A new champion of Super Rugby Pacific will be crowned in 2026 after the Hurricanes and Chiefs booked their places in next weekend’s Grand Final with emphatic Semi-Final victories.
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The Crusaders’ title defence came to a crashing end in Hamilton on Friday night as the Chiefs produced a stunning display to claim a 49-12 victory at FMG Stadium Waikato. Less than 24 hours later, the Hurricanes secured home advantage for the decider with a dominant 57-21 win over the Blues at Hnry Stadium.
The Hurricanes, who finished atop the regular season standings, are chasing just their second Super Rugby title and their first since 2016. Standing in their way are the Chiefs, who have now reached a fourth consecutive Grand Final and will be desperate to avoid a fourth straight heartbreak after losing each of the previous three deciders.
With both sides producing statement performances in the Semi-Finals, anticipation is already building for what promises to be a blockbuster showdown in Wellington.
RECAP: 2026 SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC – SEMI-FINALS
Chiefs 49-12 Crusaders
The Chiefs delivered one of the most devastating performances in Super Rugby Pacific finals history as they dismantled the defending champion Crusaders 49-12 in Hamilton to secure their place in the Grand Final.
In a breathtaking first-half display, the hosts piled on 42 points before the break, recording the most points they have ever scored against the Crusaders in a half and sealing their biggest-ever victory over their long-time rivals.
The Chiefs set the tone from the opening exchanges, with Quinn Tupaea causing havoc in midfield before Lalakai Foketi produced a superb pass to send Kyren Taumoefolau over for the opening try. Taumoefolau quickly doubled his tally, chasing through a clever Damian McKenzie kick to continue his outstanding season.
Former Waratahs centre Foketi continued to tear holes in the Crusaders defence, creating another score for Isaac Hutchinson before injury ended the fullback’s night early. Samisoni Taukei’aho then crashed over from close range as the Chiefs stormed into a commanding 28-0 lead.
Chay Fihaki briefly stemmed the flow with the Crusaders’ first try, but the Chiefs simply refused to relent. Tries from Leroy Carter and Tupou Vaa’i extended the advantage to a scarcely believable 42-5 at half-time.
Any hopes of a Crusaders comeback evaporated early in the second half after Christian Lio-Willie had a try ruled out for a knock-on, while the loss of Leicester Fainga’anuku to an ankle injury compounded the visitors’ misery.
Captain David Havili crossed for a late consolation score, but the result was never in doubt as Xavier Roe added the final try to complete a famous Chiefs victory. The result ended a lengthy finals hoodoo against the Crusaders and sent the Chiefs into yet another Grand Final with momentum firmly on their side.
Chiefs 49 (Tries: Taumoefolau 2, Hutchinson, Taukei’aho, Vaa’i, Carter, Roe; Cons: McKenzie 7)
Crusaders 12 (Tries: Fihaki, Havili; Cons: Kemara)
Hurricanes 57-21 Blues
The Hurricanes punched their ticket to the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final with a commanding 57-21 victory over the Blues in Wellington.
Despite the final scoreline, the contest was tightly balanced for much of the opening half, with the Blues threatening an upset before the Hurricanes unleashed a devastating second-half blitz to run away with the match. The hosts made the perfect start when Cam Roigard burst clear from a quick tap penalty inside the opening minute before Jordie Barrett finished off the move for the game’s first try.
The Blues responded impressively. Caleb Clarke sliced through the Hurricanes defence before captain Patrick Tuipulotu crossed moments later to hand the visitors the lead. The Hurricanes regained control through Du’Plessis Kirifi from a rolling maul, but the Blues remained firmly in the contest as replacement Payton Spencer helped create a try for Cole Forbes.
A powerful effort from Xavier Numia shortly before half-time restored the Hurricanes’ advantage and gave them a 19-14 lead heading into the sheds. From there, the competition’s top seeds shifted through the gears.
Roigard crossed after excellent counter-rucking pressure, before Josh Moorby sprinted clear and eventually claimed the first of his two tries. Asafo Aumua then powered over as the Hurricanes scored three tries in a devastating ten-minute spell to effectively seal the result.
Ere Enari and Kini Naholo both crossed from the bench as the hosts passed the 50-point mark, while Moorby grabbed his second late on to complete a nine-try performance.
The victory sends the Hurricanes into their first Super Rugby Grand Final since lifting the trophy in 2016 and sets up a mouth-watering showdown with the Chiefs next weekend.
Hurricanes 57 (Tries: Moorby 2, J. Barrett, Numia, Kirifi, Roigard, Aumua, Enari, Naholo; Cons: Love 3, J. Barrett 3)
Blues 21 (Tries: Tuipulotu, Spencer, Oudenryn; Cons: B. Barrett 3)
Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final
Saturday 20 June
Hurricanes (1) vs Chiefs (2) – Hnry Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 7.05pm NZST / 5.05pm AEST
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