Number eight Simon Parker will celebrate his 50th Super Rugby appearance for the Chiefs when they face the Hurricanes in Saturday’s Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final in Wellington, with head coach Jono Gibbes forced into two changes for the decider.

Key team news:

• Simon Parker set for milestone 50th Chiefs appearance
• Lalakai Foketi ruled out with a calf injury; Kyle Brown starts at outside centre
• Isaac Hutchinson (knee) also misses out; Liam Coombes-Fabling shifts to fullback
• All Blacks wing Leroy Carter returns to the starting side on the right wing
• Wallace Sititi remains unavailable as he continues through concussion protocols
• Two forced changes to the starting XV from the semi-final win over the Crusaders

Gibbes has been forced to reshuffle his backline after losing former Waratah and nine-cap Wallaby Lalakai Foketi to a calf injury and fullback Isaac Hutchinson to a knee problem sustained during last week’s semi-final victory over the Crusaders in Hamilton.

Kyle Brown comes into the starting XIII to replace Foketi alongside vice-captain Quinn Tupaea in midfield, while Liam Coombes-Fabling shifts from the wing to fullback in place of Hutchinson. That reshuffle opens the door for All Black Leroy Carter, who featured off the bench in the semi-final, to start on the right wing.

The continued absence of All Blacks flanker Wallace Sititi is a significant blow. Sititi suffered a nasty head knock against the Reds in the qualifying final on 6 June and was not considered for selection as he continues through concussion protocols. The major focus will be on having the dynamic loose forward fit for the All Blacks’ Nations Championship tests in July.

Parker, who made his Chiefs debut against the Crusaders in 2020 and has earned eight All Blacks caps, would have reached the milestone sooner had he not missed the entire 2021 season through injury. He is part of a dominant Chiefs scrum that has produced six tries from the set piece in their last three matches.

“It’s a huge honour to play 50 games for this team,” Parker said. “And it will be even more special doing it in the final against the Hurricanes.”

The forward pack is otherwise unchanged, with the All Blacks combination of Ollie Norris, Samisoni Taukei’aho, and Sione Ahio in the front row, Josh Lord and vice-captain Tupou Vaa’i at lock, and captain Luke Jacobson joined by Samipeni Finau in the back row. Cortez Ratima and Damian McKenzie continue their halves partnership, with McKenzie the only player to have featured in all 240 minutes of the last three Grand Finals.

Reon Paul has been added to the bench in place of Carter, joining Brodie McAlister, Jared Proffit, George Dyer, Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Kaylum Boshier, Xavier Roe, and Josh Jacomb.

Saturday’s match will be the fifth time the two rivals have met in the Super Rugby finals, with each side claiming two victories, but this is the first time they will contest a Grand Final. The Chiefs are appearing in their fourth consecutive decider, having lost the previous three, and last lifted the trophy with back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013 under current All Blacks coach Dave Rennie.

Gibbes, who replaced Clayton McMillan – now coaching Munster – this season, acknowledged the magnitude of the occasion while insisting his squad are focused on the task at hand.

“You work hard to be given this opportunity and it is satisfying to be in this position, but we also know there is one more game to win,” Gibbes said. “The Hurricanes have been the pace setters throughout the season and it will be a terrific challenge playing them at their home, but it is one we are looking forward to.

“Playing in front of a full house is always stimulating and we know there will be plenty of Gallagher Chiefs supporters in the crowd, ringing their cowbells loudly.”

The Chiefs will be without Lalakai Foketi (calf), Isaac Hutchinson (knee), Wallace Sititi (concussion), Reuben O’Neill (concussion), Taine Kolose (laceration), Daniel Rona (hand), Emoni Narawa (foot), Etene Nanai-Seturo (foot), and Jayden Sa (shoulder).

Chiefs team to play Hurricanes:
15. Liam Coombes-Fabling
14. Leroy Carter
13. Kyle Brown
12. Quinn Tupaea – vice-captain
11. Kyren Taumoefolau
10. Damian McKenzie
9. Cortez Ratima
8. Simon Parker
7. Luke Jacobson – captain
6. Samipeni Finau
5. Tupou Vaa’i – vice-captain
4. Josh Lord
3. Sione Ahio
2. Samisoni Taukei’aho
1. Ollie Norris

Replacements:
16. Brodie McAlister
17. Jared Proffit
18. George Dyer
19. Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi
20. Kaylum Boshier
21. Xavier Roe
22. Josh Jacomb
23. Reon Paul

Match details: Hurricanes v Chiefs, Hnry Stadium, Wellington. Saturday 20 June, 7:05pm NZST (5:05pm AEST). Live on Sky Sport 1 (NZ) and Stan Sport (Australia).

Match officials: Referee: Nic Berry. Assistant referees: Reuben Keane, Louis Trisley. TMO: Brett Cronan.

Devan Flanders will make his return from concussion as the Hurricanes named a settled side for Saturday’s Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final against the Chiefs at a sold-out Hnry Stadium in Wellington.

Key team news:

• Devan Flanders returns from concussion at blindside flanker in what will be his final Hurricanes match before a move to Japan
• Isaia Walker-Leawere replaces Caleb Delany (concussion) in the second row
• Brad Shields drops to the bench, with Jacob Devery also added to the reserves
• Backline unchanged from semi-final demolition of the Blues
• Tickets for the sold-out Grand Final were exhausted within 15 minutes
• Two changes to the starting XV from last week’s semi-final

Head coach Clark Laidlaw has made two changes to the starting XV that dispatched the Blues in last week’s semi-final, with the Hurricanes chasing their first title since 2016 in front of what promises to be a raucous Wellington crowd.

The most significant inclusion is Flanders, who slots in at blindside flanker to complete a formidable loose forward trio alongside co-captain Du’Plessis Kirifi and number eight Peter Lakai. The Japan-bound flanker replaces Brad Shields, who drops to the bench for what shapes as a momentous occasion for the capital city franchise.

The only other change to the run-on side comes in the engine room, where Isaia Walker-Leawere is promoted to partner Warner Dearns at lock. Walker-Leawere came on as a replacement during the semi-final after Caleb Delany was forced off with a concussion that rules him out of the decider.

An unchanged backline sees the in-form halves pairing of Cam Roigard and Ruben Love retained, with co-captain Jordie Barrett and Billy Proctor continuing their partnership in midfield. Wings Fehi Fineanganofo and Josh Moorby link with fullback Callum Harkin in the back three.

“It’s a hugely exciting week and game ahead. A home final in front of a sold-out stadium, it doesn’t get much better than that,” Laidlaw said.

“We’ve prepared really well at the start of the week. We’ve got no question about what’s coming from the Chiefs and how good they are. We know it’s going to be a tough battle, but it’s something we’re really excited about.

“It’s great news that we can welcome back Devan Flanders and pick a really settled team at this stage of the season. That’s something we’re really grateful for.

“It’s a massive weekend, we’re hugely excited and can’t wait to get into it.”

The Hurricanes have been the pace-setters throughout the 2026 season, finishing top of the table to earn the right to host the Grand Final. Saturday’s match will be the club’s first Grand Final appearance since their sole title triumph in 2016, and the first time these two rivals have met in a decider.

Jacob Devery and Brad Shields are added to a familiar reserves bench that also features All Blacks tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax, who has been used off the pine in recent weeks following an injury-disrupted season. Siale Lauaki, Brayden Iose, Ereatara Enari, Jone Rova, and Kini Naholo complete the matchday 23.

The Hurricanes will be without Caleb Delany (concussion), Taine Roiri (ribs), Jai Tamati (knee), Brett Cameron (knee), Will Cole (calf), Riley Higgins (shoulder), Josh Timu (foot), and Drew Wild (shoulder).

Acclaimed Kiwi artist and former Australian Idol winner Stan Walker will perform at half-time, with Signature Choir set to perform the national anthem before kick-off.

Hurricanes team to play Chiefs:
15. Callum Harkin (24 caps)
14. Josh Moorby (53)
13. Billy Proctor (82)
12. Jordie Barrett (124) – co-captain
11. Fehi Fineanganofo (25)
10. Ruben Love (54)
9. Cam Roigard (60)
8. Peter Lakai (50)
7. Du’Plessis Kirifi (105) – co-captain
6. Devan Flanders (69)
5. Warner Dearns (14)
4. Isaia Walker-Leawere (92)
3. Pasilio Tosi (52)
2. Asafo Aumua (89)
1. Xavier Numia (91)

Replacements:
16. Jacob Devery (24)
17. Siale Lauaki (16)
18. Tyrel Lomax (74)
19. Brad Shields (142)
20. Brayden Iose (66)
21. Ereatara Enari (26)
22. Jone Rova (15)
23. Kini Naholo (38)

Match details: Hurricanes v Chiefs, Hnry Stadium, Wellington. Saturday 20 June, 7:05pm NZST (5:05pm AEST). Live on Sky Sport 1 (NZ) and Stan Sport (Australia).

Match officials: Referee: Nic Berry. Assistant referees: Reuben Keane, Louis Trisley. TMO: Brett Cronan.

The Hurricanes will host their first Grand Final in a decade after a devastating second-half blitz destroyed the Blues 57–21 at Hnry Stadium, with nine tries powering the top-ranked side into next weekend’s Super Rugby Pacific decider against the Chiefs in Wellington.

• Hurricanes reach their first Grand Final since their lone Super Rugby title in 2016
• Second-half blitz of three tries in 10 minutes broke open a competitive contest after the Blues led for much of the first half
• Hurricanes became the first team to score 100 tries in a Super Rugby season
• Du’Plessis Kirifi outstanding at the breakdown; Cam Roigard a constant threat with ball in hand
• Blues lost AJ Lam and Caleb Clarke to failed HIAs in the first half; Finlay Christie also failed an HIA
• End of Vern Cotter’s tenure as Blues head coach; Hurricanes assistant Jason Holland takes over next season
• Fehi Fineanganofo largely a spectator – stays on 16 tries for the season, tied with the all-time record

Key moments

3 mins – TRY HURRICANES: Cam Roigard burst through midfield after a quick tap penalty and found Callum Harkin surging into the 22. The Hurricanes earned a penalty advantage and hammered at the line before Jordie Barrett sliced through on the short side to open the scoring. Ruben Love missed the sideline conversion. (Hurricanes 5–0)

7 mins – TRY BLUES: Slick hands on the left from Cole Forbes and AJ Lam got the ball to Caleb Clarke, who surged towards the line on an angled run. He was stopped just short, but the ball came wide of the ruck to Patrick Tuipulotu, who burst through a tackle to score. Beauden Barrett converted. (Hurricanes 5–7)

12 mins – HIA: AJ Lam failed his head injury assessment and was replaced by Pita Ahki.

14 mins – TRY HURRICANES: Warner Dearns won the lineout in the middle and the Hurricanes set up a perfectly formed driving maul. The Blues had no answer, and Du’Plessis Kirifi claimed the try from the back. Love converted. (Hurricanes 12–7)

17 mins – HIA: Caleb Clarke also failed his HIA. Payton Spencer remained on the field as his replacement.

26 mins – TRY BLUES: The Blues came right outside the 22, with Spencer spying space in behind on the edge. Forbes charged through to regather, had the patience to stop, prop, and pop it back to Spencer on the inside for a simple finish. Barrett converted. (Hurricanes 12–14)

31 mins – TRY HURRICANES: The Hurricanes stayed patient in attack, thumping their way towards the posts and earning a penalty advantage in front. Xavier Numia picked and burst around the fringes, reaching out to plant under the bar. Love converted. (Hurricanes 19–14)

Half-time: Hurricanes 19–14 Blues. A much closer contest than many predicted, with the game swinging back and forth as the sides traded tries. The Blues were combative defensively and kept the Hurricanes from tearing them apart, despite losing both Lam and Clarke to HIAs. Roigard was the liveliest on attack for the home side, but the Blues stayed in touch through well-taken tries from Tuipulotu and Spencer.

HT – HIA: Caleb Delany failed his HIA at the break and was replaced by Isaia Walker-Leawere.

43 mins – TRY HURRICANES: Love slid a grubber through on the left looking for Fineanganofo, but Spencer got there first. The Hurricanes countered, however, and Peter Lakai snatched the loose ball before popping to Roigard, who burst away to score near the left corner. Love missed the conversion. (Hurricanes 24–14)

47 mins – TRY HURRICANES: Walker-Leawere won the restart, and Roigard’s box kick wasn’t gathered by the Blues. Moorby kicked ahead and Barrett had to take it in-goal for a 5m scrum. Off the scrum, the Hurricanes shifted left, with Moorby running a tough line and crashing through to score – the Hurricanes’ 100th try of the season. Love converted. (Hurricanes 31–14)

51 mins – SUBSTITUTION: Ruben Love replaced by Kini Naholo. Jordie Barrett takes over goal-kicking duties.

53 mins – TRY HURRICANES: A cross kick on the back of a turnover found Naholo, who leapt to gather and pass back infield in one motion. The pass found Asafo Aumua on the 22, and he went barrelling down the touchline before crashing through Stephen Perofeta’s contact to score. Jordie Barrett converted. (Hurricanes 38–14)

65 mins – TRY HURRICANES: After Tyrel Lomax went close near the right post, Ereatara Enari nipped around the fringes and dived in for the finish. Jordie Barrett converted. (Hurricanes 45–14)

71 mins – TRY HURRICANES: Enari shaped for a box kick but spotted something on the short side with Jordie Barrett, who fed Naholo. He powered through a front-on tackle from Forbes and burst past halfway. Brayden Iose chimed in, found Enari with an offload into the 22, and Enari got it back to Naholo, who pushed away from Josh Beehre to finish in the corner. Jordie Barrett converted from the left. (Hurricanes 52–14)

75 mins – TRY BLUES: Raymond Tuputupu overthrew the lineout, and Eli Oudenryn hacked it ahead from 35 metres out. He showed great speed, bursting past the covering Enari to slide, gather and score. Barrett converted. (Hurricanes 52–21)

79 mins – TRY HURRICANES: A poor pass from Perofeta didn’t find its target, and Jone Rova scooped up the loose ball before popping a flick offload. Walker-Leawere burst away, and Moorby was there in support to finish despite a stumble. Jordie Barrett missed the conversion from wide. (Hurricanes 57–21)

Full-time: Hurricanes 57–21 Blues

Match report

For a team that hadn’t won a play-off match since 2016, the Hurricanes showed remarkably few nerves on a night when the stakes could not have been higher. They scored inside three minutes, weathered an unexpectedly fierce first-half challenge from the Blues, and then dismantled them with a second-half performance of ruthless precision to reach their first Grand Final in a decade.

The contest began at a frenetic pace. Roigard, who was a threat every time he touched the ball, shook off a mid-air tackle from Beauden Barrett near halfway and caught both teams off guard with a quick tap penalty. He burst through midfield, found Harkin surging into the 22, and within moments Jordie Barrett had sliced through on the short side to open the scoring.

The Blues, however, refused to buckle. A darting run from Clarke split the Hurricanes defence, and captain Tuipulotu crashed over off a neat Christie pass to put the visitors in front after Barrett’s conversion. It was a statement from a side that had entered the semi-final as rank outsiders after four consecutive defeats, with head coach Vern Cotter admitting before the match that they had “bumbled” their way into the final four.

The Hurricanes restored their lead through a trademark driving maul, with Kirifi claiming the try from the back after Dearns had won the lineout cleanly. Kirifi was a menace all evening, winning turnovers and slowing the Blues’ ball at almost every ruck in a performance that underlined why he has been one of the competition’s most consistent loose forwards this season.

The Blues suffered two huge blows in the first half when Lam and Clarke both failed head injury assessments within five minutes of each other. Their absences robbed Cotter’s side of much-needed experience in the backline, though replacement Spencer immediately made his presence felt with a clever try – chipping into space for Forbes to regather before backing up on the inside for a simple finish that put the Blues back in front at 14–12.

The lead lasted until the 31st minute when Numia, the in-form loosehead prop, burst through a tackle attempt from Darry to plant under the posts and restore the Hurricanes’ advantage. At 19–14 the half-time margin was far closer than most pundits had forecast, with the Blues’ young forwards – particularly Barnes, who sent a late-season message to the All Blacks selectors with his hard-nosed carrying – keeping the contest alive.

Whatever was said at the break transformed the Hurricanes. They emerged with the same intensity they had started the match and did not let up. Roigard struck first, capitalising on picture-perfect counter-rucking from Lakai to worm his way over near the left corner. Moorby then sprinted clear after Walker-Leawere – on at half-time for the concussed Delany – won the restart, and when Aumua bulldozed his way over after a brilliant cross-field kick from Jordie Barrett, it was three tries in ten minutes and a place in the Grand Final all but secured.

The Hurricanes’ bench made a major impact. Walker-Leawere and Iose provided fresh impetus in the pack, while Enari was sharp off the mark when he replaced Roigard, nipping around the fringes from close range in the 65th minute. Naholo, on for Love at 51 minutes, brought up the half-century when he finished a dazzling team try that involved Iose and Enari combining down the left edge.

Love’s replacement was notable – the fly-half did not appear to be injured, and may have been withdrawn as a precaution for next weekend’s final. He had struggled to impose himself on the contest, with most of the Hurricanes’ attacking spark coming from Roigard, though Love did convert three of his five shots at goal before handing the kicking duties to Jordie Barrett.

Moorby’s try in the 47th minute was significant beyond the scoreboard – it was the Hurricanes’ 100th of the season, making them the first team in Super Rugby history to reach the milestone. Fineanganofo, by contrast, was largely a spectator and remains tied on 16 tries for the season alongside Joe Roff and Ben Lam, with one more match to claim the record outright.

Young Blues hooker Oudenryn provided a consolation moment of quality, hacking ahead from a loose Tuputupu lineout throw and showing impressive speed to gather and score from 35 metres. But Moorby had the final say, finishing off a slick move after Rova and Walker-Leawere had combined from a Perofeta error.

The result brings the curtain down on Cotter’s time in charge of the Blues, with Holland stepping across from the Hurricanes to take the reins next season. The Blues’ campaign will be remembered for a strong start that built a buffer large enough to survive a dreadful run of late-season form, but they were ultimately outclassed by a Hurricanes side that found another gear when it mattered most.

Roared on by a 25,000-strong crowd, the Hurricanes can now look forward to a home Grand Final against the Chiefs – a contest between the competition’s two best sides that promises to be a fitting climax to the Super Rugby Pacific season.

Match details

Hurricanes 57 (Tries: J. Barrett, Kirifi, Numia, Roigard, Moorby 2, Aumua, Enari, Naholo; Conversions: Love 3/5, J. Barrett 3/4)
Blues 21 (Tries: Tuipulotu, Spencer, Oudenryn; Conversions: B. Barrett 3/3)
Half-time: 19–14

Venue: Hnry Stadium, Wellington
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Todd Petrie, Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Richard Kelly

Teams

Hurricanes: 15 Callum Harkin, 14 Josh Moorby, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett (co-c), 11 Fehi Fineanganofo, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi (co-c), 6 Brad Shields, 5 Warner Dearns, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia.
Replacements: 16 Raymond Tuputupu, 17 Siale Lauaki, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Brayden Iose, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Jone Rova, 23 Kini Naholo.

Blues: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Cole Forbes, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Xavi Taele, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Anton Segner, 6 Torian Barnes, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi.
Replacements: 16 Eli Oudenryn, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Flyn Yates, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Che Clark, 21 Taufa Funaki, 22 Pita Ahki, 23 Payton Spencer.

What’s next

The Hurricanes will host the Chiefs in the Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final at Hnry Stadium in Wellington next Saturday night. It is a contest between the competition’s two best sides – the Hurricanes chasing their first title since 2016, the Chiefs seeking to end a drought stretching back to 2013.