The 30th season of Super Rugby Pacific began with a seismic upset as the Highlanders toppled defending champions the Crusaders 25-23 at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Cameron Millar’s nerveless 79th-minute penalty completing a remarkable turnaround for last year’s wooden spooners.

Key moments

3 mins – PENALTY HIGHLANDERS: Cameron Millar opens the scoring after Christian Lio-Willie spills the kickoff receipt. The Highlanders win an early scrum and draw an offside penalty, with Millar slotting the simple shot from in front. (Highlanders 3-0 Crusaders)
15 mins – TRY HIGHLANDERS: Caleb Tangitau scores the first try of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season with devastating effect. Off a lineout, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens finds space and offloads to Tangitau, who burns past Chay Fihaki and Rivez Reihana on a 20-metre blast to score in the corner. Cameron Millar’s conversion drifts wide. (Highlanders 8-0 Crusaders)
19 mins – TRY CRUSADERS: Noah Hotham strikes back for the visitors with a clever individual try. Sevu Reece pounces on a loose ball after a contestable kick goes wrong for the Highlanders, linking with Ethan Blackadder who drives deep into Highlanders territory. Hotham spots the vacant blindside and sprints 30 metres untouched to score. Rivez Reihana converts from wide. (Highlanders 8-7 Crusaders)
40 mins – PENALTY CRUSADERS: Rivez Reihana gives the Crusaders the lead at the break after Timoci Tavatavanawai is penalised for offside in the dying moments of the half. (Highlanders 8-10 Crusaders)
Half-time: Highlanders 8-10 Crusaders. Highlanders dominate territory with 71% in opening 30 minutes but Crusaders edge possession at 52%. Both teams struggle with handling—17 errors across both sides before the break, with the Crusaders most culpable. Highlanders lineout scratchy with four mistakes.
42 mins – PENALTY CRUSADERS: Ethan Blackadder wins a turnover straight from the restart and Rivez Reihana extends the lead from 35 metres. (Highlanders 8-13 Crusaders)
45 mins – TRY HIGHLANDERS: Angus Ta’avao crashes over on his first touch for his new club. Jonah Lowe breaks the line in midfield before Folau Fakatava delivers quick ball. Ta’avao finds an acre of space after Te Kamaka Howden’s decoy run wrong-foots Jamie Hannah and crashes over near the posts. Cameron Millar converts. (Highlanders 15-13 Crusaders)
49 mins – TRY HIGHLANDERS: Jonah Lowe finishes off the try of the match—a stunning 80-metre team movement. Oliver Haig wins the ball at the lineout on his side, and co-captain Timoci Tavatavanawai bursts past Braydon Ennor with brute strength, offloading out of contact to Jona Nareki. The winger draws fullback Chay Fihaki before releasing Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens down the touchline. Lowe arrives on the inside to finish. Cameron Millar converts from the sideline. (Highlanders 22-13 Crusaders)
50 mins – CRUSADERS BENCH: Rob Penney empties his bench, introducing All Blacks Codie Taylor, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Corey Kellow and Will Jordan. (Highlanders 22-13 Crusaders)
61 mins – TRY CRUSADERS: Will Jordan’s class proves too much. Off a stable scrum platform, the ball is shifted left and Jordan receives from Taha Kemara with defenders in front. He steps sharply off his left foot, slips through three tacklers and reaches out to score his 48th try for the club—moving into third on the Crusaders’ all-time list. Taha Kemara converts from a tricky angle. (Highlanders 22-20 Crusaders)
67 mins – JORDAN BREAK: Will Jordan takes a mark, taps quickly and surges the length of the field before kicking in behind to force a goal-line dropout. The Crusaders’ pressure building. (Highlanders 22-20 Crusaders)
71 mins – PENALTY CRUSADERS: Will Jordan is caught high and Taha Kemara remains cool under pressure, slotting from in front to give the defending champions the lead with nine minutes remaining. (Highlanders 22-23 Crusaders)
79 mins – PENALTY HIGHLANDERS: The match-winner. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens chips ahead and is taken out illegally by Codie Taylor, who changes his line to check the fullback. Cameron Millar, from 48 metres—having missed a crucial kick against the Crusaders in Christchurch last season—makes no mistake with 90 seconds remaining. (Highlanders 25-23 Crusaders)
80+ mins – KNOCKED ON: The Crusaders have one last chance from the restart, winning a scrum with seconds remaining. They launch a final sequence from just inside halfway, carrying hard through the middle, but Taha Kemara loses the ball in contact and referee Angus Gardner blows for full-time.
Full-time: Highlanders 25-23 Crusaders

With injured All Blacks lock Fabian Holland watching on from the stands after being ruled out for the season with a dislocated shoulder, the Highlanders made their way onto the field hoping to make a statement against the defending champions. They did precisely that.

The Highlanders, roared on by a packed Zoo, made their intentions clear from the opening whistle. Christian Lio-Willie’s failure to gather the kickoff handed the hosts immediate territory, and though they could only manufacture three points through Millar’s boot, the tone was set.

Jamie Joseph’s men continued to ask questions, and smart breakdown work in the opening 15 minutes—with Jack Taylor, debutant Lucas Casey, and Timoci Tavatavanawai prominent—got the Highlanders clear of early Crusaders surges. Their reward came through a moment of individual brilliance. Off a lineout, the ball moved through hands somewhat awkwardly, but Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens gathered on the fly and found Caleb Tangitau with space to burn. The winger, whose name has featured prominently in All Blacks discussions, scorched around Chay Fihaki and Rivez Reihana on a 20-metre blast to dot down in the corner and open the competition’s try-scoring account.

The Crusaders, however, are not 13-time champions for nothing. They responded within four minutes through Noah Hotham—gamely sporting a new bleached hairstyle—who exploited a vacant blindside after Sevu Reece pounced on a loose ball from a contestable kick and linked with Ethan Blackadder. Once Hotham pinned his ears back with the try line in sight, there was never any doubt. Reihana’s conversion from the touchline levelled proceedings before his penalty on the stroke of halftime gave the visitors a slender 10-8 advantage.

Referee Angus Gardner involved himself smartly throughout, giving crisp directions to keep players clear and the ball in play.

The second half began ominously for the Highlanders when Blackadder won a turnover from the restart and Reihana extended the lead to five points. Rob Penney’s men appeared to be grinding their way towards another victory, just as they had done so many times before.

But the Highlanders had other ideas.

A tactical masterstroke from Joseph saw props Ethan de Groot and Angus Ta’avao introduced at halftime, and the latter made an immediate impact. Jonah Lowe’s powerful carry through midfield created the platform, and when Folau Fakatava delivered quick ball, Ta’avao found himself in an acre of space after Te Kamaka Howden’s decoy run befuddled Hannah. The prop needed no second invitation, crashing over to restore the Highlanders’ lead.

Four minutes later, the home side produced the try of the match. Oliver Haig’s tip at the lineout gave the Highlanders possession in their own half, and what followed was breathtaking. Co-captain Timoci Tavatavanawai, celebrating his 50th Super Rugby appearance, burst past Ennor and offloaded out of contact to find Jona Nareki in support. The winger’s vision then released Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens down the touchline, and Lowe arrived on the inside shoulder to complete the 80-metre movement. Millar’s conversion stretched the advantage to nine points with half an hour remaining.

Enter Will Jordan. The All Blacks star, introduced early in the second half as Penney emptied his bench, had already shown glimpses of his class with a scintillating counter-attack from a mark that took him the length of the field before forcing a goal-line dropout. But his 61st-minute try demonstrated why he remains one of the most dangerous finishers in world rugby. Receiving from Taha Kemara some 20 metres out, Jordan appeared covered, only to step sharply off his left foot and slip through three defenders to score his 48th try for the club—moving into third on the Crusaders’ all-time list.

Kemara’s conversion made it a two-point game, and when the first five-eighth added a penalty on 71 minutes after a high tackle on Jordan, the Crusaders had somehow wrestled back the lead with less than ten minutes remaining.

The script appeared written. The Crusaders had done this countless times before—absorbing pressure, weathering storms, and finding a way to win when it mattered most.

But Millar had other ideas.

With 90 seconds on the clock, Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens uncorked a chip over the top. Codie Taylor, perhaps carrying a little summer rust having moments earlier fluffed a straightforward pass that would have put Fihaki over, changed his line and collected the fullback illegally. Referee Angus Gardner pointed to the spot.

From 48 metres out, with the weight of expectation bearing down, Millar—who had missed a crucial kick against the Crusaders in Christchurch last season—struck the penalty sweetly. The Zoo roared its approval before the ball had even crossed the uprights, and when the Crusaders’ last-gasp attack ended with Kemara spilling in contact after the hooter, pandemonium ensued.

For Blackadder, who was arguably the best player on the park with his relentless work at the breakdown, and Jordan, whose second-half cameo so nearly proved decisive, there was only disappointment. Sixteen of the Crusaders’ 23 had featured in last year’s grand final triumph, yet they could not find a way past a Highlanders side playing with freedom and intent.

Among the home side’s standouts, Howden was immense at blindside flanker, while Tavatavanawai’s leadership in his milestone match proved invaluable. In the backs, Tangitau and Nareki caused problems throughout, and Millar’s composure under pressure marked him as a player to watch this season.

The Crusaders will need to address their handling—they coughed up possession at crucial moments throughout—and their discipline, which allowed the Highlanders into the game repeatedly. The good news for Penney is that Scott Barrett, Tamaiti Williams, and others will bolster the squad as the season progresses.

For Joseph, whose name is linked to the vacant All Blacks coaching position, this was a perfect start—his CV receiving another timely boost. The Highlanders may have finished bottom of the table last year, but on this evidence, they are a side transformed.

The Crusaders’ error count told the story: 17 handling errors across both teams before the break, with the visitors most culpable. Lio-Willie’s opening-minute spill set an unfortunate tone, and when attack coach James Marshall had spoken pre-season about his team’s skill set being what set them apart, he could hardly have envisaged such a catalogue of fumbles. Ennor, Fainga’anuku and Lio-Willie were all guilty of coughing up possession at crucial moments.

What they said

David Havili, Crusaders captain: “The Highlanders did a great job at the breakdown; they beat us in that area tonight. They showed the physicality you need to finish off the opportunities. We lacked skillset, we had opportunities to score but they put us under a lot of pressure in our set piece. We don’t take any team lightly and we got beaten by the better team tonight. We need to dig deep and look where we can be better.”
Rob Penney, Crusaders head coach: “We’re really disappointed. Great credit to the Highlanders, they always front up and it’s a credit to their organisation. Our accuracy was poor—we had over a dozen errors around halftime which got worse in the second half. We started to get a bit of flow on then gave away a few silly penalties. We were second today, no doubt.”

Match details

Highlanders 25 (Tries: Caleb Tangitau, Angus Ta’avao, Jonah Lowe; Conversions: Cameron Millar 2/3; Penalties: Cameron Millar 2/2)
Crusaders 23 (Tries: Noah Hotham, Will Jordan; Conversions: Rivez Reihana 1/1, Taha Kemara 1/1; Penalties: Rivez Reihana 2/2, Taha Kemara 1/1)
Halftime: 8-10
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant Referees: George Myers, Matt Kellahan
TMO: Graham Cooper
Attendance: 15,000

What’s next

The Highlanders remain at Forsyth Barr Stadium next week to host the Chiefs, looking to build on this momentum against another title contender. The Crusaders return home to Apollo Projects Stadium on Sunday 22 February to face the Brumbies, knowing they must sharpen their execution as they look ahead to the grand opening of One NZ Stadium later in the season.

The 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season was officially launched in Auckland last week, marking three decades since Super Rugby revolutionised professional rugby union. As the ten teams prepare for battle, the question on everyone’s lips is whether anyone can prevent another New Zealand side from lifting the trophy.

The defending champion Crusaders, last year’s resurgent force under Rob Penney, begin their title defence in hostile territory at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Friday night. It’s a fitting start to a season that promises drama, with the Chiefs installed as early favourites and the Hurricanes lurking as genuine dark-horse contenders.

The contenders: who can win the title?

Chiefs — the favourites

Despite three consecutive grand final defeats, the Chiefs enter 2026 as the team to beat. The departure of Shaun Stevenson to Japan and Anton Lienert-Brown’s temporary absence do little to weaken the competition’s deepest squad.

New head coach Jono Gibbes inherits a roster brimming with All Blacks talent. Damian McKenzie leads a backline featuring Quinn Tupaea, Etene Nanai-Seturo, and exciting recruit Kyren Taumoefolau, snaffled from Moana Pasifika.

The pack remains formidable: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Josh Lord, Tupou Vaa’i, Wallace Sititi, Leroy Carter, and captain Luke Jacobson provide the muscle and mongrel required for finals football.

The burning question is whether Gibbes can exorcise the demons of those three lost finals. Those scars linger, but this squad has the quality to go one better.

Crusaders — the defending champions

What a return to form last year. After a horror 2024 that saw them miss the playoffs for the first time in nine years, Rob Penney’s men came roaring back to defeat the Chiefs in the final. It wasn’t without hiccups—a big loss at home to Moana Pasifika raised eyebrows—but the Crusaders’ DNA of delivering under pressure proved decisive.

The big news is Scott Barrett’s contractual rest sabbatical, meaning David Havili continues as captain through the regular season. The last Crusader to take such a break was Codie Taylor, who returned in career-best form.

Leicester Fainga’anuku’s return from two years in France is a significant boost. The hulking wing could feature in the midfield or even loose forwards, having played there during his French sojourn.

“Having Leicester back … he’s played midfield, he’s played loose forward so you could be in for a bit of a surprise there,” Taylor hinted.

From Anzac weekend onwards, the Crusaders will play home matches at the new One NZ Stadium—a roofed venue that may embolden visiting teams previously intimidated by Christchurch’s winter elements. Nevertheless, the Crusaders’ remarkable 30-0 finals record at home suggests they’ll adapt quickly.

Hurricanes — the dark horses

Throughout Super Rugby’s 30-year history, the Hurricanes have frustrated supporters with unfulfilled potential. Three quarter-final losses in four years speaks to their recent business end struggles.

Yet there are reasons for optimism. If Cam Roigard and Jordie Barrett stay fit, the Canes possess the quality to challenge anyone. Barrett’s return from a successful season with Leinster drastically improves their title claims, with his experience and physicality sorely missed last year.

Clark Laidlaw’s coaching staff now includes Jason Holland, returned from All Blacks duties, alongside the well-regarded Cory Jane, Jamie Mackintosh, and lineout expert Bryn Evans.

The tight five, historically a weakness, has been bolstered by three All Blacks tightheads—Tyrel Lomax, Pasilio Tosi, and Tevita Mafileo—plus powerhouse hooker Asafo Aumua returning from injury.

“We’ve got a good roster this year, plenty of experience and a couple of boys coming back from overseas. It’s an exciting group,” said flanker Du’Plessis Kirifi. “A title is long overdue.”

Blues — questions remain

How will Vern Cotter’s looming departure impact their campaign? A breakthrough 2024 title was followed by last year’s semi-final defeat in Christchurch. Departing coaches can have either a distracting or galvanising effect—which one awaits the Blues?

Rieko Ioane’s sabbatical opens the door for AJ Lam and Pita Ahki, the latter returning from seven years in France, to combine in midfield. Stephen Perofeta and Dalton Papali’i have points to prove—Perofeta after prolonged injury absence, Papali’i after last year’s All Blacks snub.

Patrick Tuipulotu remains sidelined with a shoulder injury, while Beauden Barrett won’t feature until round four as part of his return-to-play programme.

The Australian challenge

No Australian side has won the competition, or even reached the final, since Michael Cheika’s Waratahs upset the Crusaders in 2014. With the 2027 home Rugby World Cup looming, Australian rugby desperately needs its provinces to make a statement.

The Waratahs have recruited strongly around Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Max Jorgensen. The Reds boast an intriguing flyhalves’ battle between Carter Gordon and Tom Lynagh, though both are currently injured. The Brumbies retain Rob Valetini and welcome Tane Edmed to learn from Stephen Larkham.

The Force, notably the only team not appearing at Super Round later in the season, welcome back prop Harry Johnson-Holmes after nearly two years out with knee and ankle injuries.

“There’s some big marketplaces in Australia that would help us all if we unlock them,” Mesley acknowledged. “It would be great to see the Waratahs go really well, selfishly, because there’s so many eyeballs in Sydney.”

Pacific Island pride

Moana Pasifika seek to continue their remarkable progression—from one win in 2022 to the cusp of the top six last year. Upsetting both the Crusaders and Blues demonstrated their drastic improvement, though filling the Ardie Savea-shaped hole left by his Japanese sabbatical won’t be easy. Miracle Faiilagi takes over the captaincy.

The Fijian Drua remain a formidable force at home, having won 15 of 22 matches in Suva and Lautoka. However, until they rectify their dire record of just three road wins in four years, playoff contention will prove elusive.

Stats to watch

• Beauden Barrett (1,549 points) is just three points away from surpassing Morne Steyn (1,551) as the second all-time leading point scorer in Super Rugby history. Dan Carter’s record of 1,708 remains the benchmark.
• Damian McKenzie (312 conversions) is eight conversions shy of overtaking Richie Mo’unga (319) for second place on the all-time conversions list. Barrett leads with 331.
• James Slipper currently sits on 198 Super Rugby caps, four shy of the all-time record of 202.

Season prediction

The Chiefs remain the team to beat, their squad depth unmatched across the competition. However, the Hurricanes’ dark-horse status is well-earned—if Barrett and Roigard stay fit, they possess the quality to finally end their finals hoodoo.

Expect another Chiefs-Crusaders final, with Jono Gibbes desperate to deliver the title that has eluded his new side in three consecutive grand final appearances.
As Mesley said at the launch: “The purpose for Super Rugby Pacific remains clear—to light the flame for generations to love the game.” Three decades on, that flame burns as brightly as ever.

The 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season begins Friday 13 February with Highlanders v Crusaders at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin (7:05pm NZT / 5:05pm AEDT).

Where to watch

Australia: Stan Sport (all matches, ad-free, live and on demand); Nine Network (Saturday 7:35pm AEDT match, live)
New Zealand: Sky Sport
Fiji: Sky Pacific (pay TV); Fijian Broadcasting Corporation (free-to-air)
United Kingdom and Ireland: Sky UK
United States and Canada: ESPN; FloSports (USA territories); TSN (Canada)
Pacific Islands: Digicel
Japan: Wowow
South Africa & Africa: SuperSport
France: Canal+
Rest of World: NZR+ (streaming)

Super Rugby Pacific has confirmed a raft of law modifications for its landmark 30th anniversary season, with officials vowing to keep television match officials on a tight leash as part of a continued push to make rugby more entertaining for fans.

The competition, which kicks off on Friday 13 February when the Highlanders host defending champions the Crusaders at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, will introduce five new law innovations alongside a recommitment to limiting TMO interference in matches.

The changes come after All Blacks legend Richie McCaw voiced frustration with the sport’s over-reliance on video officials during a media engagement in Chicago in November. The two-time World Cup-winning captain said rugby had become “stalled” due to the constant interventions.

“We’re our own worst enemies when it comes to picking up mistakes,” McCaw said. “You don’t want to see howlers that cost people the game, but my view is that the game has some grey areas with human input. But we’re so critical of a ref who gets it wrong that everyone’s worried about getting it wrong. So we make sure we get 100 per cent right, which makes the game quite stalled in my opinion.”

Super Rugby Pacific administrators have heeded such concerns, reaffirming their commitment to guidelines first implemented in 2023 that significantly restrict when the TMO can intervene. Under the rules, the video official may only step in unprompted if the referee has overlooked an act of serious foul play at yellow card level or above, or a clear and obvious infringement directly leading to a try.

Any other TMO involvement must be initiated by the on-field referee, a measure designed to empower match officials and improve game flow. The competition claims these measures have already proven effective, with more than four minutes of dead time removed from Super Rugby Pacific matches over the past four seasons.

Five key law changes

The five law innovations approved for 2026, with the backing of clubs, match officials and stakeholders, are as follows:

Penalty try sanctions: 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. This change is expected to be particularly well received for incidents involving mauls brought down illegally close to the try line, where the double punishment of a penalty try and a sin-binning was deemed too harsh.

Free kicks over scrums: Accidental offsides and teams delaying playing the ball away from a ruck will now result in free kicks rather than scrums, reducing unnecessary stoppages.

“Use it” enforcement: After the referee has called “use it” at the ruck, no additional players from the team in possession may join the ruck, preventing teams from cynically buying time.

50:22 modification: Teams will be permitted to pass the ball back into their own half before attempting a 50:22 kick, offering greater tactical flexibility.

Quick tap flexibility: Players will be allowed to take quick taps within one metre either side of the mark, or anywhere behind the mark, provided they remain within a two-metre channel running parallel to the touchline.

Super Rugby Pacific chief executive Jack Mesley said the competition was deserving of its reputation for being fan-focused and agile in driving the game forward.
“These innovations for 2026 reflect the ongoing commitment of Super Rugby Pacific to deliver the most entertaining and engaging rugby competition in the world,” Mesley said. “From the members and fans, to the players and coaches, and the referees themselves, we continue to experience resounding support for the measured steps that we’re taking to refine the game.

“We want to be a competition that encourages quick taps and faster restarts, that cuts down on unnecessary stoppages, and that embraces positive, attacking rugby.”
Mesley added that Super Rugby Pacific would continue to work closely with World Rugby to advocate for the successful innovations to be adopted more widely across the global game.

Finals format tweak

The competition has also confirmed a minor adjustment to its finals series format. The six-team playoff structure introduced last season will remain, but the controversial “lucky loser” mechanic has been modified following criticism of the 2025 arrangement.

Last year, the top-seeded Chiefs were upset by the Blues in a Qualifying Final but retained home advantage for the semi-finals, much to the frustration of the Brumbies, who had beaten the Hurricanes in Canberra as the third seed but were forced to travel to Hamilton the following weekend.

Under the revised system for 2026, the highest-ranked losing team from the Qualifying Finals will progress as the fourth seed, ensuring they cannot host a semi-final or grand final should they advance through the knockout stages.

Super Point, the golden point extra time mechanism for matches level at full-time, has also been retained. Teams will contest an additional period of up to ten minutes, with the first team to score declared the winner. If neither side scores, the match is recorded as a draw.

Season outlook

The 2026 season marks three decades since Super Rugby was first contested in 1996. The 11 teams will compete in a round-robin format, playing 14 matches each with two byes, before the top six advance to the Finals Series.

The opening round features a blockbuster New Zealand derby between the Highlanders and Crusaders on Friday night, followed by the NSW Waratahs hosting the Queensland Reds in a traditional Australian rivalry match.

With the law changes designed to produce faster, more free-flowing rugby, administrators will be hopeful the innovations continue to attract fans both to stadiums and television screens. Last season saw improvements across key metrics including broadcast figures and gameday attendances, and officials are banking on the new measures delivering more of the attacking rugby that has been at Super Rugby’s core since its inception.

Whether the international game follows suit remains to be seen, but Super Rugby Pacific is clearly positioning itself as the laboratory for rugby’s evolution, unafraid to experiment in pursuit of a better product for fans.