Super Rugby Pacific, Round 10 - Teams and Predictions
PREVIEW: Some big names from the All Blacks and Wallabies will make their return to the field during Round 10 of the Super Rugby Pacific 2026 season.
It starts in Auckland with All Blacks Patrick Tuipulotu, Hoskins Sotutu and Dalton Papali’i named for the Blues to face the Highlanders, before the NSW Waratahs host Moana Pasifika in Sydney.
The match of the round comes in Hamilton as the Chiefs battle the Hurricanes in a top-of-the-table clash.
Meanwhile, Tom Wright suits up for the Brumbies against the Fijian Drua, while Carlo Tizzano returns from injury and Zac Lomax makes his starting Force debut against the Crusaders.
The Queensland Reds have the bye.
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Tuipulotu will play in his first game of 2026, with an off-season shoulder surgery keeping him sidelined until this point. He’s joined by Hoskins Sotutu (knee) and Dalton Papali’i (back), who have been out since rounds five and six, respectively.
All three returning internationals have come straight back into the starting team, but head coach Vern Cotter hasn’t let their impressive understudies fall out of the matchday 23, with Anton Segner retaining a starting post on the blindside flank, while Torian Barnes and Malachi Wrampling have both been selected on a bench which features six forwards and two backs.
“Having Patrick back is massive for us. He’s a leader who drives standards on and off the field. You can feel the lift in the group with him back out on the field,” Cotter said.
“Dalton and Hoskins have both worked hard through their rehab, and they also bring huge experience and leadership back into our group. Collectively, we’re looking forward to getting back out there on Friday night.”
Meanwhile, Wright will start at fullback against Fijian Drua after having spent almost eight months on the sidelines.
The Wallabies’ fullback suffered an ACL injury against the Springboks on August 23.
Wright had scored a try one week earlier in the remarkable comeback win against the Springboks in Johannesburg, but the Wallaby’s season was cut short at DHL Stadium in Cape Town, leaving that contest during the first half.
*See all teams and predictions below!
Friday, April 17
Blues v Highlanders
(Eden Park, Auckland – Kick-off: 19.0; 07.05 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Blues by 7 points
Teams:
Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Cole Forbes, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Xavi Taele, 11 Codemeru Vai, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Anton Segner, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Mason Tupaea.
Replacements: 16 Kurt Eklind, 17 Ben Ake, 18 Sam Matenga, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Torian Barnes, 21 Malachi Wrampling, 22 Taufa Funaki, 23 Pita Akhi
Highlanders: 15 Taine Robinson, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 13 Taniela Tele’a, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 Adam Lennox, 8 Nikora Broughton, 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Sean Withy, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Te Kamaka Howden, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Soane Vikena, 17 Josh Bartlett, 18 Saula Ma’u, 19 Oliver Haig, 20 Lucas Casey, 21 Folau Fakatava, 22 Xavier Tito-Harris, 23 Finn Hurley
Referee: Jordan Way
Assistant Referees: Damon Murphy, Jeremy Markey
TMO: James Leckie
Waratahs v Moana Pasifika
(Allianz Stadium, Sydney – Kick-off: 19.35; 09.35 GMT; 21.35 WST)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Waratahs by 12 points
Teams:
Waratahs: 15 Sid Harvey, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Joey Walton, 12 Lawson Creighton, 11 Max Jorgensen, 10 Jack Debreczenie, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Angus Scott-Young, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Matt Philip (captain), 3 Daniel Botha, 2 Ethan Dobbins, 1 Tom Lambert.
Replacements: 16 Folau Fainga’a, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Siosifa Amone, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Clem Halaholo, 21 Jamie Adamson, 22 Teddy Wilson, 23 Triston Reilly
Moana Pasifika: 15 William Havili, 14 Tuna Tuitama, 13 Solomon Alaimalo, 12 Tevita Latu, 11 Glen Vaihu, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 9 Melani Matavao, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Semisi Paea, 6 Miracle Faiilagi (captain), 5 Veikoso Poloniati, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Chris Apoua, 2 Millenium Sanerivi, 1 Abraham Pole
Replacements: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Malakai Hala-Ngatai, 18 Paula Latu, 19 Jimmy Tupou, 20 Ola Tauelangi, 21 Jonathan Taumateine, 22 Faletoi Peni, 23 Tyler Pulini
Referee: Angus Mabey
Assistant Referees: Mike Winter, Ben Woolerton
TMO: Aaron Paterson
Saturday, April 18
Chiefs v Hurricanes
(FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton – Kick-off: 19.05; 07.05 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Chiefs by 12 points
Teams:
Chiefs: 15 Liam Coombes-Fabling, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Reon Paul, 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Simon Parker, 7 Luke Jacobson (captain), 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 4 Josh Lord, 3 George Dyer, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Ollie Norris
Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Jared Proffit, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Fiti Sa, 20 Kaylum Boshier, 21 Wallace Sititi, 22 Xavier Roe, 23 Josh Jacomb
Hurricanes: 15 Callum Harkin, 14 Josh Moorby, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Fehi Fineanganofo, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Devan Flanders, 5 Warner Dearns, 4 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia
Replacements: 16 Jacob Devery, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Caleb Delany, 20 Brad Shields, 21 Brayden Iose, 22 Ereatara Enari, 23 Jone Rova
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Referees: Todd Petire, Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Richard Kelly
Brumbies v Fijian Drua
(GIO Stadium, Canberra -Kick-off: 19:35; 07.35 GMT; 15.35 FJT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Brumbies by 15 points
Teams:
Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Ollie Sapsford, 13 Kadin Pritchard, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan (c), 8 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 7 Luke Reimer, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Lachlan Shaw, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper
Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Darcy Breen, 19 Toby MacPherson, 20 Rory Scott, 21 Klayton Thorn, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Andy Muirhead
Fijian Drua: 15 Isikeli Rabitu, 14 Isikeli Basiyalo, 13 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 12 Virimi Vakatava, 11 Manasa Mataele, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 8 Isoa Tuwai, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Etonia Waqa, 5 Isoa Nasilasila, 4 Temo Mayanavanua (c), 3 Samuela Tawake, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Emosi Tuqiri
Replacements: 16 Kavaia Tagivetaua, 17 Penaia Cakobau, 18 Mesake Doge, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Joseva Tamani, 21 Simione Kuruvoli, 22 Kemu Valetini, 23 Inia Tabuavou
Referee: James Doleman
Assistant Referees: Marcus Playle, Fraser Hannon
TMO: Glenn Newman
Western Force v Crusaders
(HBF Park, Perth – Kick-off: 19:55; 09.55 GMT; 21.55 NZST)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Crusaders by 5 points
Western Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Zac Lomax, 13 George Bridge, 12 Bayley Kuenzle, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Henry Robertson, 8 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams (c), 3 Misinale Epenisa, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Tom Robertson
Replacements: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Sef Fa’agase, 18 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Will Harris, 21 Nathan Hastie, 22 Hamish Stewart, 23 Kurtley Beale
Crusaders: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 12 Dallas McLeod, 11 Macca Springer, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Louis Chapman, 8 Christian Lio-Willie (c), 7 Johnny Lee, 6 Dom Gardiner, 5 Jamie Hannah, 4 Tahlor Cahill, 3 Seb Calder, 2 George Bell, 1 Finlay Brewis
Replacements: 16 Manumaua Leitu, 17 George Bower, 18 Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 19 Will Tucker, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Noah Hotham, 22 Rivez Reihana, 23 Sevu Reece
Referee: Reuben Keane
Assistant Referees: Nic Berry, Louis Trisley
TMO: Brett Cronan
Additional Source: Super Rugby
