The 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season saw a return to usual programming, as the Crusaders won their 13th title. It came on the back of a fast-paced and dramatic season, which saw an average of over eight tries per game, and we look set for another barnburner of a competition in 2026.
It appears again that it will take quite the effort to dethrone the Crusaders this season. Their forward pack was almost unstoppable on their way to hoisting the trophy last year, and they have set themselves up for another monster year up front. They will have to deal with the departures of Tom Christie and Ioane Moananu in the forwards, as well as Levi Aumua and James O’Connor in the backs, but they are well-equipped to do so. Their pack is littered with All Blacks, including Scott Barrett, Codie Taylor, Tamaiti Williams, Ethan Blackadder and Christian Lio-Willie, while Leicester Faingaʻanuku returns to bolster a good backline.
Last season’s table-toppers, the Chiefs, will be eager to replicate last season’s strong regular season and convert it into a trophy in June. To help get them there, they have made the signings of veteran centre Lalakai Foketi and hooker Tyrone Thompson, who returns from a stint in the NRL with the Newcastle Knights. Anton Lienert-Brown, Shaun Stevenson and Bradley Slater are the key names to have left the franchise in the offseason, but it is largely the same team as last season’s regular season winners. Jono Gibbes comes in as the team’s head coach, Damian McKenzie will own the #10 jumper again and Luke Jacobson will captain the team as part of what is a very strong loosies squadron, while Josh Jacomb is in place to build on an elite NPC season and Emoni Narawa is set up for a big season after his international season was cruelly cut short with a punctured lung.
The Brumbies were again the pick of the bunch from the Australian teams in 2025, finishing third in the standings before bowing out in the semifinals against the Chiefs. The men from Canberra, however, will have a tough time keeping top spot across the ditch this season, with Noah Lolesio, Len Ikitau, and young gun Tom Hooper all having moved on in the offseason. Tane Edmed looks set to start in Lolesio’s place at first five-eighth, which is a significant drop in quality, and the loss of one of the best midfielders in the competition cannot be understated. Look for ACT to take a backwards step in 2026.
The Hurricanes fell to the Brumbies in the qualifying finals last year, ending their season much earlier than they would have hoped for. In fairness, it wasn’t the most convincing 2025 from the Hurricanes, always looking a step behind the competition’s elite teams, and it’s hard to see that changing in 2026. Jordie Barrett’s return from Leinster is the only addition worth mentioning for the Canes, while Zach Gallagher and Peter Umaga-Jensen said goodbye to the team. That makes for a reasonably stable squad for the 2026 season, meaning the Wellingtonians are set to be a finals team again, but I don’t expect them to make a deep run.
Entering last season as the defending champions, the Blues had sky-high expectations, but their season came to an end in a 14-21 loss to the Crusaders in the semifinals. The fact that they even reached the semifinals was quite the accomplishment after how poorly their season went, losing five of their first six games before scraping into the finals with a bonus point win in the final round of the season. However, a victory over the Chiefs in the qualifying finals showed that they were capable of being up there with the competition’s best, and they will be wanting to prove that with more consistency in 2026. However, the departures of Rieko Ioane, Mark Tele’a, Harry Plummer, Ricky Riccitelli, Angus Ta’avao and Adrian Choat will not help their case, and their signings of Cody Vai and Bradley Slater hardly plug the gaps.
The Reds rounded out the finals teams from 2026, as the Queenslanders finished with an 8-6 record in fifth, before getting crushed by the Crusaders in the qualifying finals. Queensland started the season with a hiss and a roar, with five wins from their first six games, but they cooled right off and were clearly not a true contender. That’s seen them retool rather drastically in the summer, especially in their tight five, with Angus Blyth, Ryan Smith, Richie Asiata, Sef Fa’agase, and Alex Hodgman all exiting. Aidan Ross is the big addition up front, while first five-eighths Carter Gordon and Ben Volavola join the team, making for an intriguing setup with Wallaby Tom Lynagh also in the mix. Unfortunately for the Queenslanders, I can’t see this squad clicking. They will have some exciting moments, with Les Kiss having proven to be a free-flowing coach, but they lack the quality in personnel.
Moana Pasifika emerged as the surprise package of 2025, narrowly missing out on a finals berth after a couple of disappointing losses to end their regular season, seeing them finish in seventh on the ladder. The addition of Ardie Savea completely changed the dynamic of MP, as the team looked to truly believe that they were capable of beating anyone on their day, however their inspirational leader has left for Japan, leaving a big gap in the 2026 squad. With financial issues resulting in no less than 15 players leaving the franchise, while some trusty veterans, including Jimmy Tupou, Augustine Pulu and Ngani Laumape, have joined the team, but Moana won’t be able to get back to their heights of 2025.
One team who we can expect improvement on this season is the Waratahs. They had finals aspirations in 2025 and, thanks to a soft opening schedule, started 4-1. However, they went 1-7 from that point on, ending the season with a 6-46 thrashing at the hands of the Blues. There were a handful of significant exits since then, including Langi Gleeson, Angus Bell, Rob Leota, Taniela Tupou, Lalakai Foketi and Darby Lancaster, but joining the team are Wallabies Harry Potter, Pete Samu and Folau Fainga’a, as well as Ioane Moananu, Jack Debreczeni and Angus Scott-Young. With a generally young team to improve on last season’s performances, that should result in a better NSW outfit in 2026.
The Force had an old squad in 2025 and were hit with a few key retirements in the offseason, seeing Sam Carter, Reed Prinsep and Nic White hang up the boots. Atu Moli, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Reesjan Pasitoa and Harry Potter have all found new homes, and while George Bridge, Darby Lancaster, Sef Fa’agase and Franco Molina have joined the team, I can’t see the Force challenging for a postseason spot this season.
The same goes for the Highlanders. It was a miserable 2025 for the southerners, finishing bottom of the table with a 3-11 record, and the exits of Sam Gilbert and Thomas Umaga-Jensen hurt an already shallow back line.
That’s also the case for the Fijian Drua, who had a 4-10 record last season. Vuate Karawalevu and Selestino Ravutaumada have departed, and although Temo Mayanavanua Issak Fines-Leleiwasa and Manasa Mataele join the squad, this is not a team that will threaten the top six.
