Super Rugby play-off matches confirmed as New Zealand sides dominate title race
The Chiefs, Crusaders and Brumbies will have home-field advantage in the Qualifying Finals. (Speed Media AU / Iconsportswire / James Foy)
The Super Rugby Pacific Qualifying Finals have been confirmed, with the table-topping Chiefs, Crusaders and Brumbies holding home-field advantage.
The Blues and Reds will also compete in the series following today’s results, as will the Hurricanes.
Chiefs, Crusaders and Brumbies hold home-field advantage in Finals
While the top four were already booked in prior to this weekend’s final round, the defending champions and the Queenslanders’ fates were left to the last day.
The Blues booked their spot in the finals with a comfortable 46-3 win over the Waratahs, who were also gunning for a place in the top six, while the Hurricanes’ 64-12 win over Moana Pasifika was also enough to push the Reds into the mix before their final game of the season against Fijian Drua.
The play-off action gets underway on Friday night as the Crusaders welcome the Reds to Christchurch. Rob Penney’s side missed out on the Finals completely last year, however, they have atoned for that with a strong 2025 campaign and ended on a record of 11 wins from 14.
The Reds also had a strong start to the campaign, leading the competition at round seven, but their top-three hopes ended in round 15.
There are two games on Saturday, starting in Waikato.
The Chiefs ended the season at the summit after 11 wins from their 14 matches, and will take on sixth-placed Blues in the first round of the Finals. They will also have home-field advantage as they seek to avenge last year’s defeat in the Final.
Rounding off the action, the Brumbies welcome the Hurricanes to Australia’s capital city, however, the ‘Canes have already tasted victory in Canberra this season.
The winners of each tie will automatically progress to the Super Rugby semi-finals, but they will be joined by the highest seed loser in the next round. They will also drop down a seed to ensure there is no repeat match-up.
The final ladder positions have determined the initial Finals Series seedings: Chiefs (1), Crusaders (2), Brumbies (3), Hurricanes (4), Reds (5), Blues (6).
Super Rugby Qualifying Finals in full
Friday 6 June
Crusaders v Reds, 5.05pm AEST / 7.05pm NZST, Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
Saturday 7 June
Chiefs v Blues, 5.05pm AEST / 7.05pm NZST, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Brumbies v Hurricanes, 7.35pm AEST / 9.35pm NZST, GIO Stadium, Canberra