Super Rugby 2026
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@Canes4life said in Super Rugby 2026:
@Chuck72 said in Super Rugby 2026:
@SouthernMann think it's crusaders Friday night and 2 games Saturday Sunday
Brumbies and Canes, and Blues vs Reds on Saturday I believe.
Friday and Saturday will be the sort after days. I think a lot of those travelling will head home on Sunday.
I've lost track. Does NZ Mondayise ANZAC Day?
@booboo said in Super Rugby 2026:
@Canes4life said in Super Rugby 2026:
@Chuck72 said in Super Rugby 2026:
@SouthernMann think it's crusaders Friday night and 2 games Saturday Sunday
Brumbies and Canes, and Blues vs Reds on Saturday I believe.
Friday and Saturday will be the sort after days. I think a lot of those travelling will head home on Sunday.
I've lost track. Does NZ Mondayise ANZAC Day?
I don't think so. But Google says yes
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Highlanders are definitely playing, as we are playing a home game there. Likely means we are playing the Waratahs or Moana. Leaves the Crusaders to play the Drua.
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ANZAC Day is Mondayised
@UpTheHarbs said in Super Rugby 2026:
ANZAC Day is Mondayised
When did that start? Never used to be did it?
Ok I just googled it and it started in 2014, I was in Aus, and been retired since I been back so haven't taken any notice. :face_with_diagonal_mouth:
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@UpTheHarbs said in Super Rugby 2026:
ANZAC Day is Mondayised
When did that start? Never used to be did it?
Ok I just googled it and it started in 2014, I was in Aus, and been retired since I been back so haven't taken any notice. :face_with_diagonal_mouth:
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@Dan54 Started in 2015, also happened in 2020 and 2021
@UpTheHarbs said in Super Rugby 2026:
@Dan54 Started in 2015, also happened in 2020 and 2021
As I said Harbs I lived in Aus for a few years, came back late 2020, and to be honest as I had retired I didn't take notice in 2021.
Us poor retired buggers don't get any extra days you see, lol everyday the same, we don't get even weekends or anything off. I don't know how I keep going :face_with_tears_of_joy: -
@UpTheHarbs said in Super Rugby 2026:
@Dan54 Started in 2015, also happened in 2020 and 2021
As I said Harbs I lived in Aus for a few years, came back late 2020, and to be honest as I had retired I didn't take notice in 2021.
Us poor retired buggers don't get any extra days you see, lol everyday the same, we don't get even weekends or anything off. I don't know how I keep going :face_with_tears_of_joy: -
@taniwharugby Mate, you don't know how true that is. Me and mrs genuinely wake up some days and need to work out what day it is.
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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.
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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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Full Super Rugby draw for 2026 to be announced this week.
@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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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.
@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):
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/exclusive-blues-to-join-warriors-auckland-fc-at-go-media-stadium-in-2026/TBQFAQF6VRAOFP6BRKZS2O4GE4/ -
@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):
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/exclusive-blues-to-join-warriors-auckland-fc-at-go-media-stadium-in-2026/TBQFAQF6VRAOFP6BRKZS2O4GE4/@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):
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/exclusive-blues-to-join-warriors-auckland-fc-at-go-media-stadium-in-2026/TBQFAQF6VRAOFP6BRKZS2O4GE4/Clearly the crowd at Go Media has nothing to do with the Wahs.....
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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):
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/exclusive-blues-to-join-warriors-auckland-fc-at-go-media-stadium-in-2026/TBQFAQF6VRAOFP6BRKZS2O4GE4/Clearly the crowd at Go Media has nothing to do with the Wahs.....
@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):
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/exclusive-blues-to-join-warriors-auckland-fc-at-go-media-stadium-in-2026/TBQFAQF6VRAOFP6BRKZS2O4GE4/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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@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):
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/exclusive-blues-to-join-warriors-auckland-fc-at-go-media-stadium-in-2026/TBQFAQF6VRAOFP6BRKZS2O4GE4/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.....
@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.
