Super Rugby Pacific, Round One - teams and predictions
PREVIEW: The 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season is finally here, with the ten teams in action this weekend.
The season opens in Dunedin, with the defending champion Crusaders travelling to face the Highlanders on Friday.
There are derbies across the weekend to celebrate 30 years of Super Rugby, with the NSW Waratahs taking on the Queensland Reds and the Blues resuming their rivalry against the Chiefs.
Along with this, Fijian Drua will host Moana Pasifika in Lautoka, while the round concludes in the west as the Force welcome the Brumbies to Perth.
The Hurricanes start the season with a bye.
There’s no better way to start the 30th anniversary celebrations than with a classic southern derby with the Highlanders up against the champion Crusaders. A fixture that always inspires rivalry, intensity, and a little extra edge for fans across the south.
Highlanders co-captain Timoci Tavatavanawai will play his 50th Super Rugby match and is looking forward to the encounter on Friday.
“It will be awesome to be back under the roof on Friday night. Our fans will make it a great night and I know the players will want to get the season off on the right foot.”
Head Coach Jamie Joseph: “Our supporters know this fixture means a lot, and the boys have prepared with that in mind. The guys have connected well during pre-season, working hard for each other, they’re clear on how we want to play, and they’re hungry to get the competition underway.
“The Crusaders always set a high standard, but we’re excited about the challenge. It’s a group that represents the south with pride, and we’re ready to get stuck in.”
The Waratahs host the Reds on Friday at Allianz Stadium, headlined by Test wingers Max Jorgensen and Force recruit Harry Potter, with Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii at outside centre.
It won’t be regular Wallabies No.15 Kellaway at the back though, after the 30-year-old was left out by coach Dan McKellar in favour of Hendren.
The Randwick talent burst onto the scene in the pre-season to impress McKellar, while Kellaway was on Wallabies duties on the end-of-year tour.
“Kel’s just got to keep working hard,” McKellar said.
“The boys who returned from the Wallaby environment had a really long and challenging 2025.
“An extra week off and just getting some more metres in the legs and … Jimmy Hendren’s performed well and has earned a crack.”
Pete Samu will start in his Waratahs debut on return from French rugby while fellow recruit Folau Faingaa, Angus Blyth and Jack Debreczeni have been named on the bench.
The Reds’ off-season narrative surrounded how they would navigate a glut of options at flyhalf, having added Carter Gordon and Ben Volavola to a list already including Tom Lynagh and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips.
But McLaughlin-Phillips, still just 21, is the only fit member of that quartet and will start alongside livewire scrumhalf Louis Werchon in a surprise 9-10 combination to begin the season.
Reds coach Les Kiss said Gordon could be back next week as he managed a “leg issue” while Lynagh (hamstring) remains a week-to-week case after an injury-riddled finish to 2025.
“Your program’s got to be able to manage injury counts and we’ve got a lot of belief in the young guys and Harry’s doing a fantastic job,” Kiss said of the 21-year-old, who impressed him with his response to Gordon’s signing.
“He put his shoulder to wheel and said, ‘OK that’s what it is’. I’m really impressed; he took on the competitive with two hands.”
Werchon, fresh from an off-season stint with Italian club Benetton, gains a start with Test duo Tate McDermott and Kalani Thomas sidelined.
Test utility Filipo Daugunu and emerging prop Massimo De Lutiis were also unavailable with injury.
Queensland’s injury list leaves coach Les Kiss clutching for bench depth, with emerging talents Finn Mackay and James Martens to deputise at flyhalf and the scrumbase respectively.
Twenty-year-old flanker Vaiuta Latu, who played in a Brisbane reserve grade grand final for Brothers last season, has bolted from the blue to earn a start at No.8 with Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson (knee) sidelined.
Fraser McReight will make his captaincy debut in a Reds team otherwise filled with experience and class, including Chiefs recruit Aidan Ross in the front row.
Elsewhere, Declan Meredith will start ahead of Brumbies recruit Tane Edmed at flyhalf, with the Test contender to come off the bench against the Western Force in Perth on Saturday.
Kadin Pritchard, 21, will attempt to fill the boots of the departed Len Ikitau in the No.13.
Nick Frost has been rested, but James Slipper, currently sitting on 198 caps, will inch closer to breaking the all-time Super Rugby games record of 202.
Off-season Force recruits Franco Molina, Nathan Hastie and George Bridge have been named for their Force debut starts, while prop Harry Johnson-Holmes is back after nearly two years out with knee and ankle injuries.
Kurtley Beale has been named on the bench, with Mac Grearly starting at fullback.
Teams and predictions below…
Friday, February 13
Highlanders v Crusaders
(Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin – Kick-off: 19.05; 06.05 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Highlanders by 5 points
Teams:
Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 13 Jonah Lowe, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Lucas Casey, 7 Sean Withy, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Oliver Haig, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Henry Bell, 17 Josh Bartlett, 18 Rohan Wingham, 19 Will Stodart, 20 Veveni Lasaqa, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Reesjan Pasitoa, 23 Tanielu Tele’a
Crusaderes: 15 Chay Fihaki, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 David Havili, 11 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 10 Rivez Reihana, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Dom Gardiner, 5 Jamie Hannah, 4 Antonio Shalfoon, 3 Seb Calder, 2 George Bell, 1 Finlay Brewis.
Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 George Bower, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Tahlor Cahill, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Taha Kemara, 23 Will Jordan
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant Referees: George Myers, Matt Kellahan
TMO: Graham Cooper
Waratahs v Reds
( Allianz Stadium, Sydney – Kick-off: 19.35; 08.35)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Waratahs by 7 points
Teams:
Waratahs: 15 James Hendren, 14 Harry Potter, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Max Jorgensen, 10 Lawson Creighton, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 clem Halaholo, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Matt Philip (captain), 3 Dan Botha, 2 Ethan Dobbins, 1 Tom Lambert.
Replacements: 16 Folau Fainga’a, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Siosifa Amone, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Leafi Talataina, 21 Teddy Wilson, 22 Jake Debreczeni, 23 Triston Reilly.
Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 9 Louis Werchon, 8 Vaiuta Latu, 7 Fraser McReight (captain), 6 Joe Brial, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Zane Nonggorr, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Aidan Ross.
Replacements: 16 Richie Asiata, 17 George Blake, 18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19 Seru Uru, 20 John Bryant, 21 James Martens, 22 Finn Mackay, 23 Xavier Rubens
Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant Referees: Angus Mabey, Michael Winter
TMO: Graham Cooper
Saturday, February 14
Fijian Drua v Moana Pasifika
(Churchill Park, Lautoka -Kick-off: 15.35; 16.35 WST; 03.35 GMT)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Fiji Drua by 4 points
Teams:
Fiji Drua: 15 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Manasa Mataele, 13 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 12 Virimi Vakatawa, 11 Ponipate Loganimasi, 10 Kemu Valetini, 9 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Mesake Vocevoce, 5 Temo Mayanavanua, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Haereiti Hetet.
Replacements: 16 Penaia Cakobau, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Samuela Tawake, 19 Joseva Tamani, 20 Isoa Tuwai, 21 Frank Lomani, 22 Isikeli Rabitu, 23 Epeli Momo
Moana Pasifika: 15 William Havili, 14 Tevita Ofa, 13 Lalomilo Lalomila,12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Semisi Paea, 6 Miracle Faiilagi (captain), 5 Allan Craig, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Chris Apoua, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Tito Tuipulotu.
Replacements: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Abraham Pole, 18 Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou, 19 Ofa Tauatevalu, 20 Dominic Ropeti, 21 Siaosi Nginingini, 22 Denzel Samoa, 23 Glen Vaihu
Referee: Marcus Playle
Assistant Referees: Fraser Hannon, Dan Moore
TMO: Glenn Newman
Blues v Chiefs
(Eden Park, Auckland – Kick-off: 19.05; 06.05 GMT)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Blues by seven points
Teams:
Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Cole Forbes, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Pita Akhi, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i (captain), 6 Torian Barnes, 5 Josh Beehre, 4 Sam Darry, 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Joshua Fusitu’a.
Replacements: 16 James Mullan, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Marcel Renata, 19 Laghlan McWhannell, 20 Anton Segner, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Xavi Taele, 23 Codemeru Vai.
Chiefs: 15 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 14 Kyren Taumoefolau, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Liam Coombes-Fabling, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Xavier Roe, 8 Luke Jacobson (captain), 7 Jahrome Brown, 6 Kaylum Boshier, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Josh Lord, 3 George Dyer, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Jared Proffit.
Replacements: 16 Tyrone Thompson, 17 Benet Kumeroa, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Tepaea Cook-Savage, 23 Kyle Brown
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Referees: Todd Petrie, Maggie Cogger-Orr
TMO: Brett Cronan
Western Force v Brumbies
(HBF Park, Perth – Kick-off: 16.35; 08.35)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Brumbies by 5 points
Teams:
Western Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Divad Palu, 13 George Bridge, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Bayley Kuenzle, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Nathan Hastie, 8 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 5 Franco Molina, 4 Jeremy Williams (captain), 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Tom Robertson,
Replacements: 16 Leonel Oviedo, 17 Sef Fa’agase, 18 Misinale Epenisa, 19 Darcy Swain, 20 Will Harris, 21 Henry Robertson, 22 Max Burey, 23 Kurtley Beale
Brumbies: 15 Andy Muirhead, 14 Ollie Sapsford, 13 Kadin Pritchard, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Corey Toole, 9 Ryan Lonergan (captain), 8 Charlie Cale, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Lachie Shaw, 3 Rhys van Nek, 2 Billy Pillord, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Liam Bowron, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Tevita Alatini, 19 Toby Macpherson, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Klayton Thorn, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Hudson Creighton
Referee: Jordan Way
Assistant Referees: Damon Murphy, Jeremy Markey
TMO: James Leckie
Source: AAP
