2026 Super Rugby Aupiki draw confirmed
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
The 2026 Super Rugby Aupiki draw has been locked in and fans can get excited for a June 13 kickoff as the competition syncs up with the wider women’s rugby calendar.
Spanning six rounds, a final, and a trans-Tasman champions final, the 2026 season builds on the momentum of 2025 with several changes designed to elevate the experience for players, fans, and rugby communities across New Zealand.
LATEST HEADLINES:
One of the most exciting additions is Super Rugby Aupiki: All In, a festival-style Round Three event as all four teams will compete at Pukekohe's Navigation Homes Stadium for an evening of back-to-back action.
For 2026, fans will see more weekend afternoon kick-offs, complemented by an expanded mix of regional venues aimed at deepening community connection and bringing top-level women’s rugby to more fans.
“Super Rugby Aupiki continues to grow in strength and momentum, the 2026 draw reflects that," said New Zealand Rugby head of women’s high performance Hannah Porter.
“With an internationally aligned schedule in place, a June kick-off supports player development and sets the competition up for sustainable growth. It also enables us to align with Rugby Australia’s Super W competition and, importantly, places the women’s competition in a mid-year window that enables greater visibility and dedicated focus within the rugby calendar.
"Expanding into more regional grounds and introducing our first-ever 'All In' round creates more opportunities for fans to connect with the incredible talent in this competition. It’s an exciting step forward for the women’s game.”
The season opens at Auckland's Eden Park with the 2025 champion Blues playing the Hurricanes Poua on Saturday, June 13, followed by the Matatū taking the field at Christchurch’s new One NZ Stadium against the Chiefs Manawa.
The 2026 draw also features the now-embedded trans-Tasman crossover match, with the Super Rugby Aupiki champions set to face the Super Rugby W champions on Saturday, August 1 in Australia - a fixture that continues to strengthen pathways and competition across both nations.
SUPER RUGBY AUPIKI DRAW
ROUND ONE
Saturday, June 13, 2.05pm*: Blues vs Hurricanes Poua, Eden Park, Auckland
Saturday, June 13, 4.05pm*: Matatū vs Chiefs Manawa, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch
ROUND TWO
Saturday, June 20, 2.05pm*: Chiefs Manawa vs Blues, Fred Jones Park, Hamilton
Sunday, June 21, 2.05pm: Hurricanes Poua vs Matatū, Maidstone Park, Upper Hutt
ROUND THREE
Saturday, June 27, 5:05pm, Chiefs Manawa vs Hurricanes Poua, Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe
Saturday, June 27, 7.05pm, Blues vs Matatū, Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe
ROUND FOUR
Saturday, July 4, 12:35pm: Chiefs Manawa vs Matatū, Fred Jones Park, Hamilton
Saturday, July 4, 2:35pm: Hurricanes Poua vs Blues, Maidstone Park, Upper Hutt
ROUND FIVE
Friday, July 10, 4:35pm: Blues vs Chiefs Manawa, Semenoff Stadium, Whangārei
Saturday, July 11, 2.05pm: Matatū vs Hurricanes Poua, Fraser Park, Timaru
ROUND SIX
Saturday, July 18, 12:35pm: Hurricanes Poua vs Chiefs Manawa, Maidstone Park, Upper Hutt
Saturday July 18, 2.35pm: Matatū vs Blues, Ngā Puna Wai, Christchurch
SUPER RUGBY AUPIKI FINAL
Saturday, July 25, kick-off TBC, No 1 vs No 2, venue TBC
SUPER RUGBY TRANS-TASMAN FINAL
Saturday, August 1, kick-off TBC: Super Rugby Aupiki Winner vs Super W Winner – Australian venue
