The Blues vs Crusaders rivalry in numbers: the full head-to-head record, all six finals meetings, the three 2026 games and the Crusaders’ grip on Christchurch.
Blues vs Crusaders: Head-to-Head Record, Finals and 2026 Games
Blues vs Crusaders is a derby the Crusaders have dominated for almost three decades. Before their May 2026 meeting, the Crusaders counted 50 Super Rugby games between the sides, with 35 Crusaders wins to the Blues’ 15, and the Blues had won only four of 25 games in Christchurch. The Crusaders then won the next two meetings as well, both in Christchurch.
This page brings together the full head-to-head record, every finals meeting, the three games of 2026 and what those numbers can and cannot tell you before the next one.
37–15Crusaders’ wins v Blues’ wins in 52 meetings
5–1Crusaders’ record in six finals meetings
29–13Blues’ win at Eden Park, March 2026
52–31Crusaders’ 2026 qualifying final win
What this article answers: The Blues vs Crusaders head-to-head record, every finals meeting, the three 2026 games and why Christchurch matters in this fixture.
Main points
- The Crusaders lead 37 wins to 15 after 52 Super Rugby meetings.
- The Crusaders have won five of the six finals meetings; the Blues’ one finals win was the 2003 final.
- In 2026 the Blues won 29–13 at Eden Park in March, then the Crusaders won 36–20 in May and 52–31 in the qualifying final.
- Before May 2026 the Blues had won only four of 25 games in Christchurch.
- A line calculator shows how handicap bets settle, using real scores.
Blues vs Crusaders head-to-head record
The Crusaders’ own statistics, published before the sides met on 8 May 2026, put the record at 35 wins to 15 from 50 games since Super Rugby began in 1996. The two Crusaders wins that followed, 36–20 in round 13 and 52–31 in the qualifying final, take it to 37–15 from 52.
It was not always this way. The Blues won the first two Super 12 titles in 1996 and 1997, and the balance only swung after the Crusaders won the 1998 final at Eden Park. The Crusaders have since won 13 titles in total, while the Blues have four: 1996, 1997, 2003 and 2024.
Christchurch is where the gap is widest. Going into May 2026, the Crusaders had won 21 of 25 home games against the Blues, and their record since 2006 read 19 wins from 20. The one exception came in April 2022, when the Blues won in Christchurch for the first time in almost 20 years.
Every Blues v Crusaders finals meeting
The sides have met six times in the knockout rounds, and the Crusaders have won five.
| Year | Stage | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Final | Crusaders 20–13 Blues | Eden Park, Auckland |
| 2003 | Final | Blues 21–17 Crusaders | Eden Park, Auckland |
| 2022 | Final | Crusaders 21–7 Blues | Eden Park, Auckland |
| 2023 | Semi-final | Crusaders 52–15 Blues | Christchurch |
| 2025 | Semi-final | Crusaders 21–14 Blues | Christchurch |
| 2026 | Qualifying final | Crusaders 52–31 Blues | Christchurch |
The 1998 final turned on a James Kerr try from an Andrew Mehrtens chip-ahead, and gave the Crusaders their first title. Five years later Doug Howlett scored in the rain at Eden Park to win the 2003 final for the Blues, their last title for 21 years.
The 2022 final drew 45,000 to Eden Park, where the Crusaders won 21–7 despite the Blues having been the stronger team in the regular season. More recent knockout games have been in Christchurch, and the Crusaders have won all three.
The three Blues v Crusaders games of 2026
**Round 4, Saturday 7 March, Eden Park: Blues 29, Crusaders 13.** Caleb Clarke scored a hat-trick, crossing twice in the first nine minutes. The win ended a four-game losing run against the Crusaders.
**Round 13, Friday 8 May, One New Zealand Stadium: Crusaders 36, Blues 20.** The rematch at the Crusaders’ new home included a first Crusaders try for prop George Bower, in his 100th game for the club.
**Qualifying final, Saturday 6 June, One New Zealand Stadium: Crusaders 52, Blues 31.** The Blues led 7–0 through Sam Nock, but number eight Malachi Wrampling was sent off in the 18th minute for a high tackle on Leicester Fainga’anuku. The Crusaders led 33–14 at half-time, Johnny McNicholl scored three tries and the home side finished with eight tries to five.
The Blues still reached the semi-finals as the highest-ranked losing team, but under the new 2026 rule they had to travel, and lost 57–21 to the Hurricanes in Wellington. The Crusaders were beaten 49–12 by the Chiefs in the other semi-final. Our Super Rugby Pacific explainer covers how that finals format works.
Crusaders vs Blues in Christchurch: why home advantage matters
The Crusaders’ strength at home is not limited to this fixture. After the 2025 final, Super Rugby Pacific reported that the Crusaders had won 32 consecutive finals at home, and the 2026 qualifying final added another.
For the Blues, the numbers are stark: four wins from 25 games in Christchurch before May 2026, then two more defeats at One New Zealand Stadium. They have shown the Crusaders can be beaten, at Eden Park in March 2026 and in Christchurch in April 2022, but wins in Christchurch remain rare. The 2025 season review shows how narrowly they lost the 2025 semi-final, 21–14.
The fixture has also been a stage for debuts. North Harbour hooker Bryn Gordon, a late call-up to the Blues squad, made his Super Rugby debut against the Crusaders in March 2025; his Wikipedia profile covers his career so far.
How a Blues v Crusaders line bet settles
Line betting gives one team a head start to even out the contest. Using real 2026 scores with example lines shows how it works:
- In the qualifying final the Crusaders won by 21. A Crusaders bet at -12.5 would have won, and a Blues bet at +12.5 would have lost.
- In round 4 the Blues won by 16. A Blues bet at +4.5 would have won, and so would a Blues bet at -4.5.
- In round 13 the Crusaders won by 16, so they covered any line smaller than that.
Use the calculator below to check a line bet with any score.
Blues v Crusaders line calculator
Enter a handicap and the final score to see how a line bet settles
Team A
Team A score
Team B
Team B score
Line on Team A
Decimal odds
Stake ($)
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Team B—
Profit—
Educational tool from Sports-Betting.nz. Results are estimates — the bet slip or official dividend always decides. 18+ only. Free, confidential help: Gambling Helpline 0800 654 655 or text 8006.
Betting on Blues v Crusaders in New Zealand
Head-to-head history is context, not a forecast. Squads change every season, and a record built up over 30 years says little about injuries, selection or form in a particular week.
If you bet on Super Rugby from New Zealand, TAB NZ is the only operator legally allowed to offer online sports betting to people here, and you must be 18 or over. Our rugby betting guide explains line and head-to-head markets, and the TAB NZ overview covers deposit limits and time-outs. For upcoming dates, see our Super Rugby fixtures page.
Please read: This page is general sports information for readers aged 18 and over. It is not betting, financial or legal advice, and it does not encourage anyone to gamble. Since 28 June 2025, TAB NZ has been the only operator allowed to offer online racing and sports betting to people in New Zealand.
If gambling is causing problems for you or someone close to you, free and confidential help is available 24/7 from the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655 or free text 8006. The Problem Gambling Foundation also offers free counselling.
Reference sources
- Crusaders — Stat Chat: Crusaders v Blues, a rivalry that never rests
- Crusaders — Crusaders power past Blues in high-scoring qualifying final
- Sky Sports — Crusaders vs Blues: classic Super Rugby encounters
- Blues Rugby — Blues secure big win over Crusaders
- RugbyPass — Crusaders vs Blues takes
- Crusaders — History, records and bad blood: a short history of Crusaders v Blues
FAQs
Who has won more games, the Blues or the Crusaders?
The Crusaders, by a wide margin. Their count of 35 wins to 15 from 50 games, plus two more Crusaders wins later in 2026, gives a 37–15 record from 52 Super Rugby meetings.
When did the Blues last beat the Crusaders?
In round 4 of 2026, when the Blues won 29–13 at Eden Park on 7 March. Caleb Clarke scored a hat-trick.
Have the Blues and Crusaders met in a Super Rugby final?
Three times. The Crusaders won the 1998 and 2022 finals and the Blues won the 2003 final, all at Eden Park.
How often have the Blues won in Christchurch?
Four times in 25 games before May 2026, according to the Crusaders. They lost both of their visits later that season.
What happened in the 2026 Blues v Crusaders qualifying final?
The Crusaders won 52–31 in Christchurch after Blues number eight Malachi Wrampling was sent off in the 18th minute. Johnny McNicholl scored three tries.
Who has more Super Rugby titles, the Blues or the Crusaders?
The Crusaders have 13 titles and the Blues four, from 1996, 1997, 2003 and 2024.
