Super Rugby Pacific pre-season fixtures confirmed
NEWS: Super Rugby Pacific 2026 is fast approaching, with the new season now just a month away.
Marking its 30th edition, the competition will build through January and early February as teams put the finishing touches on their preparations before the opening whistle blows on February 13 in Dunedin.
Once again, 11 teams from across the region will go head-to-head in pursuit of the southern hemisphere crown, with Pacific rivals battling to be crowned the best in the competition.
Before the real action begins, supporters will be treated to a series of pre-season fixtures, offering an early taste of what’s to come while giving players the chance to blow away the cobwebs and brace themselves for another demanding campaign.
Australian rivals Western Force and Queensland Reds will kick off preparations when they meet in the competition’s first pre-season hit-out next week.
Organisers confirmed all trial match venues and dates ahead of round one on February 13.
Super Rugby Pacific has now released the complete pre-season programme spanning Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji, bringing together fixtures that had largely been announced individually by the clubs.
The opening match sees the Force host the Reds at Scots College in Perth on Friday, January 23. There will be a brief pause in action before four matches are played on Friday, January 30.
That day begins in Auckland, where Sacred Heart College hosts the Blues against the Hurricanes, followed by the Crusaders facing the Highlanders at Fraser Park in Timaru.
The Chiefs, last season’s runners-up, take on the Fijian Drua at Blake Park in Mount Maunganui, before the Force return to Scots College to face the Brumbies in their second warm-up fixture.
The Reds then renew their rivalry with the Waratahs at Ballymore Stadium on Saturday, January 31. The Waratahs face a tight turnaround, travelling to Canberra five days later to play the Brumbies at Marist College Rugby Grounds.
Moana Pasifika begin their pre-season campaign on Friday, February 6, taking on the Highlanders at Queenstown Events Centre. That same afternoon, the Blues meet the Crusaders, while the Drua face a Fiji Provincial Selection side.
The final warm-up match before the season proper will see the Hurricanes host the Chiefs at Jerry Collins Stadium in Porirua. The fixture, confirmed earlier this week, will be preceded by an open training session at the venue on Thursday.
2026 Super Rugby Pacific pre-season fixtures:
Friday, January 23
Western Force v Queensland Reds — Scotch College, Perth – 10:35 SAST (4:35 WST)
Friday, January 30
Blues v Hurricanes — Sacred Heart College, Auckland – 02:30 SAST (1:30 NZT)
Chiefs v Fijian Drua — Blake Park, Mount Maunganui 04:00 SAST (3:00 NZT)
Crusaders v Highlanders — Fraser Park, Timaru 04:30 SAST (3:30 NZT)
Western Force v ACT Brumbies — Scotch College, Perth 10:35 SAST (4:35 WST)
Saturday, January 31
Queensland Reds v NSW Waratahs — Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane 06:00 SAST (2:00 AEST)
Thursday, February 5
ACT Brumbies v NSW Waratahs — Marist College Rugby Grounds, Canberra 04:30 SAST (1:30 AEDT)
Friday, February 6
Highlanders v Moana Pasifika — Queenstown Events Centre 03:30 SAST (2:30 NZT)
Blues v Crusaders — Onewa Domain, Auckland 04:00 SAST (3:00 NZT)
Fijian Drua v Fiji Provincial Selection Team — Churchill Park, Lautoka 06:00 SAST (4:00 FJT)
Saturday, February 7
Hurricanes v Chiefs — Jerry Collins Stadium, Porirua 02:00 SAST (1:00 NZT)
