Super Rugby Pacific Explained: Teams, Format and Where to Watch

Super Rugby Pacific is the leading professional club competition tying together New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific, and it runs each year from February through to late June. The 2026 edition featured eleven teams, a 16-round regular season and a six-team playoff that ended with the Hurricanes overwhelming the Chiefs 60–5 in Wellington — the biggest winning margin ever seen in a Super Rugby final.

This guide explains how the competition fits together: which clubs take part, how league and bonus points are earned, the way the finals are seeded, the changes coming in 2027 and how to follow every game from New Zealand. For kick-off times and draw updates, see our Super Rugby fixtures and draw page.

Super Rugby teams in 2026

The five New Zealand franchises have been ever-present since the tournament launched as Super 12 in 1996. Australia’s contingent shrank after the Melbourne Rebels dropped out from 2025, and 2026 was the final season for Moana Pasifika, whose owners confirmed in April 2026 that they could not continue beyond the year.

Titles won between 1996 and 2026. South Africa’s Bulls, no longer part of the competition, won three during their time in it.

How the Super Rugby season is played

The 2026 regular season stretched across 16 rounds, opening on Friday 13 February. Each side played 14 matches — seven at home and seven away — with two bye weekends. Every team faced four designated rivals twice and its remaining six opponents once, which produced 77 regular-season fixtures in total.

Super Round, in which an entire round is staged at a single venue across one weekend, was held in New Zealand for the first time in 2026. Ten teams contested five matches at Christchurch’s new One New Zealand Stadium from 24 to 26 April, and the concept returns to the same ground on 2–4 April 2027.

How the Super Rugby table is calculated

A win is worth four competition points, a draw two and a loss none. Two bonus points are also on offer in every match: one for scoring at least three more tries than the opposition, and one for losing by seven points or fewer.

Those bonus points frequently settle the order at the top. The Hurricanes and Chiefs each won 11 of their 14 games in 2026, worth 44 points apiece, but the Hurricanes added 11 bonus points to reach 55 while the Chiefs collected seven to finish on 51. That single place gave the Hurricanes home advantage for the entire finals series.

Final 2026 Super Rugby Pacific standings after 14 games each; no matches were drawn.

How the Super Rugby finals work

Six teams reach the playoffs. In 2026 the qualifying finals paired first with sixth, second with fifth and third with fourth, each hosted by the higher-ranked side. The three winners progressed, joined by the best-performing loser, who slipped to fourth seed and had to play the semi-final on the road.

That wrinkle was introduced for 2026. A year earlier the Chiefs lost their qualifier to the Blues yet still hosted — and won — a semi-final. In 2026 the Blues went down 52–31 to the Crusaders in their qualifier, advanced as the fourth seed, then lost 57–21 to the Hurricanes in Wellington.

The two semi-final winners contest the final, staged by the higher seed. Home advantage proved decisive in 2026, with the host winning all six finals matches before the Hurricanes’ 60–5 rout of the Chiefs. Our Blues vs Crusaders head-to-head shows how often that home pattern holds in knockout rugby.

What changes in Super Rugby in 2027

The competition shrinks to 10 teams in 2027. Each side will play 16 regular-season games across 17 weeks — two more matches than in 2026 — with one bye rather than two, beginning on Friday 12 February.

The top six still qualify, but the knockout structure is revamped:

• The top two earn a week’s rest and go straight into the semi-finals.
• Third hosts sixth and fourth hosts fifth in single-game elimination finals.
• The two elimination winners travel for the semi-finals.
• The Grand Final is set for Saturday 26 June 2027.

When we last checked in September 2026 the full 2027 draw had not been published, although the Super Round fixtures were confirmed. Expect the remaining rounds to be released in stages over the following months.

Who has won Super Rugby?

New Zealand teams have claimed 22 of the 29 titles decided since 1996. The Crusaders lead the way with 13 — seven between 1998 and 2008 and six more from 2017 onwards, the most recent a 16–12 win over the Chiefs in 2025, which we broke down in our Super Rugby 2025 season review. The Blues took the first two crowns in 1996 and 1997, then added more in 2003 and 2024.

Australian sides hold four titles: the Brumbies in 2001 and 2004, the Reds in 2011 and the Waratahs in 2014. During 2020 and 2021 the competition split into separate domestic tournaments, which are not included in these totals. For a closer look at one of the trans-Tasman rivalries, see our Chiefs vs Brumbies head-to-head.

Where to watch Super Rugby in New Zealand

Sky holds the New Zealand broadcast rights under NZ Rugby’s 2026–2030 agreement, and every Super Rugby Pacific match airs live on Sky Sport. You can also stream games through Sky’s apps — Sky Go for existing Sky customers, or Sky Sport Now, which sells day, month and annual passes.

NZ Rugby’s announcement of the deal highlights free-to-air coverage on Sky Open for selected All Blacks and Black Ferns tests, plus TVNZ coverage of provincial rugby. It does not list Super Rugby games as free-to-air, so check Sky’s schedule before assuming a match will appear on a free channel.

Betting on Super Rugby in New Zealand

Since 28 June 2025, TAB NZ has been the only operator permitted to offer online sports and racing betting to people in New Zealand. Offshore bookmakers are no longer allowed to accept bets from within the country, and the Department of Internal Affairs warns that overseas sites may lack consumer protections and might not pay out. You must be 18 or over to bet with TAB NZ.

Super Rugby markets typically include head-to-head, line (handicap) and total points. Our rugby betting guide explains how each market is settled, while our TAB NZ overview covers the account tools available for setting deposit and spend limits.

Responsible gambling in New Zealand

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 harm for you or someone you know, free and confidential support is available 24/7 from the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655 or free text 8006. The Problem Gambling Foundation also provides free counselling.

Frequently asked questions

Who won Super Rugby in 2026?

The Hurricanes beat the Chiefs 60–5 in the final in Wellington on 20 June 2026. It was their second title, a decade after their first in 2016, and the largest winning margin in Super Rugby final history.

How many teams are in Super Rugby in 2027?

Ten: the Blues, Chiefs, Crusaders, Highlanders, Hurricanes, Brumbies, Reds, Waratahs, Western Force and Fijian Drua. Moana Pasifika left after the 2026 season.

How many points is a Super Rugby win worth?

Four. A draw is worth two and a loss none. Teams can also earn one bonus point for scoring at least three more tries than their opponent and one for losing by seven points or fewer.

Has an Australian team ever won Super Rugby?

Yes. The Brumbies won in 2001 and 2004, the Reds in 2011 and the Waratahs in 2014. No Australian team has lifted the trophy since.

Is Super Rugby on free-to-air TV in New Zealand?

Sky Sport holds the rights and shows every match live. NZ Rugby’s 2026–2030 broadcast plan lists free-to-air Sky Open coverage for selected All Blacks and Black Ferns tests rather than Super Rugby games.

When does Super Rugby 2027 start?

The 2027 season begins on Friday 12 February and the Grand Final is scheduled for Saturday 26 June.