Super Rugby Pacific Qualifying Final fixtures confirmed
SUPER RUGBY WRAP: The Super Rugby Pacific Qualifying Final fixtures have been confirmed, with the Crusaders overtaking the Blues to claim third spot on the ladder in the last round of the regular season.
The table-topping Hurricanes will kick off the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific Finals Series when they host the Brumbies at Hnry Stadium on Friday, June 5.
The action continues at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch on Saturday afternoon, where the defending champion Crusaders will face the Blues.
The Chiefs will wrap up the Qualifying Finals with a Saturday night showdown against the Queensland Reds at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton.
The three winning teams in the Qualifying Finals will progress to the semifinals along with the highest-ranked losing team (the ‘lucky loser’).
In a variation from last season, in 2026, the ‘lucky loser’ will be relegated to the lowest seeding for the Semi-Finals and as such forego any chance to host the Semi-Final or the Grand Final, should they progress.
FINALS SERIES WEEK ONE – QUALIFYING FINALS:
FRIDAY, JUNE 5
19.05 NZST / 17.05 AEST – Hurricanes (1) vs. ACT Brumbies (6) – Hnry Stadium, Wellington
SATURDAY, JUNE 6
16.35 NZST / 14.35 AEST – Crusaders (3) vs. Blues (4) – One New Zealand Stadium, Christchurch
19.05 NZST / 17.05 AEST – Chiefs (2) vs. Queensland Reds (5) – FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Devastation for Gordon as Force chase down Waratahs
Wallabies scrumhalf Jake Gordon has suffered a “gut-wrenching” Achilles tendon injury as the Western Force produced an inspired fightback to down the Waratahs 31-25 in Perth.
In slippery conditions that featured pouring rain at times at HBF Park, the Force trailed 7-20 after 30 minutes of Saturday night’s match but scored the next three tries to snatch a 24-20 lead by the 61st minute.
In an epic finish, Apolosi Ranawai got the ball through a pack of players to put the Waratahs back in front in the 67th minute, before Carlo Tizzano scored what proved to be the match-winning try in the 71st minute.
But the biggest news of the night was on the injury front, and it was all bad news for both the Waratahs and Wallabies.
First, Pete Samu’s knee twisted awkwardly in the ninth minute when he slipped on the wet turf while bracing for a tackle. The powerful No.8 tried to play on through the pain, before eventually trudging to the bench.
But the biggest disaster arrived in the 39th minute when Gordon took a quick tap and went down after taking a couple of steps.
Gordon looked gutted and in extreme pain as he was assessed by a medico, before being carried off the field by two trainers.
Second-half Chiefs blitz send Blues to Christchurch
Jono Gibbes’ Chiefs have blown the Blues off the park in the second 40 minutes at FMG Stadium Waikato, earning a morale-boosting 59-34 triumph in Hamilton.
The home side had a narrow, 19-15 lead at half-time, but a superb second-half performance gave the Blues their third-straight defeat in Super Rugby Pacific.
Despite already securing their place in the top-six play-off spots, the Blues struggled to contain the second-placed Chiefs on Saturday, conceding nine tries.
For the Chiefs, it was a clear message of intent as they head into a home Qualifying Final against the Queensland Reds next Saturday evening.
Fairytale Finish as 14-man Moana Pasifika stun Brumbies
An undermanned Moana Pasifika have capped off their potential final match with a stirring victory, upsetting the finals-bound Brumbies 21-19.
The Super Rugby Pacific club was placed into liquidation on Monday after their current owners announced that they would not continue to fund the franchise beyond 2026 on April 15.
*READ: Crusaders trash Hurricanes, Reds overcome Drua
Unless a last-minute saviour comes in to salvage the club, only introduced in 2022, they will fold and the competition will shrink to 10 teams in 2027.
But Pasifika (2-12) relished in the emotionally charged occasion at GIO Stadium on Saturday and snapped a 12-game losing streak to avoid a record-equalling 13th loss.
*Article continues below…
The cellar dwellers’ victory wasn’t smooth sailing though, as the Brumbies led both on the scoreboard and numerically when barnstorming inside centre Faletoi Peni was handed a second yellow card and sent off in the second half.
But the hosts couldn’t make the most of their opportunity and substitute Melani Matavao stormed over in the 73rd minute to claim victory.
The Brumbies (7-7) needed a big bonus-point win to help them move as high as fourth on the ladder, but instead will have to settle for sixth.
Their faltering lineout and a series of errors will be a concern for coach Stephen Larkham and the Brumbies now face the table-topping Hurricanes across the Tasman and must win to secure a berth in a qualifying final.
After watching the visitors perform a traditional war dance, the Brumbies came out firing, and Rory Scott planted the ball over the line.
Pasifika thought they hit back when Solomon Alaimalo crossed, but his try was chalked off because of a forward pass and the home team punished them with Tom Wright crashing over.
Veteran James Slipper was handed a yellow card and the visitors capitalised through Patrick Pellegrini before the flyhalf wrestled over for his second to tie the halftime score at 14-all.
The Brumbies re-established the lead when they shifted left and found Luke Reimer in the corner before Peni was marched after a high tackle on Andy Muirhead.
Brumbis’s newly re-signed Klayton Thorn thought he had crossed, but a forward pass in the lead-up denied him a try before Matavao got on the receiving end of some slick passing to steal victory.
See below for Saturday’s scores and scorers!
Western Force 31-25 Waratahs
The scorers:
For Western Force:
Tries: Tizzano 2, Epenisa, Pietsch 2
Cons: Beale, Donaldson 2
For Waratahs:
Tries: Ranawai, Potter, Moananu
Cons: Bowen 2
Pens: Bowen 2
Teams:
Western Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Zac Lomax, 13 George Bridge, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Nathan Hastie, 8 Vailoni Ekuasi, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams (captain), 3 Misinale Epenisa, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Harry Johnson-Holmes.
Replacements: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Marley Pearce, 18 Sef Fa’agase, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Will Harris, 21 Agustin Moyano, 22 Boston Fakafanua, 23 Kurtley Beale.
Waratahs: 15 Max Jorgensen, 14 Harry Potter, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Andrew Kellaway, 10 Jack Bowen, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Jamie Adamson, 6 Angus Scott-Young, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Matt Philip (captain), 3 Dan Botha, 2 Ioane Moananu, 1 Jack Barrett.
Replacements: 16 Oniti Finau, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Apolosi Ranawai, 19 Ben Grant, 20 Clem Halaholo, 21 Teddy Wilson, 22 Jack Debreczeni, 23 Triston Reilly.
Referee: Marcus Playle
Assistant referees: Todd Petrie, Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Ollie Kellett
Chiefs 59-34 Blues
The scorers:
For Chiefs:
Tries: Taumoefolau, Thompson, Sinkinson 2, Sititi, Coombes-Fabling, Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Paul, Finau
Cons: Jacomb 6, Cook-Savage
For Blues:
Tries: Barnes, Lam, Oudenryn, Clarke, Taele
Cons: Sullivan 3
Pen: Sullivan
Teams:
Chiefs: 15 Liam Coombes-Fabling, 14 Daniel Sinkinson, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Reon Paul, 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Wallace Sititi (captain), 7 Jahrome Brown, 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Josh Lord, 4 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 3 George Dyer, 2 Tyrone Thompson, 1 Jared Proffit.
Replacement: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Benét Kumeroa, 18 Keran van Staden, 19 Fiti Sa, 20 Kaylum Boshier, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Tepaea Cook-Savage, 23 Lalakai Foketi.
Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 AJ Lam, 13 Xavi Taele, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Sam Nock, 8 Malachi Wrampling, 7 Anton Segner (captain), 6 Torian Barnes, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Josh Beehre, 3 Renata Marcel, 2 James Mullan, 1 Mason Tupaea.
Replacements: 16 Eli Oudenryn, 17 Joshua Fusitu’a, 18 Flyn Yates, 19 Laghlan McWhannell, 20 Hoskins Sotutu, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Corey Evans, 23 Codemeru Vai.
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant referees: George Myers, Matt Kellahan
TMO: Graham Cooper
Brumbies 19-21 Moana Pasifika
The scorers:
For Brumbies:
Tries: Scott, Wright, Reimer
Cons: R. Lonergan 2
For Moana Pasifika:
Tries: Pellegrini 2, Matavao
Cons: Pellegrini 3
Teams:
Moana Pasifika: 15 William Havili, 14 Israel Leota, 13 Solomon Alaimalo, 12 Faletoi Peni, 11 Glen Vaihu, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Semisi Paea, 6 Miracle Faiilagi (captain), 5 Veikoso Poloniati, 4 Allan Craig, 3 Atu Moli, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Malakai Hala-Ngatai.
Replacements: 16 Mamoru Harada, 17 Abraham Pole, 18 Paula Latu, 19 Alefosio Aho, 20 Sam Tuitupou Ah-Hing, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 Tevita Latu, 23 Tuna Tuitama.
Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Kadin Pritchard, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan (captain), 8 Charlie Cale, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Rob Valetini, 4 Lachlan Shaw, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Rhys van Nek, 19 Nick Frost, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Klayton Thorn, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Hudson Creighton.
Referee: Jordan Way
Assistant referees: Damon Murphy, Jeremy Markey
TMO: James Leckie
