Super Rugby 2026
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Full Super Rugby draw for 2026 to be announced this week.
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Some fixtures have been announced today as a bit of hype building before the full draw is released.
- Highlanders kick-off their season at home against the Crusaders in round one.
- Hurricanes begin their season against Moana Pasifika in round two at Sky Stadium.
- Blues host Chiefs in round one in Auckland (location hasn't been announced).
- Other round one fixtures include Force v Brumbies, Waratahs v Reds and Drua v Moana Pasifika.
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@Canes4life said in Super Rugby 2026:
Full Super Rugby draw for 2026 to be announced this week.
lol rugby is so fucking dumb. why announce that this week? in the middle of the NPC and the RC? Announce the fucking draw once the games are done and you want to get rugby back in the media.
it's not like you will delay people's travel plans
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@Canes4life said in Super Rugby 2026:
- Blues host Chiefs in round one in Auckland (location hasn't been announced).
Looks like this will be one of the two games at Mt Smart, as reported in the Herald last week (paywalled):
Exclusive: Blues to feature at Go Media stadium in 2026 Super Rugby season
The Blues have noticed the buzz created by the Warriors at home matches in recent years.
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@UpTheHarbs said in Super Rugby 2026:
@Canes4life said in Super Rugby 2026:
- Blues host Chiefs in round one in Auckland (location hasn't been announced).
Looks like this will be one of the two games at Mt Smart, as reported in the Herald last week (paywalled):
Exclusive: Blues to feature at Go Media stadium in 2026 Super Rugby season
The Blues have noticed the buzz created by the Warriors at home matches in recent years.
Clearly the crowd at Go Media has nothing to do with the Wahs.....
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@canefan said in Super Rugby 2026:
@UpTheHarbs said in Super Rugby 2026:
@Canes4life said in Super Rugby 2026:
- Blues host Chiefs in round one in Auckland (location hasn't been announced).
Looks like this will be one of the two games at Mt Smart, as reported in the Herald last week (paywalled):
Exclusive: Blues to feature at Go Media stadium in 2026 Super Rugby season
The Blues have noticed the buzz created by the Warriors at home matches in recent years.
Clearly the crowd at Go Media has nothing to do with the Wahs.....
Yes just look at those bumper crowds Moana got at Mt Smart.....
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@KiwiMurph said in Super Rugby 2026:
Yes just look at those bumper crowds Moana got at Mt Smart.....
They got bugger all there, but they got decent crowds in our neck of the woods this year.
Might be a different story next year though. -
kinda of agree but . . .
I follow league and union pretty close (and American football)
I think league has tweaked their rules about as much as they can; only very fine tuning available to them now.
Union on the other hand has a million and one things they could change to make it a more exciting view.
So I'm thinking that eventually both codes will end up in pretty much the same place.
Might take a while tho.Have watched both top class union and league "live" this year.
Right now, structurally, the biggest difference in the games imo is; not the scrum, not the lineout, not the play the ball, etc, etc; but it's the numbers.
Having 4 less players on the field, critically, creates a little bit more space in league; hence more try scoring out wide, and easier to kick to the space.
You don't notice this as much on TV, but if you're getting a high, drone type full field view at the game, you sure do. -
@mohikamo said in Super Rugby 2026:
kinda of agree but . . .
I follow league and union pretty close (and American football)
I think league has tweaked their rules about as much as they can; only very fine tuning available to them now.
Union on the other hand has a million and one things they could change to make it a more exciting view.
So I'm thinking that eventually both codes will end up in pretty much the same place.
Might take a while tho.Have watched both top class union and league "live" this year.
Right now, structurally, the biggest difference in the games imo is; not the scrum, not the lineout, not the play the ball, etc, etc; but it's the numbers.
Having 4 less players on the field, critically, creates a little bit more space in league; hence more try scoring out wide, and easier to kick to the space.
You don't notice this as much on TV, but if you're getting a high, drone type full field view at the game, you sure do.I've only ever seen one game of league live and that was 25 years ago - the NZ kiwis v the cook islands.
It was at the 2000 rugby league world cup but the one thing that I found super impressive was the skills level. It was one way traffic with the kiwis putting up a cricket score but I remember their passing and handling skills being incredible. For whatever reason it really sticks in my mind just how skillfull those players were.
you think rugby union has caught up in the skills dept. Since then?
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@SouthernMann said in Super Rugby 2026:
Article from Irish Paul about how to potentially improve the player distribution for Super.
Peter Keane Chair of the Landers suggesting a protected group and a draft.
At the moment, from my understanding there is a very limited salary cap. While there is also the ability to leverage third-party agreements. Top ups and All Black payments. The salary cap effectively only determines how much NZR puts into Super contracts from a central perspective each year.
From a high performance perspective, you want the best 5 - 7 players in each position starting every week.
I'm against a straight draft. Teams can just top load their squads. Players also have the ability to turn down opportunities. As they should, they should always have the ability to choose.
I'd be a fan of a points system. Each squad could use 250 or 300 points a season. Maximum allocation would be 10 for an All Black and points deducted from there. For example, Beauden Barrett, an out of region player developed elsewhere would be 10 points for the Blues. Same with Ardie Savea at MP. Wallace Sititi, because he made his Super debut for the Chiefs might be eight points. Then just put the considerations in to drop or increase the points given to the players.
There will always be family, locations of choice etc. Plenty of guys choose to take up opportunities where the work is. Same with working professionals in their 20s. You go where you will be noticed.
This isn't just me being a whining Highlanders fan. I'm quite happy with how our squad is starting to look and the future shape of it, especially coming into 27/28.
.how can team teams top load their squads with a normal draft? dont the bottom teams get first picks?
that feels complicated....BUT....could make for some good chat in the off season, people running spreadsheets and stuff working out whos avaliable etc
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@SouthernMann said in Super Rugby 2026:
Article from Irish Paul about how to potentially improve the player distribution for Super.
Peter Keane Chair of the Landers suggesting a protected group and a draft.
At the moment, from my understanding there is a very limited salary cap. While there is also the ability to leverage third-party agreements. Top ups and All Black payments. The salary cap effectively only determines how much NZR puts into Super contracts from a central perspective each year.
From a high performance perspective, you want the best 5 - 7 players in each position starting every week.
I'm against a straight draft. Teams can just top load their squads. Players also have the ability to turn down opportunities. As they should, they should always have the ability to choose.
I'd be a fan of a points system. Each squad could use 250 or 300 points a season. Maximum allocation would be 10 for an All Black and points deducted from there. For example, Beauden Barrett, an out of region player developed elsewhere would be 10 points for the Blues. Same with Ardie Savea at MP. Wallace Sititi, because he made his Super debut for the Chiefs might be eight points. Then just put the considerations in to drop or increase the points given to the players.
There will always be family, locations of choice etc. Plenty of guys choose to take up opportunities where the work is. Same with working professionals in their 20s. You go where you will be noticed.
This isn't just me being a whining Highlanders fan. I'm quite happy with how our squad is starting to look and the future shape of it, especially coming into 27/28.
.What that article really sheets home is that the season is too short, fold super into the NPC (one competition) so that we can have a core set of professional teams that are playing over the season. Want to fix engagement? Make sure that the there is content over the year. Start a bit later then have an international break, another round of Super, some more internationals, then it's summer off. This shouldn't be that hard.
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@gt12 said in Super Rugby 2026:
@SouthernMann said in Super Rugby 2026:
Article from Irish Paul about how to potentially improve the player distribution for Super.
Peter Keane Chair of the Landers suggesting a protected group and a draft.
At the moment, from my understanding there is a very limited salary cap. While there is also the ability to leverage third-party agreements. Top ups and All Black payments. The salary cap effectively only determines how much NZR puts into Super contracts from a central perspective each year.
From a high performance perspective, you want the best 5 - 7 players in each position starting every week.
I'm against a straight draft. Teams can just top load their squads. Players also have the ability to turn down opportunities. As they should, they should always have the ability to choose.
I'd be a fan of a points system. Each squad could use 250 or 300 points a season. Maximum allocation would be 10 for an All Black and points deducted from there. For example, Beauden Barrett, an out of region player developed elsewhere would be 10 points for the Blues. Same with Ardie Savea at MP. Wallace Sititi, because he made his Super debut for the Chiefs might be eight points. Then just put the considerations in to drop or increase the points given to the players.
There will always be family, locations of choice etc. Plenty of guys choose to take up opportunities where the work is. Same with working professionals in their 20s. You go where you will be noticed.
This isn't just me being a whining Highlanders fan. I'm quite happy with how our squad is starting to look and the future shape of it, especially coming into 27/28.
.What that article really sheets home is that the season is too short, fold super into the NPC (one competition) so that we can have a core set of professional teams that are playing over the season. Want to fix engagement? Make sure that the there is content over the year. Start a bit later then have an international break, another round of Super, some more internationals, then it's summer off. This shouldn't be that hard.
Good idea mate, but NPC and Super are obviously such different comps it like saying fold super into Tests. Neither comps go along with other.
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@nonpartizan said in Super Rugby 2026:
@mohikamo said in Super Rugby 2026:
kinda of agree but . . .
I follow league and union pretty close (and American football)
I think league has tweaked their rules about as much as they can; only very fine tuning available to them now.
Union on the other hand has a million and one things they could change to make it a more exciting view.
So I'm thinking that eventually both codes will end up in pretty much the same place.
Might take a while tho.Have watched both top class union and league "live" this year.
Right now, structurally, the biggest difference in the games imo is; not the scrum, not the lineout, not the play the ball, etc, etc; but it's the numbers.
Having 4 less players on the field, critically, creates a little bit more space in league; hence more try scoring out wide, and easier to kick to the space.
You don't notice this as much on TV, but if you're getting a high, drone type full field view at the game, you sure do.I've only ever seen one game of league live and that was 25 years ago - the NZ kiwis v the cook islands.
It was at the 2000 rugby league world cup but the one thing that I found super impressive was the skills level. It was one way traffic with the kiwis putting up a cricket score but I remember their passing and handling skills being incredible. For whatever reason it really sticks in my mind just how skillfull those players were.
you think rugby union has caught up in the skills dept. Since then?
Hell non part, I have seen only 2 games of league live, 1 a local club one in Levin, 1 Kiwi/Kangaroos test, and 1 SOO. There wasn't one I couldn't see exactly what was going to happen next, and I wasn't a league man. In fact the last one SOO a few of us left early, and I have never watched a game even on tv again. That was when I first went to Aus and thought I would get into the game.
And the only one who wins with a draft, is the NRL isn't it? Telling kids where they have to go is a sure way to encourage them to a sport where they have a choice. A young fella from Qld being told, you have to leave home and live in Dunedin etc, or one from Dunedin etc he has to go to Perth?
I actually think it can be illegal, wasn't NRL prevented from doing it some years back? -
@Dan54 said in Super Rugby 2026:
@gt12 said in Super Rugby 2026:
@SouthernMann said in Super Rugby 2026:
Article from Irish Paul about how to potentially improve the player distribution for Super.
Peter Keane Chair of the Landers suggesting a protected group and a draft.
At the moment, from my understanding there is a very limited salary cap. While there is also the ability to leverage third-party agreements. Top ups and All Black payments. The salary cap effectively only determines how much NZR puts into Super contracts from a central perspective each year.
From a high performance perspective, you want the best 5 - 7 players in each position starting every week.
I'm against a straight draft. Teams can just top load their squads. Players also have the ability to turn down opportunities. As they should, they should always have the ability to choose.
I'd be a fan of a points system. Each squad could use 250 or 300 points a season. Maximum allocation would be 10 for an All Black and points deducted from there. For example, Beauden Barrett, an out of region player developed elsewhere would be 10 points for the Blues. Same with Ardie Savea at MP. Wallace Sititi, because he made his Super debut for the Chiefs might be eight points. Then just put the considerations in to drop or increase the points given to the players.
There will always be family, locations of choice etc. Plenty of guys choose to take up opportunities where the work is. Same with working professionals in their 20s. You go where you will be noticed.
This isn't just me being a whining Highlanders fan. I'm quite happy with how our squad is starting to look and the future shape of it, especially coming into 27/28.
.What that article really sheets home is that the season is too short, fold super into the NPC (one competition) so that we can have a core set of professional teams that are playing over the season. Want to fix engagement? Make sure that the there is content over the year. Start a bit later then have an international break, another round of Super, some more internationals, then it's summer off. This shouldn't be that hard.
Good idea mate, but NPC and Super are obviously such different comps it like saying fold super into Tests. Neither comps go along with other.
That sounds like someone who doesn’t want to lose Super players from their NPC team.
We can still have a provincial championship but we need one professional comp and one amateur.
The Club > provincial championship for the amateurs and those trying to break into pro rugby, then Super development and Super rugby for the pros.
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Drafts only really work in stand alone comps.
That's financially standing alone; like the American pro leagues; and the Australian FL, and the Indian PL.
A draft would probably work quite well in the NRL, but the players association wont agree to it. The players have to agree or it's restraint of trade.
The NRL has a quite rigid salary cap which tends to have the affect of spreading the talent. After 4 premierships in a row the current Penrith team is quite different from the one that won the first championship. The salary cap forcing changes. Penrith have a strong junior system, so they can constantly reload.A draft in rugby union probably wouldn't work that well; because players have more options and their payments can come from several different teams (National/SR/NPC).
What I would like to see in rugby union is a strong salary cap or caps.
SR teams having a salary cap for AB players; and one for NPC players.
NPC teams having a cap for SR/AB players. And a cap for local players.
The only dispensation being some sort of allowance for players developed locally.
No AB cap of course! -
I've said it before on here; it was a big mistake to form the SR comp when the game went pro back in the 90's.
Now we have a situation where a pro player can play for four different teams, on four different tiers, in one season (National/Super/NPC/club); no other pro football code does this.
Most pro codes have just one main level, with a small all-star level added.
And some dont even do that (AFL, NFL).We already had a competition which in parts was quite professionally run; and had a long tradition and legacy; then we created another, which now has it's own traditions and legacies.
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@mohikamo said in Super Rugby 2026:
I've said it before on here; it was a big mistake to form the SR comp when the game went pro back in the 90's.
Now we have a situation where a pro player can play for four different teams, on four different tiers, in one season (National/Super/NPC/club); no other pro football code does this.
Most pro codes have just one main level, with a small all-star level added.
And some dont even do that (AFL, NFL).We already had a competition which in parts was quite professionally run; and had a long tradition and legacy; then we created another, which now has it's own traditions and legacies.
How many All Blacks are also playing club rugby in a calendar year? Most of them aren't even playing for their province.
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