www.stuff.co.nz
Obviously I want it to be hugely successful but I know people in the hospo industry down there & at least some are doubtful the wider accommodation/ transport/ hospo sector will be ready in time.
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Wilson
Tim Horan (67)
Super Round confirmed but for ANZAC rather than Easter. Crusaders get the Friday night, 'canes v Brums on ANZAC Day. Remaining fixtures etc all TBA.
Stuff
A few fixture details in that article:
So we have the Crusaders (obviously), Hurricanes, Blues, Brumbies and Reds all confirmed for super round. I'm guessing they'll lean into the Aus v NZ given it's the ANZAC day weekend, so probably the tahs playing the Crusaders in that opener with the Force playing either the Highlanders or Chiefs (Highlanders would be the best bet for the quality of the product).
So probably one of Fiji, Moana or the Chiefs to miss out, Fiji makes sense from a logistics point of view, though a Fiji vs Moana clash would probably be the best pairing there from a product perspective.
waiopehu oldboy
Rocky Elsom (76)
Moana v Drua & Clan v Force would be my pick with Tribe missing out (but still getting a share of the proceeds), unfortunately.
Doubt they'll schedule a NZ team to miss the NZ based super round, considering they're likely factored in as significant travelling fans.
waiopehu oldboy
Rocky Elsom (76)
"My pick" based on rugby not financial considerations. In reality I suspect Drua will miss out on account of the extra travel costs.
Shame, because in hindsight, their fan base are the most vocal and do tend to make the trip for these events. Would be great if we had 12 teams.
Homer
Charlie Fox (21)
Solid team, just missing a real line bending ball runner. I believe Kailea could play that Tupou roll, just needs to embrace the mongrel. If Creighton can get the ball wide the attack should be good, plenty of speed, and WIlson off the bench will be great.
Adam84
John Eales (66)
waiopehu oldboy
Rocky Elsom (76)
There were two trans-Tasman matches on ANZAC Day this year & another (plus Drua v Moana) on Saturday 26/04...
Dan54
David Wilson (68)
There always has games on Anzac day, happens every 7 years or so, nothing new in that. Funnily enough no special midweek games when that's when it falls. I'm not sure some have actually watched rugby for very long.
I also think it makes sense to move it back from Easter when they wanted, although Easter is a long weekend etc , but as WOB pointed out it actually only due to be opened a week or 2 after that date. It now due to be open on 20th april, so still cutting it fine.
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waiopehu oldboy
Rocky Elsom (76)
More details emerging:
"Relocating to Christchurch will be contingent on the new 25,000 enclosed stadium being completed by early April."
I've seen reports of it being handed over to the operators as early as mid- to late February once they're satisfied they're getting what they paid for.
"Unlike the Melbourne event, which was licensed out to events company TEG Sport, NZ Rugby and the Crusaders will take control of the event in Christchurch with the assistance of Venues [Christchurch]"
"ChristchurchNZ, a ratepayer-funded economic development agency, has played a key role in bringing the event to the city."
"A ChristchurchNZ spokesperson would not say how much it paid to Super Rugby Pacific.
"In 2024 ChristchurchNZ paid SailGP a $400,000 cash "host city'' payment and $520,000 in various costs associated with running the event which attracted 6000 visitors who spent $3.3 million."
You'd hope that five matches at a brand new 25K-seat stadium would bring in more than 6K visitors: even if only 10% of tix are taken up by visitors that's potentially 12.5K assuming all games sell out.
www.stuff.co.nz
"Relocating to Christchurch will be contingent on the new 25,000 enclosed stadium being completed by early April."
I've seen reports of it being handed over to the operators as early as mid- to late February once they're satisfied they're getting what they paid for.
"Unlike the Melbourne event, which was licensed out to events company TEG Sport, NZ Rugby and the Crusaders will take control of the event in Christchurch with the assistance of Venues [Christchurch]"
"ChristchurchNZ, a ratepayer-funded economic development agency, has played a key role in bringing the event to the city."
"A ChristchurchNZ spokesperson would not say how much it paid to Super Rugby Pacific.
"In 2024 ChristchurchNZ paid SailGP a $400,000 cash "host city'' payment and $520,000 in various costs associated with running the event which attracted 6000 visitors who spent $3.3 million."
You'd hope that five matches at a brand new 25K-seat stadium would bring in more than 6K visitors: even if only 10% of tix are taken up by visitors that's potentially 12.5K assuming all games sell out.
Stuff
www.stuff.co.nz
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Dan54
David Wilson (68)
Heard a fella say on radio yesterday ,once they get handover they still have to get a few more things sorted etc before opening day on April 20th, not sure what. But I guessing they have to get all food/ drink outlets etc etc set up, and licensed. He was pretty confident that the opening day was pretty was no probs, but did add they had a plan in place just in case. 
Apparently turf etc satrts going in about November.
Apparently turf etc satrts going in about November.
Dan54
David Wilson (68)
I think they are more than hopeful that all games will sell out. I genuinely think the biggest selling point will be the fact it is first event at new stadium, and that is no way downplaying the rugby side of things.More details emerging:
"Relocating to Christchurch will be contingent on the new 25,000 enclosed stadium being completed by early April."
I've seen reports of it being handed over to the operators as early as mid- to late February once they're satisfied they're getting what they paid for.
"Unlike the Melbourne event, which was licensed out to events company TEG Sport, NZ Rugby and the Crusaders will take control of the event in Christchurch with the assistance of Venues [Christchurch]"
"ChristchurchNZ, a ratepayer-funded economic development agency, has played a key role in bringing the event to the city."
"A ChristchurchNZ spokesperson would not say how much it paid to Super Rugby Pacific.
"In 2024 ChristchurchNZ paid SailGP a $400,000 cash "host city'' payment and $520,000 in various costs associated with running the event which attracted 6000 visitors who spent $3.3 million."
You'd hope that five matches at a brand new 25K-seat stadium would bring in more than 6K visitors: even if only 10% of tix are taken up by visitors that's potentially 12.5K assuming all games sell out.
Stuff